COVID-19 Times

There is a social demand in this crisis, but also a spiritual demand. The needs are relational. Without the social dimension, we fall into fanaticism. Without the spiritual dimension, we fall into pessimism and futility.

“We are all a mix of so many things: equally happy and sad, strong and fragile, confident and scared… the soonest we accept this reality, the soonest we will be able to navigate through life more smoothly.”

We often filter ourselves socially, follow trends and offer a version of ourselves we think others will accept more, writes speaker Ricardo Karam.

The times we are going through are like nothing anyone of us has ever lived before. And that world we are going to step back into, once this pandemic gives ground, is as much of a mystery today as it was a year ago when we were watching videos of hospitals being built at record speed in China, not knowing how this same threat would be turning the entire world upside down a few weeks later.

Today we live in a world where everyone is a bit more vulnerable, where everyone needs a bit more comfort. Unfortunately, as human beings, we always tend to show ourselves more favorably, which hurts both the people we interact with and ourselves. We polish our image, iron out the crinkles, sweep the failures under the rug, and put on a big smile, even more so when we are seen.

Stories I usually share with you have taught me a great deal about shedding one’s preconceived ideas at the door, empathy, vulnerability, and authenticity. I hope that, by retelling them, I offer them to you.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Case for Plastic Water Pipes

HDPE pipe is recyclable and reusable, durable and long-lasting and resistant to corrosion.  It is estimated that PVC and PE pipes can have a lifetime exceeding 100 years. They are eight times less dense than steel pipes, and therefore there is no need to bring in heavy lifting equipment to shift them while they are being installed. Globally, up to 30% of all piped water is lost through pipe leakages somewhere in a system. The main cause attributed to pipe failure. Plastic process pipes systems are flexible and do not carry the same inherent risk of cracking as metal or concrete alternatives. They are less affected by ground movements and are strong enough to withstand deformation from traffic loading. Their inherent resistance to corrosion also makes them less vulnerable to leaks originating inside the pipe. Plastic pipes also require fewer joints. HDPE pipes, for example, can be produced, transported and installed in longer lengths than metal pipes. This allows plastic pipelines t...
Read more

Earth Day - Thursday April 22nd

Image
Zero-Waste Tips For The Backyard   Celebrate EarthDay 2021 Living in a sustainable home doesn’t stop at the front door — or the back door, for that matter. The backyard — is filled with opportunities to be more eco-friendly, from your lawn and garden to the building materials used in your deck.  With that in mind:  Here are a few of the best zero-waste ideas  for outfitting the eco-friendly yard of your dreams. 1. Build with sustainably sourced wood, post-consumer recycled plastics or a composite of both.  Using recycled materials is a great way to make your garden zero-waste.  Trex  uses a mix of reclaimed sawdust and recycled plastic film from plastic bags and wrappers.  A Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) logo guarantees that your lumber was sourced with forest conservation in mind. An “FSC 100%” label means the product is made from virgin materials from an FSC-certified forest. A “FSC Mix” label means the product is a blend of recycled materia...
Read more