THE POSITIVE PROFESSOR
CMO of Rutherford Cancer Centres and Former Director of WHO Cancer Programme
SOCIAL media’s voice of calm Karol Sikora has been signed up by the Daily Express. Readers can now enjoy his soothing advice in these troubled times that have won him hundreds of thousands of followers on Twitter. If you need reassuring everything’s going to be all right read Professor Positivity.
THE year 2020 was like no other. There has been an unprecedented crisis and we will be feeling the effects of Covid- 19 and the lockdowns for many years to come.
I always use this time of year for a period of personal reflection and every year I try to enter the next with good intentions of bettering myself. It doesn’t always work, but I always try.
Last year more than any other has demonstrated to me the power of empathy. It’s something I am determined to focus on more this year and I think the world would be a much better place if we all did that.
Love your neighbour as yourself. You do not need to be religious to appreciate the power of those five words.
Too often last year people approached the pandemic and lockdowns through the
narrow prism of how it will affect them, disregarding the impact on others.
It has brought out a nasty streak in many and the debate has become far too poisonous. I sincerely believe that everyone is approaching this crisis in the way they think is best to save more lives.
People aren’t evil or intentionally causing harm. We have to move away from the divisive nature of the discussion – it solves absolutely nothing.
Perhaps I’m old- fashioned, but this seems to be a more recent phenomenon. Is it even possible to reverse it? I’m not sure but all we can do is ensure we don’t get dragged into the mud.
My new year’s resolution will be to walk in someone’s shoes before judging them. We are all fighting our own battles and if we treated others how we would like to be treated ourselves, then we will move through 2021 with far more compassion and unity than we did in 2020.