Point Of View…

What a year it has been to be a human being. And what a week it has been to be a woman.

This type of post is not typical of this blog, but after much thought I believe that where we are given the opportunity to practice free speech we should use it where we have thoughts worth sharing.

I am sure many of you reading this are aware of what has been occurring in the news recently regarding women and the subsequent conversations. I am not here to talk more about this particular news story, but how these events link to our ability as humanity to tackle the big problems our society is currently facing.

We are tired. Tired of shouting above the noise to have our view listened to. Tired of fighting for many different causes that have somehow all become our responsibility. Tired of explaining issues that have been around for years over and over again to those privileged enough to be able to ignore them. This last year has shown us more than a pandemic, but exposed every inequality that we are currently harbouring in our societies. And in its most blunt form, the question is: how many people are we going to lose before we change?

We need to learn the ability to see the world through the eyes of others, whether that is imagining a street the way a woman sees it, a series of entrances and exits and dark spots and quietness, viewing our supermarket shelfs or products away from a mindset of white privilege, or emphasising with the huge amount of people who may lose their homes as a consequence of continued climate change. Because how can I take on the climate and biodiversity crisis when its not even safe for me to pop to the shops in the evening?

However, reading the news only gets us so far (usually a feeling of despair). On a positive note, there is hope in the conversations being had across genders, races, sexualities and disabilities that mean we can take this opportunity to learn. To educate yourself if you have had the privilege to not experience these experiences, to do more if you have been previously afraid to speak out and take action that results in real change. The next few years will present many more challenges, including the climate and biodiversity crisis, and we need everyone on board if we are to save our planet. That comes from a place of equality.

I’d like to end with a quote from the film ‘This Beautiful Fantastic’ (if you are still looking for something to watch this lockdown, this is a lovely film!). The main character Bella in one of the very first scenes, wakes up, goes to the mirror and says: “Today, I am going to make a difference”. For me, I think this a great, positive way to start the day, and if you make a difference for one person, animal or plant by showing kindness, then that is a day well spent.