Imlisanen Jamir
Our planet, along with all of the life forms it sustains, is fragile, and we’ve learnt it the hard way this year.
A virus is killing people. We’ve been forced to practice social distancing and have been robbed of the bite-sized pleasures of life. The pandemic has shown how many of us have this habit of taking things for granted.
Although the pandemic has made us fearful of actually being together right now, it’s also reminded us of just how much our community bonds mean to us. As the COVID-19 pandemic jumped from local neighbourhoods across international borders, we’ve come to realise that our health is so dependent on everyone else’s health.
A realization has dawned that we are responsible for each other – and that idea extends beyond borders. Our collective health determines the health of societies and economies across continents. This understanding needs to create a sense of unity. It has also shown people how we take community connections for granted. So many everyday joys have been taken away by this virus.
What has also been seen is the community stepping up to look out for one other. We are thinking as an interconnected society, not merely as individuals. This was something which was needed given the way things were going before COVID. Protectionist politics still exist but when it counted the most our community ethos has stood to the test.
Humans are social creatures and always have been. As far back as we can trace, humans have relied on social groups for survival. They helped to teach life skills and foster a sense of identity and belonging, and that still rings true today.
Feeling socially interconnected is more important now than ever and our reliance on human connection is what will see us through this global crisis. And we’re already coming up with ways to find social connections even when we’re not physically together. It’s rare that an event inspires so many people to stand in unity behind the same cause. But in the midst of all the fear and uncertainty, one thing shines through – the resilience and solidarity of the human spirit in the time of a collective crisis.
This fight for our lives has required each of us to stand up for each other and do our part to stop the spread of COVID-19. It’s prompted greater respect for each other’s lives and greater awareness of how our actions affect people around the world.
Everyone is struggling in some way and we really are all in this together. Knowing that has activated a deep compassion and connection to others, whether it’s our next-door-neighbour or a person living on another continent.
We can overcome this global crisis, but only when we band together.
Comments can be sent to imlisanenjamir@gmail.com
