16/03/2020
There is no doubt that these are worrisome and dangerous times. Lately, it seems like we are constantly faced with great challenges, such as, climate change, natural disasters, mass shootings, political, racial, and social wars, gender violence and discrimination, along with the daily stress of life, work, and family. I think with so much ugly out there, we sometimes forget to find the love, the beauty, the strength and the brave that life can be. Everyday, ordinary people do amazing, even heroic things for the good of you, me, and society as a whole. These people, these actions, often go unnoticed, unappreciated.
As most of you know, I am a Canadian, who together with my family, lives in Spain. A country which is in a state of alarm due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are on lock down, with access only to primary essentials, such as supermarkets and pharmacies. In these scary and unsecure times, it is easy to focus on all the bad. As a small company dedicated to the tourist industry we were hit hard by many cancellations, we were saddened watching people hoard goods, leaving others without basic necessities, we were and are at loss, without the freedom we so often take for granted, to go where we please when we please, and worse of all we are saddened by the fear we saw and continue to see, the fear of the human touch, in a Country and culture where touching is as essential as the air we breathe. However, in all of this ugliness and fear, I got to experience a moment. One of those moments that make you believe again, feel again, love again and be proud to be alive. A couple of nights ago with the help of social media, WhatsApp, and texts, a call was sent out to everyone across Spain to open their windows, at 10:00 PM and to applaud. To applaud the healthcarers, the supermarket employees, the pharmacists and the carriers of these goods. To applaud those individuals who are putting themselves at risk everyday, who are working extra hours, extra shifts for the good of you, me and society as a whole. I am sharing a short video from my home town Pontevedra, to hopefully share the hope, the belief, the love and the pride I feel to be alive.
Stay safe, be safe and remember to be thankful!