by Anita Mendiratta | Jul 30, 2017
Every day, everywhere it often seems, an overwhelming number of issues find themselves taking over our social media feeds.
Our minds.
Our hearts.
Urgent pleas from someone, somewhere, calling out for our attention, our support, our money. Now. Or it may be too late.
The need to know, to do something, seems to be growing.
How can this be? In so many ways, for those of us spending our days looking at screens, one can easily believe that our generation has never been more blessed, never more connected to one another. The living is easy.
Yet, somehow it still feels as though there are so many who have so little. And so many more are being forced into a reality where they are having to run with nothing at all. Crisis calling out for compassion, for caring. At times it can feel overwhelming, the social media noise making it hard to hear a single heartbeat, the noise creating the illusion that others are listening, responding. Something else needs us….and so we look away, maybe retweeting, but moving on.
And nothing happens.
Another night falls with a heart full of fear in finding a place to sleep, a meal to eat, strength to keep going, keep praying.
This need not be the case. There is always someone, somewhere, who can make a difference for someone, somewhere. Even if it is simply through the words “I see you.”
It takes just one. One person, connecting to someone else. Near, far, wherever sits in your heart as a reason to reach out. There is no ranking of what matters, who matters. The choice, the reason, the method of outreach need not be for anyone else to know. Put your heart, mind and name behind something that matter to you, truly matters, for whatever reason.
Please, just choose one. Do something: Donate. Advocate. Hold onto it tight for the long-term. Short-term hash-tagging may be a quick ego-rush, but it does not take away the pain for those who living in fear.
One cause, one hope, one hand to reach out to. One cause, one heartbeat, that really matters to you.
It takes just one. And suddenly, for someone, a very dark night starts to show signs of the dawn.
x
Copyright: ANITA MENDIRATTA 2017
by Anita Mendiratta | Jun 20, 2017
Ours is an ‘I‘-driven generation.
Hashtags, ‘likes’, ‘selfies’, images and impressions so far from shy, have come to dominate what is supposed to be social messaging, social media. The ‘Look what I am doing’ phenomena has gripped the world across ages, classes, colours, cringe-worthy emoticons. Somehow shyness has been eclipsed by ‘I’ness. The right to know, and tell, becomes a reason to raise ones voice, whether rightfully involved or not. The laws of the universe are rewritten based on the perceived laws of the cloud.
It is a global warming of sorts, raising the temperature of tolerance. And throwing back the curtain of exposure. Even elders at first questioning the buzz of the feeling of talking to the world through the click of an ENTER key are falling to its seductive sense of importance. Information once beyond comprehension is easy to be accessed.
As much as it can challenge conventional logic of days now past, redefining the rules of social exchange – not just the what but the when, where and why – the forces of connectivity crossing our globe can be a very good thing. Awareness is raised. Something far away which may never have appeared on one’s information radar is suddenly in one’s hand and heart, inspiring action. This force of global knowing has become a source for global caring. Nations, people, facing crisis suddenly feel less alone as their world is hash-tagged around the world. Appeals for help yield unprecedented levels of immediate support that would never have been possible just years ago. Crowd-sourcing is occurring not only in cash, but in compassion.
With these waves of human sensitisation to global matters rising, stirring how people view the world and their role in it, compassion naturally turns to a strong desire for taking personal action.
Events unfolding across the world over the past years have shown, however, that when crisis hits – natural, political, financial, hurtful – our borderless world of connectivity is needing borders when it comes to getting too close. Social media awareness and action from afar is one thing, but on the ground emergency response is quite another. Qualifications go far beyond compassion. This same can be said for any horrific act of man or Mother Nature. To arrive with a heart packed full of best intentions can, and is most often, a bad decision if core skills needed to ensure survival are fulfilled. The desire to assist can easily, quickly, and dangerously turn into a distraction of attention and energies of aid workers needing to help those directly impacted, not those showing up to help.
So evident is this truth when, even a little over a year on, the scars of natural disaster are visible across Nepal. Just minutes before noon on Saturday the 25th of April, 2015 (thankfully a Saturday or kiddies would have been in school), Mother Nature unleashed her fury, an earthquake measuring a magnitude of 7.8 brought Nepal to its knees. The world cried as scenes of collapse unfolded on-air, online, its shock waves reaching across the world. Nearly 9,000 lives were lost, with tens of thousands suffering direct injuries, millions suffering heartbreak and horror. Centuries of relics and monuments were turned to absolute ruins, their rubble wiping out core identity. From the peaks of the Himalayas to places of prayer in Kathmandu’s valleys, life as the people of Nepal once knew it slid away.
It was gone. All gone. Aftershocks made certain of that.
In the days and weeks that followed, global familiarity with the Nepal’s heartbreaking fate brought on an odd fashionability for the country. Concern inspired citizen investment into recovery and rebuilding efforts, which was invaluable. Images of suffering from aftershocks sustained global interest, compassion continued to generate the much-needed funding to push away the rubble and reinforce the future strength of the people. Still, many sought to do more, go further, by going there. Desire to help? Absolutely transparent. Skills to offer? Not overtly clear. Knowing is one thing – going is another.
A year on, rubble remains despite surrounding rebuilding. International aid, heritage, hope, and humanity agencies continue to stand by the people of Nepal, acutely aware of the fact that rebuilding physical infrastructure is easy compared to rebuilding psychological stability. Action really needed: stay put and ask how best to act. Is if building funds? Is it building awareness? Is it building awareness?
Everyone, absolutely everyone, has the ability to help. The best way to maximise one’s impact? Ask what help is needed.
From Kathmandu to Tacloban, Sendai to other centres of crisis the world over, when the world is hit with unnatural horrors, something quite remarkable happens: as the skies fell, heroes rose.
The people of Nepal continue work tirelessly, daily, to ensure that one moment in time does not define who they are, and what their future holds. For the watching world, with hearts ready to jump into action, one of the most important things we can do, from wherever we are in the world, is this: never forget those who rise up once more. Their priceless determination is worth every measure of our hope, our help, and our hashtags.
Copyright: ANITA MENDIRATTA 2017
by Anita Mendiratta | May 9, 2017
Monday morning.
Two sleeps ago, news broke across the world that 82 kidnapped schoolgirls of Chibok were finally being returned home to their families after over a year in the horrific hold of Boka Haram. The exhausted sounds of cries of relief of families in Nigeria were audible around the globe. Quiet yet firm pride was rightly demonstrated by government officials as they conveyed their confidence that these were the girls who were taken from their lives and loved ones while simply trying to learn, resolute in their determination to see all stolen girls safely returned home. The strength of the embraces the girls received from loved ones no doubt penetrated their bruised hearts and minds, starting the process of healing…putting to an end the horror of over 1000 days as captives.
12 hours ago, as the people of France confirmed their choice of President, sounds of relief and celebration could be heard across the European Union and even nations further afield. As the sound of Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy‘ – the anthem of the European Union – filled the Paris night air, Emmanuel Macron, the youngest President since Napoleon, calmly took to the stage in front of the Pyramide du Louvre. Crowds thousands strong roared with youthful applause. Powerful symbolism, penetrating signs of change, putting to an end the fears of rising populism, with its risks of break-away of the country from the EU. And the French people from one another.
Two distant, dramatically different parts of the world. One thought: “Oh thank God….”
Once again, the world was watching as events in one nation spilled out emotional and ideological waves in all directions, borders between countries and continents washed away. Why the anxious global gaze? There need not be a reason for the ties that bind people across nations, as different as they may be in language, location, beliefs or backgrounds. Because these are our girls. These are our elections. What happens matters to us all.
Especially when risk is seen, felt, of breaking the bonds that keep our world moving forward as one.
The past year has given voice to deep, desperate frustrations of people feeling lost and left behind. Challenges to traditional political systems and structures have put entire populations in a position of vulnerability, not just in terms of how the nation looks at its relationship with the world, but how the people of the country look at one another. First Brexit, then US Presidential Elections, both events a frightening reflection of the fact that separation has become a selling point. The contagion has continued to spread, European elections putting forward fiery rhetoric encouraging nationals to vote to put their countries first, not caring about the value their neighbours bring to their lives. Especially when their neighbours have recently moved in next door after running for their loves from the place they ‘home.’
But with the choice to go it alone comes the reality of aloneness – economically, socially and spiritually. Insecurity, at all levels, only grows. No walls can keep out the fears of what is on the other side. Only doorways that allow the other side to come in open nervous minds to the knowledge needed to know that one can absolutely love and trust thy neighbour.
Nations need one another. Cultures need one another. People need one another. It is through our erasing borders that we find an access point to our better selves.
What value is all of the technology, all of the travel, we have in our lives is not to bring us closer? To enable us to learn more about one another, love more about one another?
As the Chibok schoolgirls find their way back home, babies in the arms of many – little souls representing the heroic spirit of a new generation – their nation is there to help them put back together the pieces of their shattered lives, while continuing to search for the others left behind. Each and every one a very real reminder of how vital it is for the world to never let a person, a nation, feel they are forgotten.
There is no power of one when it means turning one’s back on the ones who count on us. Nations, whether protecting schoolgirls or protecting economic and social structures, can and must do better. Citizens must do better.
It is not just the strength of the body of the global community, with its vital organs of the global economy and global security, that depend on it – it is the strength of the global heart.
#BRINGBACKOURGIRLS
Copyright: ANITA MENDIRATTA 2017
by Anita Mendiratta | Apr 24, 2017
For those of us in the global travel & tourism industry, to call it, now them, ‘heartbreaking‘ would be a profound understatement. Scenes of airline passengers being abused by staff and, systems.
First it was a medical doctor being forcefully and ultimately bloodily removed from his seat by local police on request of the airline in order to make room for crew. And then, just days later, a mother in tears as a result of an airline attendant aggressively separating she and her baby from her baby’s stroller, with shouting between the attendant and surrounding passengers thereafter.
One after the other, these incidents have horrified the watching world, the images and audio penetrating the hearts and minds of millions seeing the amateur videos created by passengers watching on being played over and over and over, online and on news networks.
Naturally, and rightly, outrage at airline staff and overbooking systems has ensued. The latter, an economic model that allows airlines to maximise capacity and minimise costs to passengers, is something the travelling public has seen for years, ideally for the benefit of passengers, even those incentivised to give up their seat for a later flight. Never before, however, had it been seen to be applied with such force, directly and violently violating the promise of flying the friendly skies.
The actions of United Airlines in the moment, and afterward, simply fueled the already raging fire. Failure of the CEO to see the suffering of the passenger, rather choosing to protect the airline’s crew, will go down in history as one of the most shameful moments for our industry. As stated by Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airlines, and an elderly statesman of the global airline community,:
“Let me say it was a disgrace. It shamed the airline industry as a whole. We don’t go about our business in that way. Had it been me in that position I would’ve have had blue flashing lights on cars going right through the company to find out how this could’ve been allowed to happen in the first place. That was probably the last thing I do before I resigned.”
Sir Tim’s words capture at a cellular level the depth of disgust felt by those of us in the travel and tourism sector – a sector that we so proudly serve, feeling each and every day how our work is connecting people and places in a way that builds understanding, respect and appreciation of differences at a time when our world so desperately needs to connect in peaceful spirit.
As for the inability of the airline to then apologise for the incident, United’s CEO Oscar Munoz only managing to find the words to rightly own the situation on a third communique? Forget policy. Where was the humanity?
It just takes one. Just one moment of disgrace has the ability to scar a remarkable industry that works across the world to enable, as expressed by IATA Director General Alexandre de Juniac,:
“some 10 million passengers (to) board planes. And 100,000 flights will take them safely to wherever they are going, almost always without incident. That is no less than a modern day marvel of technology, coordination and dedication to safety.”
And now we have a second incident tearing off the BandAid on a still fresh wound. As video continues to replay of a deeply rattled and tear soaked passenger on American Airlines protectively holding her baby, shielding her child and herself from attendant shouts and shoves, once again we hang our heads in shame.
Thankfully, in this case the airline stood up in protection of the passenger, American Airlines immediately owning the wrong, putting forward an unedited apology (and suspending from duty during investigation of the incident the attendant involved) in hopes of taking a first step to making it right.
It just takes one.
There will never, ever, be an excuse for the behaviour seen recently on aircraft, and that which we know goes happened but unreported/videod. Nothing makes the actions of the individuals involved acceptable. They, in their selfishness, took down the eyes of their companies, and their industry.
Similarly, there will never be good reason for bad behaviour by a disruptive passenger, the ‘right’ to travel taken as permission to become obnoxious, causing an entire cabin to cringe, and making all passengers look ungrateful of the blessing of flight.
What there always will be, through the millions and millions of interactions that take place on the ground, and in the skies, in aviation, and in life in general, is the opportunity to just stop for a moment, and before seemingly putting policies first, putting humanity first.
It just takes one second to say those two precious words: “I’m sorry”.
Then, and only then, can our gaze begin to look to the skies once more.
Copyright: ANITA MENDIRATTA 2017
by Anita Mendiratta | Mar 28, 2017
Tickets. Passport. Money. Mobile & charger. Go.
For millions of travellers, the ability to pick up and venture off, whether around the corner or across the world, has become a daily reality, not to mention necessity. Mobility is a must to make each day count. And to make each day an exciting learning. The possibility discovering new places, meeting new people, unlocking new possibilities, magnifies the blessing of today and the anticipation of tomorrow.
In the process of travel planning and doing, there are many things that regular travellers take for granted. Flights will be available, taking off and landing on time, with one’s belongings neatly tucked in the belly of the aircraft. Weather, air traffic control, pricing levels, all will coordinate to make it all happen. Onward. Even when things go wrong, frustration is met with a degree of acceptance and understanding. It happens. Plan B is out there. One’s sense of control is still high, even if movement is low.
But then the completely unplanned and unwanted happens. Movement is brought to a stop. Not because of some moving part out there that has slowed or even paused. But by our own engineering failing us.
Suddenly the most critical enabler of our ability to move – our body – is unable to. Dreaded words enter into conversations with oneself and, under duress, with others: “I’m sick”
It is only when one is grounded by one’s own health that one truly appreciates the ability, the ease, the privilege, of perpetual movement. And the ability to find help, especially when far from home base. Symptoms emerging with an underlying not knowing of not just what the problem is, but where and how to fix it, suddenly turns a carefully scheduled day into a significant cause for concern. Not to mention a scheduling mess. Next meetings, next flights, next commitments, raise red flags around the ability to move from sickness back to health. Even if able to keep moving, fear sets in around not just passing something on, but passing by airport temperature screenings and flashing red.
A safe place needs to be found.
For any traveller, regardless of frequency of travel, establishing that safe space is critical to on-going wellbeing. That ‘safe place’ need not be a specific geographic location. Being a nomad more often than not makes being back at base when unwell an exception, not a rule. That ‘safe place‘ is instead a little place that travels with the intrepid traveller – a small space in one’s carry-on bag where essential TLC is kept: medication & first aid treatments to keep one’s body strong, small personal totems to keep one’s spirit centered. Whatever is needed to immediately calm rising panic of unwellness, helping set in motion the steps towards getting real help to get through the fog.
Because the quiet reality is that, when out in the world, a huge part of not feeling out in the cold is feeling like one is not alone with one’s worry. Tucked within one’s safe place should be the things that allow one to feel they can take a breathe, focus, and safely figure out what next.
Moving to the what next, especially when still moving from city to city, hotel to hotel, ultimately poses (and imposes) a distinct test to oneself. Is a sniffle something more serious? Will OTC drugs be the SOS needed? Or is it time to make the call and make an appointment? Being strong is one thing. Being silly is another. No matter what others may say, what advise they may give, listening to the voice in the back of one’s head reveals whether one really feels safe pushing through the unwellness, of pausing to get qualified help. Now.
The value of our greatest travel enabler – our body – sometimes needs a reminder. The incredible blessing of the strength of body and spirit we need to do what we love should never be taken for granted. Sometimes a brief push of the pause button can be a good thing. Only when we pause do we really appreciate the gift of the ability to shift to fast-forward once more.
Safe, healthy travels.
Copyright: ANITA MENDIRATTA 2017
