Lockdown Ends – Happy consumer day!

The News channels were bragging this week about how many millions of dollars people spent in just a few days after the Lockdown. Hundreds of millions of dollars for haircuts, beer, who knows what else. That made me think.

Happy consumer day!

At least it feels like that. That people are out of Lockdown, and now they can fully be what they are supposed to be, consumers. Now, at last, you can shop again. What a fantastic freedom day. People lining up everything, waiting in loooonnnnggg queues and lines to what? To get a pan? To buy a broom after three months, they couldn’t wait any longer. To get some new socks?

crown group modern motion — Photo by Burst on Pexels.com

Let’s celebrate,

Let’s start the shopping party,

We are free!

How ridiculous is that?! The first thing we do and everyone talks about, and everyone wishes for is to go and spend money on things we don’t need wasting time and resources we could use better. Yes, I know we need to support the local economy. But the reality is the local economy needs to change to support us and not the other way around. If we change our consumer behaviour, the economy will change its behaviour. It’s as simple as that! If our values and priorities change, the economy will change too, and everyone will be fine again.

Did we learn anything from the time we could not go shopping?

Did we learn anything from staying at home in Lockdown other than discovering our need to horde stuff and distract ourselves from the meaninglessness of existence by mindless roaming around malls and Ailes? Really? Is that the answer? We can get back now and continue to distract ourselves from the fascinating matters with shopping, buying, spending, sitting in bars, and drinking alcohol with others who need to distract themselves too?

Let me ask:

Why don’t we queue up in nature?
Why don’t we report about long lines of people cleaning the streets of rubbish?
Why don´t we line up at work?
Why don’t we see everyone bending down in community gardens planting organic food rather than bending down in shopping malls buying useless stuff they don´t really need?
Why don’t we form some lines in front and around hospitals helping those who still struggle? Soon they will queue up too, just in front of the hospital for triage.
Why don’t we …? You get the point, and you could complete the list

Of course, I am happy that the Lockdown is over in NSW. And I am looking forward to the day this will happen in Victoria, which will be soon. But the reporting of this “Freedom” day seems to me so ridiculous. We are now free to leave our homes and what do we do? We go shopping and consuming. Because that’s what lives seems to be about. That’s what we are, customers, shoppers, and clients to our corporate master. We are free to be shopping mall slaves.

A new perspective

I would hope, and I would think that this time in Lockdown gave us some new perspectives. Some new insight into what our lives are about, why it matters that we are here and what we could be back in our societies.

Maybe its not about consumption but connection?

But maybe I am wrong. Maybe all that, all the consumption after Lockdown is just an expression of our desire to connect with others. To meet up and do something together outside of our houses, out there in the unknown with unknown people. We are humans, and humans belong. Perhaps we feel that the battle is won and that now is the time to get back together with our comrades and celebrate the victory over this miserable virus.

Perhaps it’s not about consumption, but connection and connection happen especially through consumption? Is that a fair thought? Is that seeking light in the darkness? Maybe we did miss the friendly faces behind the counter? Perhaps we just missed the chat with our hairdresser? Perhaps we just longed for a conversation with a waiter about the latest News rather than just gulping down our food. Maybe? But maybe not! At least, I hope so.

October 28, 2020October 25, 2021

Out of Lockdown

Tips on what you can do after Victoria’s lockdown restrictions due to the Covied – 19 Pandemic are being eased. Whilst remaining covid safe and thinking about the rest of the world Iout of lockdown means:

Out to celebrate

Out to connect

Out to rediscover

Out to reflect

Out to remember

Out to celebrate

Time to celebrate. Time to cheer up. Time to sing and laugh and be happy. Perhaps you are worn out and tired. Or you are angry, grumpy and afraid. Maybe you are worried because someone, here or oversees got sick during this time. Perhaps you lost a significant portion of what you had. You lost your job. Your business suffered. Whatever your circumstances are celebrate even a little bit. Maybe you think that there is nothing to celebrate and that this should never have happened. Think again. These are events of a lifetime. Unprecedented. And for now, there is reason to rejoice. Only if we can celebrate will our achievements have a lasting impact on our heart and minds. For now, we won! Let’s celebrate!

Out to connect

So much is lost. How do we build up again our connections and relationships? How can we do that in an ongoing and Covid Safe way? In an already individualistic and isolating world, the Pandemic has a significant impact on our relationships. After this extended lockdown, you might not feel the need or any motivation or reason to get out again. To connect with friends and your community in church or your club etc. seems unnecessary. But that is just what loneliness does to us. And we are blind to it.

You can do something about it.

Out to rediscover

Just as connecting with people is high up the list we should do again rediscovering things after we had to spear them for a while is so important for now. Visit places you missed to see. Do also activities you could not do, like hiking your favourite path etc. What is something you want to rediscover? Perhaps after having to spear those things for a while, we see them now from a new perspective and experience them in a new way. Maybe now we rediscover something as being valuable and important to us, and we did not know it until now.

Out to reflect

It might be over at last and for now. But it is only a chapter. The Pandemic is not over yet. All over the world countries go through all kinds of situations and scenarios, and we are concerned not only because of the news but because of our connections through families, friends or general interest. For us here in Melbourne, the current situation is a relieve for now. So its time to reflect. Perhaps these next weeks and month will be such a time of reflection on what happened and what it did to us. Here are some questions that might help. Questions I ask myself.

How did this time change me?
What did it make me better or worse at?
What should I keep?
What did I learn?
What am I afraid of?

Out to remember

When life gets back a little bit more to a normal rhythm, you have to remember all those things you thought and planned and hope for. Things like:

remember all your new good habits
remember experience
remember you plans
remember lessons learned
remember its not over yet
remember promises made

Out to celebrate

And of course, I have to repeat this. Celebrate. It’s like celebrating outstanding achievement and do not be mistaken; it is one. In Victoria, we had more than 800 death, and we prevented many more, not only because of Covid but other preventable death. Our healthcare workers are not at their limits, and our hospitals are not overcrowded. There is enough support for everyone who struggles financially and for businesses to get through this. We have a healthy democracy, and we are in a great place, not perfect, but great. And we should celebrate first before we get back to work and before we get worried again about what’s going on in our world. Cheers.

September 25, 2020September 25, 2020

Springvale Library and Community Hub

Everything is closed, but people are open to connect.

After a long time of isolation, there is nothing better than to connect ( in a lawfull way) with other people. But how, if my family and my friends do not live nearby and where to connect when everything is still close. Everything is still closed, but people are open for interaction and a chat. Family and Friends are not the only people who we can engage and build a relationship with. Perhaps we struggle after almost six month of isolation and social distancing to connect even with old friends. But Strangers? With a mask? And at physical 1.5m distance? Yes, they can make us feel connected, especially if we are going through a time of loneliness. Talking to a stranger has many benefits. It’s much more memorable than your last binged watched TV series.

During the time of restrictions, I am visiting most of the public open spaces in my 5km radius. Going for a walk or taking my kids to our favourite playgrounds. I am observing people coming together much more often, starting small conversations, connecting with others more often than usual. Going over and over to the same place makes it easier to interact with strangers, especially if you are not an outgoing personality.

I got to the point were I am looking forward to going to the park or playground with my children and to meet some familiar faces I have seen a couple of times and perhaps start a conversation. Another person was brave enough to start a small talk with me. After they left, I felt happier. Next time I probably will say “hello” and perhaps start a chat. Vivek Murphy said: “ Most of the impromptu interactions that we’re avoiding are chock-full of richness.”

These interactions can be micro-interactions, just a small gesture of Kindness, smile, a word of encouragement or holding a door can make a difference in someone’s life, through a small kindness gesture you can give someone the feeling of being valued. You can save someone without never knowing.

Springvale Library

and Community Hub

I am happy about Springvale’s latest project to improve this vital space to connect. The new Library in Springvale and Community Hub is almost finished and ready to be opened. At the moment it’s possible to walk in the park and use the playground, but the library is still closed and one part of the sports area is still under construction. The outdoor space is open now for the community to visit. Moreover, it is an inviting place where the neighbourhood and visitors can come together, have a walk in the park or a BBQ when allowed again. Children can play and have fun exploring the sensory playground, the water well and giant swings. There will be a sports area and a cafe as well as open-air community activities.

According to the council of the City of Greater Dandenong, the new hub will foster:

Collaboration – Linking communities, individuals, groups, agencies and Council

Self Determination – Enabling people and communities to make own decisions.

Empowerment – helping others to develop and grow in confidence, career, life and choices

Collective Action – gathering people and organisations together to have a stronger voice

Shared Experience – working and learning together to help increase understanding and empathy

Strategic Plan 2020-25 (https://greaterdandenong.com/document/24197/springvale-community-hub)

The details about the site according to the council’s site, is exciting:

“This world-class community facility will provide a variety of learning, leisure and cultural opportunities. It will include a modern, state-of-the-art library featuring new technologies and equipment, flexible community meeting spaces, customer service area and plentiful parking. The outdoor green spaces will be extensively landscaped and allow for a variety of passive and active recreation uses, community events and social gatherings.”

And sustainability was also an essential criterion:

“The new Springvale Library and Community Hub has been designed with holistic sustainability principles in mind and is targeting Net Zero Emissions for the building operations in addition to a 5-Star Green Star Rating. Operational emissions will be reduced through design features such as a high-performance façade, efficient heating and cooling systems and low energy LED lighting. Further to this, the building intends to offset the remainder of its emissions though installation of a 220kW rooftop solar PV array. The array will consist of approximately 730 panels and generate 280MWh per year; that’s enough to power around 50 family homes each year. The sustainability of the City Hall has also been improved.”

Let’s discover for now the outside of the Community Hub and Library in Springvale. We are looking forward to the opening of the facility to the public.