Growth Rings: COVID-19, new directions, new beginnings.
Significant change does not occur unless it is accompanied by a significant emotional experience. It has to be emotional so as to generate enough energy to break out of old patterns and thinking, so one can then embrace new realities and conditions. The Center for Disease Center states, “The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children.”
It is interesting to see how different people and different nations are dealing with COVID-19. For many it is fear and panic, for some, it is a time to stop and reflect, and for others, they are looking for opportunities and are coming to grip with a new normal.
Fear and Panic
There seems to be quite a bit of fear gripping Americans. From sell-outs on toilet paper and frozen foods to closing schools, bars, and restaurants and canceling Sunday church services, a new term and practice has emerged called “social distancing”. The thinking is that by isolating oneself, the spread of COVID-19 will be slowed. The hope is that this will provide time for a vaccine to be developed. This sounds like a good plan, however, we have yet to find a cure for the common cold or cancer.
My wife Pam and I stopped by the local Walmart to pick up a few items and were surprised at what we found. Paper products, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, snack food, and frozen foods, specifically frozen pizzas were completely sold out. The meat counter was full, with fresh produce, canned foods, oatmeal, and rice still on the shelves. I can understand the cleaning supplies, but toilet paper and frozen pizzas? What does say about our priorities and ability to cook?
Fox News, CNN, MSNBC and the network news channels are both a blessing and a curse. Gone are the days when the news was reported as facts, not opinions, with panels of “experts” to explain to us what was going on. In times of crisis, clear effective communication is crucial. It does not help when officials make statements that then have to be clarified on Twitter. This adds to the fear, confusion, and trepidation.
Time to Stop and Reflect
Since the announcement of a national emergency from the White House and the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring COVID -19 a pandemic, I have been one of those who have been taking this time to stop and reflect. At 62 years old, looking back into history and in my life, several things come to mind.
Historically the world has faced pandemics and health concerns. AIDS, Polio, Smallpox, H1N1 influenza virus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Type A influenza, the Asian Flu, and the Spanish Flu all have impacted mankind. What is different with COVID-19?
At no other point in history has mankind been linked and connected together to the current degree. Technology and the Internet have transformed everyday society. With a digital device, connected to the Internet, one can now communicate, purchase goods and services from throughout the globe. Computers, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and robotics have transformed relationships, commerce, and business. The 21st-century reality is we have moved away from being self-reliant to being dependent on a global consumer-based economy. When all we are focused on is the “bottom line” and the best price, and not taking into account where or under what condition the product was created, have we lost part of our humanity and empathy?
Opportunities and the New Normal.
Several things are for sure. COVID-19 is indeed a Growth Ring for mankind. It is a wake-up call to the fact that what happens in one part of the world does affect us here at home. It highlights the global supply chain and how American companies depend on Chinese low labor costs to create products to be sold in the United States, thus making a profit for the company’s stocks which American’s have invested in for their 401K retirement plans. The bottom line is that in order for our economy to be strong, people need to be buying. It is a vicious continuous cycle. If people don’t buy, the economy comes to a halt.
COVID-19 is amplifying the transition from the 20th century industrial age to the 21st-century digital/information age. With schools closing, the assumption is that kids can have virtual school after all many of their parents are being directed to work from home. The reality is that most teachers and school systems do not have the capacity, resources, nor teachers with the skills to teach online. It needs to be realized that not all students have Wi-Fi access at home as well. In addition, many states legislatively do not have in code the option for K-12 virtual learning. The 20th-century industrial model structure of K-12 education does not fit with our current 21st-century challenge. This is an opportunity to create something new!
The 20th century Industrial Age, consumer economy, was grounded in buying stuff. If you couldn’t pay cash, you bought it on credit. Manufactured goods, meant to be used, thrown away and then buy new again, coupled with advertising campaigns has created a generation of dependent consumers. In many instances, couples with children both have to work, factoring in the probability of college loan debt, they are in a very vulnerable financial position. In the weeks of quarantine ahead, parents will be scrambling to find childcare, and may not be able to work. No work, no income. No income no buying. We are at the beginning of a long journey.
The weeks of quarantine ahead are a good time to stop, and with your loved ones, decide what is truly important. This is a good time to discern the difference between your needs and wants. Is the stuff we have truly what we need or is it just something we want?
For me, my priorities begin with my faith, my wife Pam, our family and the relationships we have with our friends. In seeking life contentment, a wise man once told me, “True happiness is giving to life more than you take from life.” So, the question I raise is are you a giver or a taker?
What is the most important thing in your life? Clearly identify this and use it as the foundation to build from going forward. Remember our children are watching us. What are we teaching them by our actions? Stay positive and keep moving forward!
