Ever notice how life happens while we’re making other plans? There is no doubt we are living in a dangerous, uncertain world.
We may think we have it all together and then along comes Covid-19, which represents a crisis we could not have anticipated. The result, a world in turmoil, in fear and desperation.
In the last several weeks Covid -19 has gone from something that’s happening on the other side of the world and not in our own back yard, to something very present and menacing.
It’s caused fear, hoarding, school closings, meeting cancellations, business and travel disruptions, and a free-falling stock market… the list goes on. We’ve been warned about and guided with new sanitary precautions and keeping a social distance, elbow bumping or staying home altogether. And medical chaos.
The repercussions of Covid-19, the economic, political, media, social and medical chaos it’s created will impact our culture and how we interact with others for a very long time.
Hugs, social interaction, and community nourish us. They are necessary to our emotional and physical well-being. Yet in a pandemic, health and safety may need to come first. So absolutely let’s follow the health and sanitary guidelines that have been laid out by the Center for Disease Control and others. That’s a given.
Yet are there other ways we might consider reaching out to others, and not stay completely isolated? When was the last time you picked up the phone to call someone, just to say hello, how are you? Been thinking about you?
This crisis is an opportunity to rethink, refocus, reflect and reach out to others with a virtual elbow bump.
What can you do today to show someone appreciation? What can you do to cultivate and or nurture a relationship with a client, co-worker, employee, friend or family member?
Remember times of crisis are also times of great opportunities.
Richard Bowen is widely known as the Citigroup whistleblower. As Business Chief Underwriter for Citigroup during the housing bubble financial crisis meltdown, he repeatedly warned Citi executive management and the board about fraudulent behavior within the organization. The company certified poor mortgages as quality mortgages and sold them to Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and other investors.
