Radical Rethink blog – Are you set to step into Spring?

08 Mar Radical Rethink blog – Are you set to step into Spring?

Optimism is in the air as we emerge blinking into Spring after the longest of locked-down winters and a year of struggle with a global pandemic.

But as the nights draw out, here’s a question for you – will you aim to bounce forward or back?

A ‘return’ to normal seems to miss the point of our collective Covid experience. A headlong rush to meet all kinds of pledges and promises to meet up, push on and get zillions of things done immediately also looks likely to fall flat.

Okay, one-third of Brits have had the first Covid vaccine and there shouldn’t be any further lockdowns, but there may be some bumps along the way. One thing IS for certain. Many people will have a lot less money to do it with.

That’s why we need to follow nature. Flowers, plants and shrubs blossom in their own time. Some delicate flowers need care and nurture, hardy perennials just require clipping.

So while the inescapable sound of birdsong and scent of daffodils and cherry blossom fill our hearts with Springtime joy we need to plan our summer bedding to maintain lasting colour.

Maybe that’s how we should plan for our new post-Covid world too?

‘Community is back’ exclaimed an attendee during our last Radical Rethink webinar in February. Indeed it is. From the floorboards up. People have discovered doing their bit in their local community from caring for neighbours, looking after the elderly, organising charity collections and tending their local environment reaps its own reward.

We need to champion citizenship but also appreciate it is where we may seek to spend more time. The Covid-fuelled mindset shift to home working and preference for an equitable work-life balance to the time-wasting, energy-sapping misery of rush hours and office politics seems here to stay for many.

Therein lies optimism and the opportunity to shape a new vision. If you work for someone else it can’t be complete freedom but flexibility may be possible. If you’re starting your own business, you have the freedom to shape it your way. The old ways, in many ways, have run their course.

It is all about building or rekindling relationships, of course. We’ve learned the world is small and can readily come to us – via Zoom to meet, Deliveroo to eat or online stores for books to read.

We have a blank sheet to make our work, work. Those with imaginations will ride the zeitgeist. Those seeking a straightjacket to slip into will remain confined.

Question is – which one are you?

At The Radical Rethink, outlook and attitude matters most and why, going into our tenth meeting, we’ll discuss ways to step into Spring and out of lockdown with fresh thought and ideas.

For further information and to book for our meeting on Friday, March 12 from 10am to midday visit our Radical Rethink page.