Debate Is Over

Earth day this year fell smack dab in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. I know past years have seen groups amass on opposite side of the fence when it comes to man’s impact on his environment. I would hope that this year the debate is over. The results of us being forced to back off on our out of control consumption are impossible to miss. The air is cleaner and the earth is healthier after only a couple of weeks into the forced shutdown. No need to debate cause and effect on that one.

Another argument that should also be put to rest - minimum wage. Many are claiming it is impossible to live off the subsidy the government is giving them during this pandemic despite their subsidy being greater than what our most vulnerable citizens are forced to live on year-round.

Lastly as someone who has worked in healthcare for most of his life, I am a little tired of everyone superficially “supporting healthcare workers”. This not a cool social media thing to do. It is something you should be doing 24/7 outside of a pandemic. And if you really believe in supporting healthcare workers, stop voting in political parties who are making it impossible for healthcare workers to make patient care their priority. We need to stop forcing the privatization of this essential service.

As it has been said before - this pandemic will not define us but it will reveal us.

 “Poverty is not having nothing. Poverty is being legally excluded from having sufficient access to resources to exist. Life on Earth used to lack a price tag. We changed that by locking up access to natural resources & letting the owner class hold all the keys. Unconditional Basic Income is your key.” — Scott Santens

First Month

It has only been a month since the social-isolation lockdown but it seems like it has been longer. It gets awkward when we walk our dog and spot another couple walking theirs a block away. Everyone crosses the street before getting too close to someone else. A month ago that would have felt weird, even rude. Today it seems the norm and I suspect it will feel weird to stop isolating when this whole thing is over. 

There is a lot of talk about rolling back restrictions and getting things back to normal. As a guy who knows how many ventilators there are in the province, I think ending the restrictions now would be a big mistake. There is a way to go before we can be assured that you will not have to win the ventilator lottery if you have a serious reaction to COVID-19. If we want to make sure we have enough ventilators for everyone who needs them, we are going to have to reduce the number of people who are getting infected at the same time.

We’ve had a long time to prepare for this pandemic, it has been coming for around twenty years. I’d hate to see our state if something like this were to catch us by surprise.

“There really is no middle ground, and it’s very tough to say to people, ‘Hey, keep going to restaurants, go buy new houses, ignore that pile of bodies over in the corner.’” - Bill Gates (b. 1955)

Mediocrity Looks For Opportunity

The pandemic has been in full force for a few weeks now. Most of us have settled into a routine of self-isolation and, in some cases, self-pity.  Not everyone can cope the same with the uncertainty that surrounds us. Some are pursuing the situation as an opportunity for self-growth while others are just doing their best to weather the storm.  Everyone is doing their best with what they have.

It is times like this that I remind myself that whether or not I can find opportunity in this situation, I know mediocrity is always looking for a foothold and is vigilantly watching for an opportunity.  It is up to me to create opportunity for myself and limit the opportunities I am creating that will allow mediocrity to creep into my life.

It is never easy to pursue mastery. Thousands of excuses are available to avoid workouts, eat poorly, procrastinate, complain, point a finger, or break promises.  Every excuse I choose to use is an opportunity mediocrity will exploit to gain a foothold. Forward momentum is more difficult during times of crisis but slipping backwards is not. If mastery is not an option during rough times, rejecting mediocrity always is.

“The key to growth is the the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.” - Lao Tzu 

Connecting Beyond Project

Social isolation is a tough but necessary strategy if we are going to stop the exponential spread of COVID-19. While many of us are complaining about being bored at home, more vulnerable members of our community are trapped in the same situation without access to a computer. Without basic equipment our students cannot access their lessons, our seniors cannot see their families, and our underprivileged cannot access the resources they need to care for their families. Their isolation is almost absolute.

Silent River Kung Fu’s Connecting Beyond Project is about helping everyone stay engaged during these times of forced isolation by providing the resources necessary to stay connected while maintaining social isolation. If you have a spare working computer, iPad, or other device that you are able to donate to help bring some of our more vulnerable closer to their families, their school, and the support they need, please contact Silent River Kung Fu to arrange the pickup and disinfection of your device. We are coordinating with other resources and organizations in Stony Plain to ensure they will get to the people who need them the most.

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” - Dr. Seuss (1904 - 1991)