Pandemic has Dagg wisdom on my mind

As a baby boomer, born in the early 1950s, I have often reflected on just how fortunate I have been to be born at that time and in this place.

As Fred Dagg was wont to say, ‘‘We don’t know how lucky we are, mate.’’ The past few months have only served to reinforce the sense of serendipity regarding this time and place.

The wonders of technology have made the global community smaller and more connected than ever before. This has both its ups and downs for us as a nation.

Certainly, as an individual, technology has opened up a whole new perspective and sense of immediacy of world events and, of course, the individuals who shape those events.

All of this confirms for me the wisdom of Fred Dagg. Yet I wonder, in the splendid geographical isolation of the southwest Pacific, are we as a nation generally happy about our lot?

I have to say the answer to that question would have to be ‘‘No’’ if the hourly news bulletins and the half-hourly updates are the way we stay informed about how we are travelling as a country.

Or, heaven forbid, if a regular diet of talk-back radio or social media is our main medium for seeking truth, justice and life’s balance.

For both good and bad, Covid-19 has given us all, as individuals, a unique opportunity to reflect on and recalibrate our priorities.

It has given me the rare opportunity to step off the treadmill, even for a short while, and spend time with those important to me. I know for some people this has been a confronting and painful experience, but for me it’s been great.

I guess the definition of happiness will be as varied as there are individuals to define it. Nevertheless, I do think everyone should at least take a little time to reflect on what it means for you.

Covid-19 has also given us Zoom. As someone who thought they were reasonably up with the play technology-wise prior to Covid-19, I had never used Zoom and, to be frank, didn’t really trust it.

Now there isn’t a day goes by that I don’t use the technology. It is still just a tool and has its limitations, but not having to travel to meetings certainly allows a bit more life-work balance.

It’s almost impossible to escape the reality we are on the eve of a general election, and all the hype that goes with the process.

Given the ready access we have to global events, one thing I have learnt over lockdown is that the almost slavish adherence to party politics many of us seem to follow can be foolish and deliver chaos.

As much as I admire the enterprise and endeavour of the United States and its citizens, I can’t help but shake my head in amazement at the chaos infecting that country. Sadly, there appears to be no end in sight. Let’s hope that particular virus stays well away from these shores.

Again, the wisdom of Fred Dagg comes to mind.

One of the privileges of being a mayor is I get to see up close how the main players in the game that is politics conduct themselves. I have to say that across the board, irrespective of party dogma, most are highly intelligent, eloquent, hard-working individuals trying to do the best they can to leave New Zealand a better place.

However, there are some I wouldn’t trust as far as I could kick them … and that’s not far.

Fortunately, that’s the exception rather than the rule.

It’s easy to take democracy for granted and to forget it is a hardwon right that many around the world don’t get to share. So don’t forget to use your two votes thoughtfully.