He Waka Eke Noa

In the window of a building on the other side of one of the walls that border our outside area is posted these words of encouragement. I see it every time I do my walk and it speaks to me. If you are Facebook friends with me, you may have viewed the video I posted yesterday in which I discussed my disgust with the stupidity, selfishness and entitlement of humanity and my support for the way that New Zealand is being aggressive in suffocating the spread of the virus in this recent community presence of the Delta variant.

One of the reasons on my list of leaving the US and picking New Zealand in particular, was my search for a society that was less individualistic and more collectivistic. I have said many times before that my rights end where others' begins and we should all be willing to do what we can to make the world better for others, not just for ourselves. When a crisis arises that is exacerbated and solved by the way we interact with others and take personal responsibility for our actions, one would want to be in the boat with a collectivist society, not an individualistic one. This pandemic continues to show societies who and what they are truly made of.

No man is an island and no country, regardless of how remote, is immune to the effects of the actions of others. I have seen via the news and online comments, the overwhelming support for hunkering down and weathering the inconveniences and sacrifices in the short term that have proven to ensure safety and wellness for everyone in the long term.

Ake Ake Kia Kaha means Stay Strong Forever in Maori. I strongly urge that everyone see the big picture in this pandemic. How shortsighted are your plans? Are you seeking instant gratification, with no care for the long term effects of your decisions? Whose life are you conscientiously trying to keep safe by doing your part during this pandemic? Are you honoring the sacrifice and labor of the physicians and medical personnel to whom you claim to have gratitude?

He Waka Eke Noa - we are all in this together. Let us all remember that and be kind. Love is a verb. Show your love for your fellow man by doing your best to keep them safe. Our actions never ever only affect us. Let's stay strong and stay disciplined.

Kia Ora