With the worst pandemic in living memory sweeping the world killing many thousands of people it can be very hard to see past this tragedy and find a silver lining but it is true that every cloud does have one.
Covid-19 is doing what no politician or religious leader has managed to do and that is unite the world and make it a kinder place.
Manufacturing companies are turning their capabilities over to producing much needed ventilators in their thousands, Mercedes F1 team, Dyson and Tesla are all churning them out. Companies that have closed their doors are donating their PPE to the NHS. Chemical and cosmetic companies are turning their skills to manufacturing millions of bottles of sanitiser and gifting them to the NHS. Construction workers toil night and day to build emergency hospitals in ten days.
There are thousands of examples of members of the public risking their own health to help others, and of course the amazing front-line workers who are doing an incredible job despite being exhausted and overwhelmed with the sheer volume of cases that they have to deal with. Going into this crisis the NHS were seen as a drain of the country’s finances and will probably come out the other side as our jewel in the crown as people suddenly value their incredible contribution.
Brexit tore us apart. Covid-19 in a very strange way is pulling us together again almost like a healing process provided courtesy of Mother Nature.
More people than ever are working from home as companies adopt better ways of working which will improve mental health and reduce pollution with fewer cars on the road and no planes in the sky.
The environment is benefiting with smog levels dropping dramatically across the world as industry and airlines are silenced and once polluted waters are now clear as nature intended them to be.
Technical and scientific advances forced on to us by this virus can only improve our lives and open up even more avenues of opportunity in the future.
People who are confined to their homes have more time to spend with their families and to realise what really matters in life, using different communication methods to stay in touch with loved ones who they won’t be seeing for some time. All of a sudden people are being nicer to each other, which can only be good for the massive mental health issues that the world is currently experiencing.
I saw a comment on social media a few days ago that said, “Coronavirus is nature’s way of sending us to our rooms.” And when you think about it, that is exactly what is happening. Nature has stood by for hundreds of years watching the human race destroy the environment; it has seen enough and finally stamped its foot saying “No more!” and its absolutely right.
We are being given a snap shot of what life could be like if we did the right things such as looking after nature, investing time with our families, helping others and using our resources and skills for the betterment of mankind.
We will never have a better opportunity to make the world a better place. And when I stand on my doorstep on Thursday nights at 8pm, I won’t just be applauding the amazing frontline workers, I will also be applauding what the world could be if we learn the lesson that nature has given us.
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