Interconnectedness

“We are all leaves in different branches of the same tree.” – Laura Lynne Jackson

Beyond such direct impacts of the pandemic, there are indirect effects. Living in a virtually connected world has now plunged us all headfirst into the digital era. Contacts beyond the nuclear family are now more often than not taking place through the telephone and video-conferencing. Whilst this is a good thing, there is a huge difference between virtual and person-to-person contact.

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected millions of lives across the globe in ways we never thought possible. Throughout history, we have experienced wars, genocides, oppression and other pandemics – the Spanish Flu is a classic example. The difference this time around is that we are living in the digital era – a time where interconnectedness is such that we can tap into the ‘ether’ and communicate in real-time with others on the far side of the earth and beyond.

Our global village

The transfer of knowledge, emotions, goods, services, and ideas through digital means, has transformed the way we perceive and relate to one another in a positive way. Never before in our history, as human beings have solidarity and reciprocity been so strong and tangible as it has been in the last nine months. The world’s nations, mainly through digital technology, have joined forces, irrespective of their beliefs and political inclinations. Their sole aim is to beat an invisible and deadly enemy that does not discriminate between rich or poor, black or white.

For those amongst us who are well-meaning, we are forgetting our differences, setting aside our self-interest, and focusing on the common good as one global village. As the prize-winning British Pakistani novelist Nadeem Aslam says, ‘pull a thread here and you’ll find it’s attached to the rest of the world.’ We are well and truly living in extraordinary times. We are gradually but steadily learning our way forward in a new normality, however challenging it is!

All shows to confirm how beneficial it was that over the years the country had invested heavily on life-long learning and digital training. It also gives me pride that in my tenure as junior minister for active ageing and rights for persons with disability, I had incessantly forged ahead with numerous types of such training programmes for the elderly. It turned out to be so beneficial for many of our elder relatives during the social distancing measures in recent months.

Family ties

Apart from bringing us together as one human race, Covid-19 has changed our family structure in ways that millenials in particular have never experienced before. Our family units are going through drastic changes. We are hunkering down inside our homes and refraining from getting close to people that are not part of our inner circle.

In the process this has brought many of us closer physically and emotionally and has created powerful shared processes quite alien to our usual way of life. As Charles Dickens once wrote ‘It was the best of times; it was the worst of times’, a moment in which stories of heroic family closeness and resilience, and unmitigated family stress and conflict are both prevalent. The moments have been described by family therapists as filled with possibilities for both gains and deterioration - depending on our attitudes when accepting the new reality.

It is indeed heart-breaking that some of us have lost family members to the virus and others have had to go through heartache and sorrow because we were unable to be of comfort to our loved ones in their final days. We have also been unable to join en masse as communities in bidding our relatives and friends farewell. For those who have lost their loved ones during the pandemic, the circumstances have been devastating. For almost everyone, there are anxieties and other feelings related to such potential losses.

Additionally, despite Government’s bold economical interventions, and combined with the other problems, such as increased unemployment and financial vulnerability, dealing with loss and possible loss are ubiquitous.

Human vs Digital

Beyond such direct impacts of the pandemic, there are indirect effects. Living in a virtually connected world has now plunged us all headfirst into the digital era. Contacts beyond the nuclear family are now more often than not taking place through the telephone and video-conferencing. Whilst this is a good thing, there is a huge difference between virtual and person-to-person contact.

On the one hand, there is the possibility of losing touch with persons close to us and - ironically, on the other, we have the potential to forge new friendships like never before. The impact of Covid-19 on our lives will only be fully understood in the years to come. Resilience and adaptability are part of human nature and I am sure that we will emerge from these trying times changed for the better.

The education system itself, for instance, is a clear example of this new normality. Hundreds of dedicated teachers have been reaching out to their students via online learning. Beyond any doubt, that was an immediately suitable alternative which cannot however, replace the tried and tested schooling system. Schools are where togetherness and classes in the new form of bubbles are key to personal development and character building. It is by far the best way of introducing our youngsters to responsible team spirit and solidarity - two indispensable ingredients for adulthood in a fair society.