ACTS OF CHARITY BIND US WHEN TIMES ARE HARD

With our society and economy under siege, it’s time to pay it forward by looking out for other members of the community by whatever means at your disposal

EVEN as we watch our economy – and some would say society – slide backwards … don’t forget to pay it forward.

It feels like the world is completely out of control, but the truth is we still have a choice.

We can choose to use panic as an energy for anger, to assault and abuse those who are only trying to help – supermarket workers, emergency services, teachers – or we can choose to turn our own emotions into empathy, to look out for neighbours, for small businesses, for schools. To pay it forward.

I’ve seen scenes both in person and on social media in the last week that literally make me laugh and cry.

The memes from other mums are a daily delight as we stress-laugh our way through the anxiety as we worry about our children, worry about their teachers, worry about our jobs and just worry about the world.

Then there are the groups I’ve joined online to look after neighbours and health care workers that spark such joy, I can’t help but choose to share the love.

So go ahead, add yourself to Got Your Back – Gold Coast, described as such by the admin: “This is a page where you can ask for help, for food if you are desperate, anything you need. And I hope that people ‘share the love’ and give anything they can to people who need it! As Aussies, we have each other’s back!! We’ve got this!”

Giant handclap emoji, please.

And then there’s Adopt a Healthcare Worker Queensland, which is all about supporting those who are supporting us. You list your postcode location and adopt a nearby health worker, committing to support them in any way possible.

“Find out what will help them to function,” advises the admin. “Do they need you to prepare some meals they can freeze? Do they need you to pick up or look after their kids? Even if it’s on the one day they get off, so they can catch up on some sleep! Do they need a shoulder to cry on? If we all pitch in, then maybe we can reduce the impact COVID-19 will have on our communities!”

Like ScoMo says, we need to tell some stories of happiness and kindness in these dark times, and I’m choosing to do that. And it does make me feel better.

But then I drop by the supermarket and see uniformed security guards posted at the front doors and it feels like I’ve fallen into an alternative universe.

Fights over toilet paper? Abuse of staff? This is not Australia.

I think that as a nation we’re still reeling from the fact that is really affecting us, every single one of us, in so many ways – from our pantries to our bank balances to our future employment. We’re so used to being on the outside looking in on global issues, it’s hard to believe we’re really in the thick of this crisis.

But we are all in this together right now. Which is exactly why we need to choose to pay it forward – and I mean that literally.

Anyone who can support local business, who can pay their bills, who can add staff, needs to do so now. Just as anyone who can let a bill slide or who can reduce the rent, should do so now.

A friend tells me her family is waiting on tens of thousands