Back in the 90s, I created the Law of Cooperative Action at Brock University, that basically states that we are all interconnected and interdependent.
Every person and everything relies on something or someone else for survival. Sometimes we humans forget that and believe we are the centre of the universe and that all things revolve around us as individuals. That is so far from what reality really is and the test we are facing now with the COVID-19 virus will see us as winners or losers in the end.
Let me put it this way. We are all living in this fast flowing stream I will call the River of Life. We are not in separate streams, but we are all in the same stream, and what happens in one part of the stream affects the other parts of that same stream. This virus proves that theory is correct.
We cannot control what happens in the stream, all we can do is control how we navigate our part of the stream keeping in mind not to knowingly harm the stream and more importantly not to allow the stream to harm us.
During this global crisis we each, as individuals navigating this stream, have the ability to either harm the stream or contribute to the cleansing of the stream. Remember every time you do something that disregards the health of the stream you are adversely affecting the rest of the stream which will eventually affect you personally.
When you disregard physical distancing you are harming the stream. If you go to a home party with a large group of people, you are harming the stream. If you think that it is cool not to wear a mask, then you are harming the stream. If you do not wash your hands and sanitize regularly you are harming the steam. You may think, ‘so what,’ and that would be okay if you were alone on an island, but the fact is your actions, or lack thereof, could actually kill another person, because we are all interconnected.
If you are bashing your government, locally, provincially, and federally, here in Canada, you are definitely harming the stream. Whether you like it or not, they are all doing their best. It may not be perfect, and there may be some glitches to overcome, but they are doing their best. Remember, they are in this stream with us.
This is the time we all need to come together with life jackets, and other floating devices, to help those who are having trouble keeping above the water. We need to look around us to see if others need something, rather than simply focus on our problems. Don’t get me wrong — we are all having a rough time coping with the present, and worrying about the future. It is not easy, and I am not suggesting it is.
But if we all start to focus on what we can do for others, instead of only focusing on what others can do for us, we can save the stream. For example, we can reach out to friends and family with more than a text. Make a phone call. Use a video chat app. We can still check to see if someone needs help getting food and other items, especially those who you know live alone. We may be into a stage of recovery that makes us more comfortable about going out, but not everybody feels that way, and we may be forgetting there are those who need our help as much as they did last March.
If you are not supporting your local restaurants by ordering takeout, maybe it’s time to try. I know people who usually eat out two to three times a week. If you feel comfortable resuming that, it’s a personal decision, but if you don’t, order in. I know your favourite restaurant will really appreciate it.
When you go for a walk or a hike and you are approached by someone coming toward you, we still need to give them space to pass, but more importantly, give them a nice smile along with a friendly greeting. You will make their day.
Finally, by understanding that we are all in this together, and that no one is alone, we can work in harmony with the same goal, that being keeping the River of Life flowing clean and smooth. If this stream gets to the point of being so polluted it is uninhabitable, then where will we be?
Let’s all try to swim together in the same direction, and let’s remember the importance of saving the stream.
Ted Mouradian is the President of the 2% Factor Inc. and creator of the Law of Cooperative Action. He is an author and professional speaker and can be reached at [email protected].
