Don’t just be another gunna!

It appears that about 80% of most news bulletins over recent weeks have featured stories about Covid-19 and in most cases, it’s been one bad news story after another. Sadly too, I don’t think there’s much doubt that the news isn’t going to get any better for a while yet.

For this column I’d like to move right away from the bad news and share some of the good things that I’ve seen happening among our community, things where people are doing nice things to and for others. In doing this, I’m hoping that many more of our readers might think about what you too can do to make someone else’s situation better or simply just make them feel good. Our Mission Statement says we want to try and bring out the best in people so let’s see if we can do a bit more of that here, now.

While walking to work last week along National Avenue, I noticed all the driveways had been decorated with chalk drawings and nice words. I’m not sure if one person or one family was responsible or whether it was a street initiative, but it certainly warmed my heart to see the artistic work and sense the spirit that had gone into it. Interestingly, following this, my wife and I received a note in our letterbox from a neighbouring family inviting kids in the area to participate in a similar exercise in our street near a small grassed but safe roundabout area. I saw the kids involved having fun last week and the result of their efforts on my way to work a day later.

I am also aware of someone who has made almost an occupation of calling their friends to say hello and check up on them during this time of isolation. That may not sound like much but having been the recipient of such a call from a caring friend, my wife shared how good it made her feel, especially after being like so may others, basically housebound with no personal contact outside family. You also don’t have to go far to hear how many people are claiming to be climbing the walls.

If you follow our Thumbs section each week, you’ll also have noticed any number of Thumbs up for people who have done nice things for others during the pandemic.

There are so many other nice things happening between people, far too many to mention here, but most of us would have heard about something kind or caring that someone has done for someone else.

The point I’m making is very simple and straight-forward. There are a lot of people who have had their world turned upside down over recent months and many would be contending with all manner of trials and challenges. You may not be able to solve their problems but it’s amazing how a little encouragement or a small gesture of kindness can make a difference in these people’s lives, possibly even prevent further hardship or tragedy.

Let me encourage you to think about those around you who would benefit from a word of encouragement, a phone call or maybe something more, and if you’re in a position to do so, make the effort and do it. Good intentions will take you part of the way, doing it will take you all the way. Please don’t just be another gunna.