South African’s are experiencing a shift in outlooks due to the water crisis and looming Day Zero. Shelley Finch reminds us all to be thoughtful and kind to one another during this trying time. Let’s fill our buckets with love.
Cape Town has recently hit Level 6B water restrictions and the reality that our taps will run dry by April has hit home. People are panicking – stockpiling water, making plans to leave the city and generally freaking out.
We could say that “every cloud has a silver lining”, but a distinct lack of said clouds is what got us into this mess in the first place, so we won’t. lol. We may not have water, but we’re holding onto our sense of humour darn it!
In the midst of all the doom and gloom, it might be a little difficult to remain positive. So here are five ways you can make this whole experience a little less frightening. And who knows, we might just emerge a closer-knit community with greater capacity for empathy and compassion.
Make a plan to meet your neighbours
If you haven’t yet done so, knock on a few doors in your street, complex or apartment block and introduce yourself to your neighbours. You are going to need each other in the coming weeks. In between working, commuting, looking after the kids, and generally trying to live your life, you may just need to help each other out with water collections, sharing resources and so on.
Now is the time to reach out and say “I’m here for you if you need me.”
Think about who might need your help
Do you have an elderly or disabled neighbour or perhaps a friend without a car? Knock on their door and say “hey, can I help you will your water collection when the time comes?”
Strike up a conversation
Having visited local water springs in the past few weeks, we’re touched by the warm smiles, neighbourly conversations and the many hands reached out to say: “can I help you carry that?” Our elbows bump as we shuffle up to make space for another person to fill up their bottles and we all have a laugh at how weird it is to be so up-close-and-personal.
Conversations begin, friends are made, and you realise that you really are part of a community. Don’t let those opportunities to make a connection pass you by.
Make it a Workout
Part of a cross fit team or a walking group? Explore ways to make your daily water collection less of a chore. Make helping other people carry water to their cars part of your workout or turn it into a race! Many hands make light work and a little bit of fun can make it much less of a drudgery.
Stop complaining!
Let’s get real. We’re all in the same boat. People living in informal settlements and rural areas have been collecting their own water for years – now it’s our turn to share the experience. No amount of griping and finger pointing is going to change that. This is our new normal and we can choose to make it one that brings us nothing but anger and misery or we can choose to make it an opportunity for us to come together as a community and become one of the most water efficient cities in the world!
Let’s look back at this in 5 years-time and be able to say “wow, we really came together when our city was in need.” Let’s make ourselves proud. Let’s show the world how beautiful our city is … inside and out. <3
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