Monkey's Paw

Well!!!

I don't think that 2020 is turning out to be much like many people hoped. I'm writing at the start of the 2nd week of "lockdown" in UK in response to the global Covid 19 pandemic. My experience hasn't been that different from life pre-lockdown TBH; having been unemployed since August 2018, money has been too tight to spend on much beside "essentials". Nevertheless; I've had a very positive attitude since late February when I had a flash of inspiration that reminded me that I was in charge of my responses to whatever happens to me and that being more positive would generate the sorts of vibrations around me to enhance not hinder my life. I watched something which made the point that if you're constantly believing that things won't get any better you'll probably collaborate in making that a reality. Think about it: if you have a mindset that fails to recognise the potential positives in a situation, you won't be able to pursue them. If you generally believe that things are "too good to be true", you're less likely to "waste time" exploring their voracity.

I've been actively welcoming abundance into my life, I know how hippy-dippy that sounds, and I don't really care. I was focusing on an abundance of cash (of course) as the way out of my immediate ills and the route to what I want to do next, but the role money, in the brave new Covid 19 world has already changed. The UK government has implemented a punishing policy of "Austerity" for ten years which has left UK society in tatters. Last year Theresa May (who'll not be remembered as even an "adequate" Prime Minister) claimed there to be "no magic money tree" to address the social problems ten years of her party's rule has placed on the country but in the last week, some pretty fundamental things have been addressed- like housing Britain's homeless. 

The crisis is affecting people in all sections of UK society- even the heir to the throne has reportedly contracted it along with the Prime Minister. Businesses have been shuttered, people are not going to work, freelancers and "gig" workers have no income, bills aren't being paid and creditors are having to chill the fuck out. Concessions are being made, payment "holidays" declared and the government has found a Magic Money Tree to make some initial concessions and payments to workers. There is even credible discussion about the introduction of Universal Basic Income! -Not at all capitalist! -A meme doing the rounds currently says something like "If Capitalism is so good, why does Socialism always have to fix it when it fails?" The alternatives include civil unrest once people ran out of reserves and landlords, utility companies etc tried to evict and reclaim what they were owed. To me; it shows how much we- the people literally buy into a satus quo which allows some people to hoard money whilst others literally starve. Traditionally undervalued workers, like those who remove our rubbish and clean hospitals and other public spaces are shown to be absolutely vital to our ability to function as a society. 

People are seeking opportunities to help others in all sorts of ways: Unnecessary panic buying has stripped shops of all sorts of essentials leaving the poor and those vulnerable to scheduled payouts struggling to feed themselves when the cash hits their pockets. My friend's son met an older man in a supermarket where he'd failed to find toilet rolls or meat for him and his wife. Wade ended up taking the man on a shopping trip which included a meat wholesaler contact who gave the older man food at an increased discount and instructed him to contact him when he needed more so that he could deliver the food.

We don't know how long the current crisis will last, but it won't be over quickly. We don't know if the generally supportive attitudes will persist, but I have strong hopes that this country and the rest of the world learns from the current reality. Environmental benefits have been reported as less pollution is being produced and wildlife has taken advantage of restricted humans to make the best of habitats from which they've been systematically pushed out. I hope that the social changes our government has been forced to make won't be surrendered easily. Will they evict the homeless people they've just housed once the pandemic has passed? Will low-paid, essential workers continue to accept their caste? Will people understand that going back to the way things were before is unacceptable because the way things were before is the underlying problem?

When I wished for "Abundance" a global pandemic was never in my worst nightmares, but I think it could prove to be the catalyst for some lasting, positive change.