These are tough times.
These are scary and very unusual times.
Neither I nor every elderly person I know or knew have experienced anything like this.
Yes, there was scurvy, leprosy, polio, WW1, WW2, Holocaust, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis, SARS, HIV and even 9/11. They were all scary, lethal and very damaging.
Yet none of them was as invisible, as undetectable and with a potential to shroud and sicken in such large numbers over such vast distances, and at such a rapid speed.
It has brought the whole world to its knees, it has even slowed down time.
Yet, a part of me is telling me that even though our knees may have buckled, even though our hearts have been grabbed by a chilly, macabre hand our spirits still burn.
On the streets of Philippines where I live, where people love being close to each other, support and and care for each were for some days taken by surprise and shock.
It was against their very nature to keep away, to not support and not care. In the last two days small gestures and conversations of care, compassion and courage have begun to emerge.
Yesterday, I heard a young leader claim that she’d stand behind and support her small team of four, who still had to physically report for work.
Half the consultants and coaches I personally know have moved half their value creating work online for their clients at no cost.
Many doctors and health workers have swore to stay on and work in the hospitals until this battle is over.
This morning, a Sunday, a few homes across my place I heard church services being conducted. To me that is a sign. A big one. A sign that says we will all, across the world, break through and climb over to a shinier and a brighter day, to shinier and a brighter world.
Yes, it will be a totally brand new world from here on and it is bound to be a lot more creative, courageous and compassionate.
Raju Mandhyan
On April, I am inviting you to an online chat on “Tenacity through Tough Times,” please click to learn more and sign up. The first 25 seats are complimentary.