Once upon a time we lived in a land of peace (apart from the wars and rumours of wars) and plenty (well unless you count the times when harvests were lost and then we would starve). We worked hard on the smallholdings and farms for our livelihoods and bartered for what we needed. Life was good but hard. There came a time when we found better ways to do things and so along came the industries that made labour saving devices which ruined the home industries that had been used for centuries. Some of us thrived and others lost everything, but that is the way with a world that must continue to adapt or die. Life went on but as industry grew, the world decreed that more land was needed for factories and so those of us who lived on the land that belonged to no one, lost everything.
Fast forward to the 21st Century and we have to decide if anything has changed. People are still selling off their land (mostly their gardens), technology is replacing industries and infrastructure probably faster than we can keep up with it, and someone is making a great deal of money out of gullible people replacing their iPhone with the latest one simply because it is the latest model (and as much to do with keeping up with the Jones ethos too).
Education wasn't much for the poor even in the 20th century and yet, still, the poorest countries have to choose between education and the need to keep the family fed. Worse, we now have countries turned over to those who believe that women are subservient, of no value except to keep house.
This country has as many challenges as those who are considered third world, but in different ways. We've heard so much in the news about women who have been murdered because they walked alone. For crying out loud, women shouldn't have to walk in groups, not walk at all or have chaperones to keep them safe. Of course, if I said that women should be protected by men, there would be outrage from both sexes. Men are not all meant to be Tarzan just as much as women are not all meant to be like Jane. There are men who have the gentlest natures, those who are physically not macho material, or those who are scared. And there are women who know how to look after themselves through training or jobs or just have no fear. We cannot tar all men with the same brush, as much as we, as women, might want men to protect us, there is ample evidence to know that some men are not on the same page (and a lot of women too). Chivalry is almost dead, whilst loutish behaviour is considered almost expected.
We have a wonderful police service who do their best to keep us safe from harm and yet there are others who deem it their job to dispute and try to destroy the image of hardworking men and women. The trouble is that it's not just the media (all aspects of it) but those who should know better.
We have a great National Health Service that has been overwhelmed since Covid 19 and yet is still expected to carry on.
In my opinion, both these workforces deserve a decent pay rise and more staff. One cannot keep cutting back and expecting the same results. It's ludicrous to suggest otherwise. We need more police officers on the beat and more nurses on the wards. Simple! If only it was though.
If this wasn't enough we are finding that more and more people are committing suicide. The anxieties that some find too much to live with are coming more and more to the fore. Are we not looking out for each other? Are we too busy to see someone falling? Are they too scared to show their emotions and pretend everything is fine? Do men especially, believe that it's not the done thing to show a sign of weakness? And it is us women who perpetuate that myth?
Our fairy tale start has ended up as the horror story which we know will only get worse. There is a slightly happier ending though, if we are brave enough to take it.
We must, now more than ever, look for the blessings of life rather than dwell on the horrible, negative, derogatory things that we see, hear and read. We must do lots of little things that make the world a better place, and eventually the good will become the news of the day rather than the depressing stories that the media thrives so much on.
Good will prevail. It might take a while. As the saying goes, God can move mountains for you but don't be surprised if he hands you a shovel.
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