Day 7 - 117 -- Response to Adversity

Sections of the I Ching cover responses to adversity. The current isolation does fit the oppression aspect of the teachings.  The two main responses find roots in finding someone to blame for the situation or choosing to grow from the experience. The former may be the knee jerk reaction -- the dichotomous thinking -- either-or way of looking at life. If we take time to ponder -- that introspective reflection -- we may see that the situation isn't quite that simple -- the both-and type of thinking. Often there isn't one cause in these multi-faceted problems. In fact, public health approaches have termed these wicked problems due to their extremely complex nature; there is no single response that will fix the whole problem.

Many writers I've encountered in my field of understanding human behaviour (as it pertains to broader determinants of health and food choice) have noted that life is messy. No single theory will account for it all. Even feeding families brings a multitude of challenges. Currently, many people are temporarily out of work and some don't have a job to return to when the world opens up again. Food banks across nations have been clamoring to meet the huge increase in demand for services -- services that were already sorely stretched past the limits before the pandemic took hold. The increase in food insecurity in our communities brings many emotional responses. In whatever way we can, we need to reach out to help these organizations. Luckily, one very positive response to the pandemic has been ad hoc, often individual, supportive actions. It may be offering an ear (or eyes, if online) to listen to someone who feels alone. It may be starting a social media group to help people connect over common interests or to lend a hand when someone needs assistance.  It could be a nod or 'thank you' to someone who moves to provide at least a 2 metre distance between you and them as you pass. The positives of humanity often show in times of collective stress. Much of this is always there, but during adverse times we look for the helpers and work as a collective just a titch more. A goal wold be to continue these actions once things ease a bit in the coming weeks -- to remember that we are all in this together.

Today the two selections exemplify the collective action in supporting others. Each fits the new genre of recording by distance with newer technologies. We see awesome example in social media daily. The first song is a cover by many Canadian artists that ended the national Stronger Together Tous Ensemble televised special, which raised awareness and funds for Food Banks Canada. This version is tight and stunning. The second song, which raised funds for COVID-19 relief in the UK. It was recorded at BBC Stay Home Live Lounge -- so another isolation video collaboration. This cover ever so coolly speaks to what adversity can do for individuals if we choose the growth option. Stay safe. Enjoy!


Lean on Me -- ArtistsCAN

Times Like These -- Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Chris Martin, Dua Lipa, Sean Paul, Ellie Goulding, and many others (listed at end of video)

NOTE: scroll down a bit in the story to the first link for the song.