Reports a month ago that China was asking Russia not to invade Ukraine until after the Olympics seemed far fetched. And, the Ukrainians were telling us to stop making such a big deal out of Putin’s threats. Now, who knows how long and terrible this war will be? The loss of life and the destruction of Ukraine will undoubtedly continue as Putin seems to have no intention of backing down. Just as things were settling down from our long battle with COVID, the world is upside down again.
Perhaps this will provide the opportunity for people within the US to pull together and stop fighting each other. Russia has successfully spent a lot of money on disinformation campaigns within the US to breed distrust. There are a lot of people who didn’t believe this was happening. Whatever your beliefs, we should start again. We can and need to be better than this. It will take perseverance. We still have the vestiges of COVID, increasing prices, supply chain issues and inflation to fight.
What can we do to help our communities and the Ukrainians?
1. Be kind. Look for something nice to say or do everyday. Call that person you have been meaning to contact.
2. Give time or money to help refugees in your community or to tackle long term problems like homelessness.
3. Think long term. Don’t take unnecessary risks with your health or your money.
4. Look for opportunity in the crisis. Perhaps there is a business that can be created to help get supplies to the Ukraine.
Spend a few minutes this week thinking how you can be part of the solution. Let’s not waste a crisis. As Winston Churchill supposedly said, the US can be counted on to do the right thing….when they have exhausted all other options.
image courtesy of https://www.helfende-haende-e-v-dessau-rosslau.de/presse/