Edition 288 – Kind Words & Good Deeds

We had a row in our household last week over a social media post. My wife’s cousin ranted ad-nauseum about the current lockdown situation in New South Wales. She was vitriolic in her comments and her name calling of public officials was simply appalling. Personally, I don’t know how she’s still on that particular social media platform, so personal and vile are her comments.

The interesting thing about this is that my wife’s cousin doesn’t live in Australia. She lives in the UK. She’s never visited Australia…ever. Yet, as we know, social media has given all and sundry a platform for whatever ridiculous thoughts spew out of their mouths, including by people who don’t actually understand the nuances of the situation.

Our row was simply as a result of the fact that, as best as possible, I really don’t want to hear this rubbish. There’s enough negativity going on at the moment without allowing someone else, from somewhere else, to enter our front door. My wife’s cousin’s pattern of behaviour has been this way for a long time. She’s just progressed to a new (low) level.

I make mention of this as a result of the fact that, right now, it’s important for all of us to simply engage in some kind words and good deeds with each other. It doesn’t take much. Yet, it could really make a difference to the recipient.

1. If your team have been stood down due to the lockdown in any state, check in with them every couple of days. They may not be coping as well as you’d think and a call out of the blue might be the pick-me-up they need to keep their levels of positivity up.
2. Tip your local cafe when you pop in for a take-away coffee. I know that most Australians consider it an American “thing”, but what’s a dollar to you on a $4.00 coffee, when to the cafe, whose revenue is down anywhere north of 40%, it’s not merely the amount, but the gesture that makes a difference.
3. Check in with your suppliers and other key service providers. If you have a rough idea what your plans are looking like once some degree of normality returns, then keep them in the loop. The fact you’re checking in means you care – and that you’ll be front of mind when you’ll be needing them again.
4. Ask the delivery guy that comes to your home or office what their name is. It’s usually the same person and as the old saying goes, the most beautiful sound to someone’s ears is the sound of their own name. By acknowledging their name, you’re treating them as an individual, not as “the delivery guy”.

There’s plenty of other gestures that we could all engage in right now to help each other out. A text message of support. A short phone call to say “I’ve been thinking of you”. Whatever it is, for goodness sake make it a positive one. The last thing most people want to see or hear right now is unsophisticated negativity from the mouths of people that should know better, or for that matter, the massive piling on undertaken by certain State Premiers towards New South Wales (and therefore, each and every one of us that lives here) about how we’re letting the country down. We’re all trying our best!