When Covid-19 struck the world, the thought of change was frightening when world leaders resorted to drastic measures instituting never-before-heard-of protocols. The life-changing phenomenon has not only altered our landscape but changed our mindset as well.
While we are trying to assess how we have been managing the changes, how about looking into the meaning of the change? The greatest discovery during this pandemic has nothing to do with variants and vaccines. People changed their attitudes.
Someone said, “Believe that you possess significant reserves of health, energy and endurance and your belief will create the fact.” The fact is that we are still alive and can still contribute to the meaning of the change. Our tired health workers could get some inspiration from one Alberta Flanders, “Sometimes only a change of viewpoint is needed to convert a tiresome duty into an interesting opportunity.”
We focus much on managing the change; Managing the change vs. giving meaning to the change. When we faced retrenchment, we found other ways to feed our families that meant survival. We swallowed our pride and got in line for the community pantry. When faced with the difficult decision as to whether or not we should go back to our work abroad, we weighed the pros and cons in order to give our family the best of both worlds. We stayed home and became small business entrepreneurs.
Home schooling was a difficult adjustment for both parents and children. That means parents are now very much involved in their children’s education and academic development. Work from home meant parents need to schedule the household chores otherwise it would be chaotic not to organize the management at home as well.
When a former taxi driver decided to quit working as one and opted to stay home, it simply meant that he valued, for the most part, protection for himself and his family from the high risk of getting the infection from a passenger.
It is for the same reason that health workers would rather be accommodated elsewhere or sleep in the hospital than go home and take the risk of contaminating members of the family.
Managing the pandemic entails not only the acceptance of the change but also understanding the necessity of the change. We must, therefore, learn to appreciate the change.
There are instances though when the change will involve spending money like the executive order requiring PUV owners to install purifiers. Nowadays, every penny counts. Who is counting the commission?