I’ve always loved the quote, “Why do we fall Bruce? So that we can learn to pick ourselves up”. Most of you will recognize this quote from Batman. I remember hearing it for the first time when watching the movie, and it has always stuck with me.
In a nutshell, it means we must always find a way to move forward no matter what hits come our way. It is a lesson that cannot be taught, and unfortunately has to be experienced personally. Failing is necessary. But it’s how you overcome the failure that is what’s truly important….
Society possess a natural inclination to stick with the status quo, to resist the unknown, to stay comfortable.
Just look at our latest type of innovations. It is to make our lives as simple and as carefree as possible.
- Why throw a grilled cheese sandwich on an actual grill when you can just toss it into an automatic sandwich maker.
- Why have mom over to show off your new apartment when you can just pop into FaceTime for a quick video chat.
- Why open a window when we can check the weather by asking Alexa.
In the 21st century, technology has evolved to accommodate a more “convenient lifestyle” and meet every need that could possibly need fulfilling. With the right tech in your home, you might not ever need to leave!
Crisis moments present a learning opportunity. What will we do with this opportunity?
- Will we create technology that isolates us more for fear of someone sneezing on us?
- Will we do even more tasks on-line to avoid physical interaction?
- Will we have robots finally take over more human jobs?
- Will autonomous vehicles now be pushed more for deliveries and on-demand transportation with a “less interaction” focus/marketing. Thus changing city policies faster due to this “new direction”.
- Overprotect our children and the environment around them?
OR Will we…
- Finally offer better medical services/coverage in this country.
- Physically go into more grocery stores; feel/smell/see produce we buy more. Physically try on that shirt, and appreciate its craft. Perhaps we do more outdoor activities; camping, hiking, biking, road tripping, concert going, bonfire making.
- Hire more humans, for better human customer service, and not for a more cold, and robotic replacement ones.
- Order less on-line, and walk into stores for that human smile, laugh, look, and interaction.
- Let our kids run and play, scrape their knees, and jump in rain puddles.
COVID-19 knocked us down, and mad us fall! I would argue it’s because we were/are too comfortable, too automated, and thus too lazy and no longer a self aware kind of society.
In “Rocky III”, Rocky won’t last three rounds because he hasn’t been hungry ever since he won the title. He got too comfortable, by having all the latest and greatest and newest gadgets available to him, thus losing the hunger and no longer being his best.
We might have fallen, but perhaps it was because we too lost the hunger, and foresight, for what is important. So we didn’t act accordingly when we saw the people in China getting sick and dying.
We’ve lost the human connections, the empathy (till it effects us directly). Visits in person instead of considering/replacing FaceTime for such. Family dinners, playing outside, and many many others.
Perhaps, just perhaps… the next time we fall it will be more of a stumble. Because next time our family and friends will be by our side to catch us just in time, as we reconnect on a more human level, and united is harder to fall than technologically divided.
So for now, right now, connect/re-connect using technology like FaceTime, and schedule those in-person dinners and outings, and taking a trip together, and family reunions, with those you haven’t seen, when it’s all over.
When the pandemic is over, look up places to volunteer, say “hi” to your neighbor, carry a bag/hold the door for the elderly, buy a cup of coffee for the homeless, instead of taking your phone out to record their struggle/life downs to post on social media, or create a meme.
Let’s learn to pick ourselves back up, and be stronger because of it. To become better humans, on a more human level!