Fluctuations in forward estimates and predictions on COVID-19 cases, climate change etc. have left the stock market and petrol prices for dead. Extracted answers become fact and gospel in the minds of gullible people. Doom and gloom is the best- selling commodity. The current lock-down and travel restrictions have resulted in a substantial reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. Climate change activists have all but fallen silent, wouldn’t it be noble of them to make a positive comment?
Guru, MP, & Prophet seedlings, striving for recognition in the quest for status are plentiful.
The gradual eradication of small business has been under way for decades. The government has now ordered most small and medium sized businesses to close while large multi-national corporations are allowed to operate. Does the COVID-19 know the difference? Interestingly, these corporations, are now being portrayed as saviours, for hiring.
Panic buying has become a rapidly escalating world-wide phenomena. Have we learned from Wall Street, where panic is the norm? Has the ‘competition mentality’, ‘win at any cost’ mindset blown out of proportion? Winning, in this instance means snatching up groceries before anyone else can lay their hands on it.
Here is an extract from my book ‘Journey of Life’, Chapter 20, ‘Competition & Success’: For many people life is about winning and losing, or success and failure. When we view success for what it really is, i.e. a journey (part of the journey of life) and not a destination, we are able to enjoy life at a higher level. Most of the ‘food for thought’ I have to offer the world is manifested in my 2 books, so ‘read on’ and enjoy the journey.
P.S. Let me add a copy of a letter I wrote to the editor of the ‘West Australian’ newspaper that was published in the early 2000’s, after the government had finally admitted that the country was in recession.
‘Good recession’
Now that the R-word as been spoken I believe the time has come to reflect and review the situation realistically and discover the benefits of a recession. Let’s face it, we live an extravagant lifestyle where luxury has become the norm. We live in mansions, not houses, drive cars that out-perform our needs and buy goods on a whim that soon end up on the rubbish tip. A recession is usually a return to reality and moderation. It allows us more time to educate ourselves, acquire some spiritual wealth and who knows, we might even re-discover the art of having a face to face conversation, free of charge, rather than texting or talking on the mobile phone whilst standing in the checkout queue with yet another
gratuitous item.
Sabomnim Writes
Dear members of the ‘Australian Taekwondo Academy Marmion Coast’
While the world faces the challenge of yet another virus, this time called corona, or crown, it helps to view the present situation in perspective. Most experts agree that medically this pandemic will eventually come to an end, like every preceding one. The mental bug which has infected society at large, however, proves to be a much harder nut to crack. Whilst much has been said, addressing the ridicule of all the hysteria, panic and phobia, the fear mongering still escalates creating wide-spread anxiety and depression, which weakens the immune system and hence, makes us more vulnerable to infection. We live in an era where prayer and focus has been substituted with panic and despair. This presents us with yet another opportunity to utilise our ‘Martial Arts Mindset’, which equips us to deal with any difficult, challenging or threatening situation in a civilised and competent manner. It enables us to respond to the facts at hand, distant from fear, worry, assumptions, and most of all, to remain calm, as we would do in a ‘real life fight’. For a deep insight into our martial arts mind’ read ‘Journey of Life’, download it directly from this website. If you have already read it, read again. Recommend it to your family members and friends for it is beneficial to anyone, not only martial artists, especially during the present, trying times. The corona virus will be defeated so long as we follow the expert and government guidelines. Let’s unite to fight and defeat the mental bug.
In modesty & calmness
Hubert
Toilet Paper Apocalypse
In response to the present irrational panic buying of toilet paper, let me offer some advice based on ‘hands-on’ experience. Who needs toilet paper, made in China. Newspaper works well on a thunder dunny, but don’t put it into a flush toilet for it will block the drain. Just place it into a sealed bag and then into the bin as you would do with dog poo. Make sure you read the news before, not after use. If the ‘great necessity calls when you are in the bush, bundles of grass will come handy but may cause a rash. And, of course there is ‘Aqua Normale’, known in modern English as water, or snow in winter, the best cleaning agent of all times. If you don’t have a bidet, just use a mug.