Season 4: Episode 1 – R-E-F-L-E-C-T

 

If you’re not one of the lucky ones that realised you could enjoy 18 days off by only taking 8 days’ leave, only to return on 3 May, you’re back in the ‘office’ in between a series of short weeks in a short month. April is always a turning point in the year. The post-December catch-up excuses are over, the seasons are changing, and the first quarter is done.

Aretha Franklin’s hit song, Respect, appeared on a long weekend playlist, and as she hit the chorus, I did the classic “insert own lyrics here…” and went into
R-E-F-L-E-C-T mode!

We’ve discussed the pandemic at length in the last two years. The impact on lives, loved ones and businesses. As we reflect on the first quarter of 2022, most of the restrictions from the pandemic have been lifted. Conversations around vaccine passports have also gone very quiet as travel and tourism begin to take-off. There is still plenty of COVID testing going on, but this is mostly to gain access to another country. Recent reports indicated a positive test result in just over 800 people, with no deaths recorded in a twenty-four-hour period. This is a vast jump from the last quarter of 2021 that saw us grappling with Delta and Omicron. As we reflect on the strides, we have made in changing and contributing to change, to sustain the economy and livelihoods, let us accept that we will need to make agility part of future thinking. We have seen lockdown version one and responded accordingly. With reports of increased positive cases in China, and partial lockdowns of Shanghai, are we thinking about version 2?

A period of reflection wouldn’t be complete without considering the war in Ukraine. Media has once again shown it is a key member of society providing updates, sharing stories, and adding hope. The crises of the last two years have shown the need for stable, versatile, and credible media outlets that build integrity and trust with the audiences. Reflection also allows us to consider impact; impact on us and by us.

There is no doubt that the events on a global level have local impact, from rising petrol prices to interest rates, the first quarter of 2022 has also seen many households reflecting on budgeting and spending all under the pressure of renewed loadshedding. It’s been on the back end of rising prices and black-outs that we’ve faced our last challenge for the quarter, inclement weather across many parts of South Africa and devastating flooding in Kwa-Zulu Natal. There is a real need for basic support, so as we reflect in this time, consider your own impact and potentially extending your personal reach a little more to assist those in need. In a radio interview on SAFM last week, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman detailed the devastation, need and relief efforts currently being undertaken in KZN by the Gift of the Givers. Every bit helps and donating is easy.

It is in reflecting that we can restore our inspiration, consider our impact, revive our efforts, and refresh our outlook. We hope you’ve had a peaceful break despite the challenges around us. Here’s to part two of 2022’s four-part series!