Turning Challenges into Opportunities
Submitted by Audrey Aczel, Communications & Event Manager, OCA
There is no denying that we are all experiencing something very new and very different in our lives at this time. For those of us lucky enough to have escaped the hardships of war, or poverty, or serious illness, to name a few, the recent crisis is a foreign feeling of great unease and uncertainty.
To some degree or another, we have all been affected, many of us now working from home, or not working at all. We worry about our family, our friends, our business, our community, and the greater global economy. While we are fortunate enough to be able to take refuge in the comfort of our own homes, with clean, running water, fresh food to eat, a comfortable bed to sleep in, social media to keep in contact with our love ones, and entertainment in abundance our fingertips, the stress of our lives in upheaval and being pulled out of our “norm” is still a harsh reality.
The news is prevalent and hard to escape, and yet also necessary for us to keep informed and up-to-date. Finding a healthy balance between getting the latest COVID-19 information and losing ourselves in mindless and fun activities whether alone or those we live with, is essential for our mental health and well-being. Keeping our mental health in check is key to facing whatever comes our way with dignity, grace and humanity.
While we are early into our fight and the situation is evolving rapidly and daily, one thing that stands out is that we are entering a new world and that things will never quite be the same again. And that is not a bad thing — great opportunity for change is born from the most difficult of times.
Change in the way we view and act in the world. The way we treat ourselves and others. The way we interact with the world socially, environmentally and economically…
There is also great opportunity for those of us in the co-operative movement. Not only to provide solutions to the many challenges that this crisis will bring to our communities, but to share our stories of how we came together co-operatively to solve these issues. There is opportunity to leverage our co-operative principles and values — what makes us so unique and amazing — and show the world what we are capable of. What better time for co-operatives to shine and share how we impact our communities and help build a better world!
So remember, in those moments where you see more darkness than light, when you worry for humanity and how we will get through this, you already have the answer: co-operatively. Tomorrow Needs Us.
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