5 Reasons why I’m enough
By: Steve Fish
Tags: Life, Covid 19, Live, Lockdown

Initially I accepted, supported and believed in the lockdown. I’ve been a proud and complimentary advocate of our Honorable President Cyril Ramaphosa. He demonstrated brave leadership and decision making.

His actions and decisions are now misdirected.

Selfish they may be. These are my reasons why this lockdown must end.

Freedom

I don’t want to feel like a criminal any longer. A prisoner in my own home. Existing in this harsh regulatory environment. Living with curfews and restrictions that I don’t agree with. That don’t make sense to me. Having to sneak around. Worried about the repercussions if I get back from a run at 09:15! If I get caught without a mask on whist driving alone in my car! Responsible for the man who cares for my garden, desperate to earn a living, getting pulled over, harassed, and arrested for going to work!

I was reminded of my youth this past weekend, meeting my friends at the back of the local pool hall parking lot to smoke a zol (Thanks NDZ!). Only now, 25 years on, it’s behind our local butchers. Our weekly routine, a lively breakfast after our Saturday long run. A highlight. Disrupted for the last 8 weeks by C19 and CR’s directive and their potentially lethal combined impact. Desperate to get out, to reconnect with friends and let loose a little. With limited options, hiding behind the butcher, in fear of being caught for socialising!

This isn’t ok. It’s time we started returning to some level of normality. Those who are healthy, willing, and able-bodied. Safely and sensibly.

Flexibility

I want to go back to work. Work work. Office work. See, in-person, my colleagues, customers, and suppliers. Deliver and install back orders. Get new orders. Help and service people. Add value. Invoice and get paid. Support staff and other dependents. I want to design new solutions and be able to prototype and test them. To access the necessary raw materials and components. To rebuild our business. Contribute to society.

I’ve loved working from home over lockdown. I’m privileged that my role has allowed me to. I’ll continue to work from home, to some extent. On my terms, not because I’m forced to. I’ll encourage others to work remotely. I genuinely believe in the benefits.

But for now, I need to get out.

Family and Friends

The ability to facilitate ‘meetings’, via technology, has been a profoundly positive experience. I’m thankful we’re able to connect via these platforms. I’m intrigued to see how the future of communication evolves.

However, Xbox, TikTok and Zoom, learning, socialising and interacting via VC, is not enough. We’re missing out on valuable lessons, learnt through social interactions. Friendships, sport, school, playdates. Living via technology has deficiencies. It serves a purpose. It’s efficient and powerful, but it’s not always fulfilling. It’s incomplete.

My kids are missing out. They need to see their friends, grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles. In-person. Technology will never replace human connection, compassion, creativity.

I’m missing out.

Fortune (and lack thereof)

I’m deeply saddened and affected by the extreme poverty that surrounds me. Beggars and homeless at every corner, robot, stop street, traffic circle, garage, shop, parking lot, park and door-to-door are commonplace. Always quintessentially Joburg. It’s now an epidemic, and likely to get a whole lot worse in the coming weeks and months.

The rate of businesses closing, and retrenchments is unprecedented in my life. Food ques that have no end. Hunger and desperation. What’s the endgame? I’m frightened.

Those that can, must be allowed to return to work. We must get our economy going again.

Future

I love my life. I love South Africa. I accept that it won’t be the same as it was. There will be changes. I can deal with this uncertainty. But I want to contribute to making it better. For myself and my children. I appreciate how difficult this will be, but I’m up for the challenge.

There’s still a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. South African’s are resilient, we’re hopeful. I’m hopeful.

The extended lockdown has compounded our country’s issues, exponentially. It’s now doing more damage than good. The light is getting dimmer. If we don’t start seeing a relaxing of restrictions soon, ALL RESTRICTIONS, not this easing of levels BS, the light will disappear.

I’m angry. I’m frustrated. I’m enough. I’m going out. Safely and sensibly.

I continue to remain positive and was inspired by an article I recently read, written by Chief Rabbi Dr Warren Goldstein, which finished off with the following words:

‘There are times when the road ahead is unclear, when we start to lose our way — when the difficulties we face as individuals, as communities and as humanity seem insurmountable. Lag B’Omer* teaches us the great power we have to bounce back, to create the world anew.’

I’m ready to bounce back.

*Lag B’Omer is a Jewish religious holiday celebrated on the 18th day of the Hebrew month of Iyar. (11th and 12th May).