Well Done is Better Than Well Said
(A quote from Benjamin Franklin)
By: Roms DMD
1 July 2020
ECQ 61 days
MECQ 16 days
GCQ 30 days and counting...
Community Quarantine: 107 days and waiting...
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Whenever a Pandemic sets in to wreak havoc to humanity, whether a century or millennium ago, it seems that there is one variable that is never omitted in every equation -- humans. Even if new strains or new species of viruses and/or bacteria are discovered, there will come a specific time that EITHER these pathogens mutates into a non-viable, less morbid, and less lethal strains OR humans develop herd immunity and eventually its own antibodies can fight off the unseen enemy, thus, causing its utter attenuation.
More than a century ago, in 1918 during the WWI, a deadly pathogen had grimly spread, causing massive chaos and death than the war itself. It was infamously called the "Spanish Flu" for it was erroneously thought that it came from Spain, but tracing back to history, it may have come from 3 different progenitor viruses; wherever it actually originated one thing is certain, it spread like a wildfire and became a pandemic after soldiers came home from the battlefield, it caused the historic second wave which more or less took an estimated 50 to 100 Million souls.
Now, history is repeating itself, a dreaded pathogen once again creates a menacing scare across the globe and humanity. Yet again, humans are doing exactly the same mistake -- NOT DOING THE RIGHT THINGS PROMPTLY! Instead, the blame game emanates here and there. So much talking and less of doing, whereas, what the world needs is ACTION not just words. Don't get me wrong, words are powerful, yes, unfortunately, not all can be healed by press cons, not all can be saved by proclamation, not all can be fed by speech, not all can feel safe with mere words of assurance and sadly those who sacrificed their lives will not be resurrected with apologies.
With this in mind, the author have thought of listing down 5 Traits that will prove a proactive deed is far better than an elaborately delivered speech or proclamation; more so a good-for-nothing rant for that matter. These traits totally reflect the idea that "Well Done is Better Than Well Said." Here it goes...
1. BAYANIHAN.
"Bayanihan is a Filipino word derived from the word bayan meaning town, nation, or community in general. "Bayanihan" literally means, "being a bayan," and is thus used to refer to a spirit of communal unity and cooperation." - Wikipedia
It is a uniquely crafted word for a valued yet almost forgotten Filipino tradition which involves solidarity, unity, team work, cooperation and industry all rolled into one. If I would translate it into English, I'd say it's 3H which stands for "Heroes Helps Heroes", it is such a positive deed, that we could likened everyone involved in this undertaking as heroes doing heroic acts for each other.
In trying times such as these, any person needs a boost from their hero -- in the person of their own fellow human being. And I believe being a hero, not a Messiah complex, can be found in each and everyone of us, if we could only skip ranting and fault-finding and instead just do anything in the spirit of voluntarism. Then and only then, the true spirits of our fallen heroes will transcend within ourselves and translate it into performing impossible tasks with probable success.
"We all do better when we work together. Our differences do matter, but our common humanity matters more." - Bill Clinton
2. DUTY-BOUND SELFLESS ACTS.
While a lot of common people find it difficult to stay at home and would exchange every bit of chance to roam outside their homes, fully aware yet do not fully understand the mechanism by how the virus spreads, most "medical frontliners", (a term used for all medical and para-medical personnel whose main duty is to serve as first line of defense in the fight against COvID19 and of course treat and give care to all patients in their fight against the menacing disease), simple wish is to just get home to the loving embrace of their love ones.
Imagine, 14 days is the required home quarantine, self-isolation for persons who are suspected, probable and even asymptomatic positive patients. This is because the incubation period until symptoms reveal itself ranges from 2 to 28 days upon exposure from a positive individual, what more if positive patients get ill and contract various complications, most common being Pneumonia, the more they need to stay at the hospital or any care facility. Each medical frontliner, need to stay the whole time or near their place of work for the course of their duty, never having the chance to go home for they may spread the virus to their family members with a high probability. And after that, they are required to do a mandatory 14 day self quarantine still away from their love ones, before they can get a glimpse and get a hug from their family.
This is selfless. Commendable. Noble. Nothing more. Doctors, Nurses, and other members of the paramedical team know the dangers and risks involved in their line of work, but when this disease of pandemic proportions inevitably happens, tho' is always expected in a healthcare facility, the risks are a notch higher, and the odds are even graver.
Not all front liners are in the medical arena, some are in the streets manning borders... Some are preparing and cooking food... Some are planting seeds and harvesting produce.. Some are stacking goods in groceries.. Some are collecting trash... Just for us to live the status quo we once knew, albeit, at the back of their minds, they know the status quo has drastically changed.
"It's not how much you do, but how much Love you put into what you do that counts." -Mother Theresa
3. AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP.
"Leaders are made not born", whether they come from a family of politicians, CEOs, military patriarchs; graduates from reputable schools -- I believe the prime requisite to being a good leader is being authentic. Authentic means "true to one's own personality, spirit, or character". In other words -- Honest. Sincere. Genuine. Unblemished. Leadership with integrity.
The whole world have seen how leaders of various countries directed their constituents into what they think is good for everyone, some have been commendable for their proactiveness, promptness and ingenuity, though others have been overly criticized for being too lax, to bold, and strict. A lot have been lax because they have been too keenly anticipating the political repercussions of travel bans and/or the economic recession that lockdowns could bring; some have been too strict without taking into consideration the takes of its citizens.
This does not only encompass a nation's leader, more so their alter ego especially in Public Health or more appropriately the world leader in health which is the WHO or World Health Organization. I don't want to be subjective with this but I will let you back read articles posted in social media or watch recorded clips about the WHO's strategy in addressing the pandemic. Was it effective? Well, after 6 grueling months, the global case is at 10M and still counting... What's more essential at this point in time is to monitor the clinical trials of potential vaccines so that in the event where a potent, safe and effective vaccine is in the scene the WHO must step in and make sure that such vaccine will be readily available to ALL especially those in the third world countries -- when this happens the WHO leadership might get its absolution.
"Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked, leadership is defined by results not attributes." - Peter E. Drucker
4. BEING A GOOD FOLLOWER.
Behind a great leader is a good follower. These two are inseparable. Intertwined. It simply won't work if it's only one way leadership -- that's dictatorship! And history will attest that every dictator's regime had fallen because of treason from their closest and trusted follower.
Discipleship is a great analogy. Jesus had good disciples. Some, were evangelists, some were martyred because they continued on to preach the word of God. Peter became a great leader as well, he became the first pontiff of the Catholic Church. The gist is great leaders produce great followers who in turn continues their leader's legacy.
In today's setting, we, the citizenry, are the followers. We cannot impose the system to favor only one sector of our society. We all have the responsibility to be good followers, tho' knowing all well our rights as human beings. And never give in to exhaustion from feeling of being deprived of our rights and freedom to the point of getting into civil unrest which will create a bigger predicament than the present quagmire we are in.
"Ask not what your country can do for you instead what you can do for your country." -JFK
5. INGENUITY.
Nothing beats creativity and resourcefulness in times when things don't go our way; precisely what has been happening these days. Well, Filipinos, especially the millennials are sort of expert in this arena. We always find a way to make things lighter by looking at the silver lining of everything - most of the times by turning things into humor. Nonetheless, whatever it is that may ease up or lighten up the current predicament that we're in, it won't hurt to be ingenious, actually, it may bring about tons of positive things where others may benefit from.
Being resourceful may almost always equate to cost-effective and cost-efficient means on how to deal with things, but it doesn't always translate to monetary and non-renewable resources, for these things can be scarce, what we need these days are intangible ingenuity. As well as the curiosity to ask -- what needs to be done and how to do things ingeniously.
What is commendable are those who in their ingenious minds thought of various ways to make their lives, or even the lives of others, better even amidst this pandemic -- Degree holders opting to online selling; Displaced workers turned entrepreneurs; Engineers turning a sports complex into a quarantine facility; City leaders making innovative ways to prevent the spread of local transmission and improve contact tracing like in Baguio City; employees in their desire to go to work makes use of recycled or makeshift bicycles; health workers who in the shortage of PPE have devised ways to equip themselves in their fight against COVID19 and a lot more....
"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing." Albert Einstein
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These five traits are not absolute, they are subject to human indifference and differences, more so to being human itself. What's important is to acknowledge that doing is a lot better than saying. Action speaks louder than words they say. Less talk, less mistake is a rather safe principle but it is not proactive and idleness will never result to something refreshingly new and positive results.
At the end of the day, the deciding factor should be is --
Is it done with pure intentions OR with vested interest?;
Is it done out of goodwillI OR a perfect act of guise?;
Is it done out of compassion OR just to get sympathy?;
Is it done out of love OR a mere charade?
The world is still deeply engulfed in this pandemic along with its multitude drawbacks on humanity. What we need are these traits that will proactively loosen up these catapult of negative energies with the hope of gradually translating it into positive ripple effects -- thereby making this war a triumph of virtue of humanity rather of research and technology. Time has proven that humans have greatly evolved, in terms of science, technology, research, knowledge; but now more than ever, one thing should prevail and stand tall -- and that is our BEING HUMAN.
"The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity." - Amelia Earhart
-rdj
