The Jura mountains are capped with snow. I’ve been a week at their feet, but it is only when I am about to leave that I see -and enjoy- their majestic view behind an airport’s window. It has been a long week. Emotions ran high, all of them! Anxiety, anger, fear, generosity, selfishness, compassion, envy, relief, tiredness, disappointment, hope, betrayal, courage… You name it.
The world is in turmoil, and although a new order will emerge (for better or worse), the storm affects us all. The humanitarian world is heavily impacted, and despite our best efforts to stay and deliver, we know we will have to leave many behind, and it pains us.
Many of us -humanitarians- will lose our jobs. As a middle-aged father of three, who has dedicated much of his professional life to the UN, this possibility is worrisome to say the least. I know, unfortunately, I am not worrying alone. But despite all odds, my colleagues and I are among the privileged ones. Many more, in the poorest corners of the world, will not only lose their jobs but also their only chance to survive or live a life with a shred of dignity. That is simply heartbreaking.
From this perspective, we should strive to ensure that every staffing reduction, operation re-design, and process reengineering we do will reduce the number of people who will go to bed not knowing if their children will be fed the next day, or will have a safe place to sleep, or will lose access to basic education and their only hope for a better life. It is all about them, not about us. They should be our priority.
I am writing this letter to myself recalling what a wise man told me this week: “When you want to speak to God, you speak to the wind”.
Dear Me,
You have gone through so many things lately that perhaps I should have written to you before and more often. My apologies for not taking the time.
You have dealt with a global pandemic that got us locked down, scared, and isolated. We’ve sadly gotten used to seeing the barbarities of war and flagrant inequality in real-time, without consequences or a foreseen solution. But we continue to be around.
We live through the rise of virtual realities and falsehoods, the questioning of every truth, and the explosion of artificial intelligence as a fascinating and threatening event at the same time. We do not know how the future will be shaped and how best we can support and guide our children. No doubt, this is scary. It is also the blueprint of a great opportunity.
Today, amidst a global crisis, you are wondering whether you will have a job tomorrow and will be able to fend for your loved ones; whether you are being fair or selfish; and whether you should be grateful or hateful. That is why I am writing to you. Please read this letter with an open mind. I have nothing but your best interests in mind (after all, you and I are the same!).
I know you make a daily effort to plug your brain in and unplug your heart out, repeating to yourself this is the best way to do the right thing, to advise the right thing, and to decide the right thing. But through the day and most certainly every night, the heart plugs itself back into the socket of your soul, and all kinds of doubts and pains surface. That is why, before I take the plane, I beg you to seriously consider these three things:
- It is ok to be afraid, not to get paralysed. Uncertainty is hard to manage, and the forecast of unemployment is terrifying. But you have made it so far, and you will make it tomorrow. That is a fact. Perhaps you and your family will need to adjust your current standards; move elsewhere, start again, learn new skills, or venture into new occupations, but you will make it again. You will come out of this phase stronger! You are better today than you were when you started this journey. Yes, the labour market is not kind to age, but age comes with experience and knowledge. Put them to work for you. Making no decisions. Taking no control of your life. Waiting for others to decide without a response plan is not what brought you here. For sure, it will not take you where you want to go. In the end, everything will be fine; if it is not fine, then it is not the end. Shake it up and move on!
- It is ok to be angry, not to be bitter. Why is this happening to me? Why now? There is no reason for this. There are many other ways to get this right. They (whoever ‘they’ are) have no clue. They only think about themselves. They are wrong. They do not appreciate me or value my contributions. They just do not care… STOP! “They” are… your colleagues! They are also going through the same ordeal. Remember, YOU are part of ‘THEY’ for others. Be angry about the situation, the unfairness in the world, the loss of value attached to human rights, and the dignity of life. Be angry about all you consider wrong, but do not believe for a minute that only you are right. Do not make or take this personal, it is not! You are important, but not that important. Decisions affecting you are likely made considering many other factors you are unaware of and have little or nothing to do with you. I know this hurts your ego -should I say ours-, it is painful, but that is exactly how things are. Take a deep breath, believe in yourself, and bring out the best-not the worst-of you. That is how you will expedite your success. Remember point 1, you will make it!
- It is ok to be sad, not to be depressed. There is a time for everything under the sun. A time to laugh and a time to cry. Even during these challenging times, there will be reasons to celebrate and to laugh. Do not be afraid of being happy, and by all means, embrace your sadness. Cry a river, it cleans the soul. Feel your pain and that of others. Accept that you will be making tough decisions that will affect others, as much as others are making tough decisions that will affect you. Just be true to yourself and do not be judgmental. Assume that others are acting in good faith and make sure you act in good faith yourself. You can only control yourself. Getting depressed will rob you of the energy you need to pivot, to see opportunities, to make courageous decisions. You cannot afford to be depressed, you must get going. Even if you do not see the end of the road -or its beginning- keep going! You know more than you know. Look back and you will see I am right. I am sure you will figure it out. Do not doubt yourself.
There have been times when doubt clouded your vision, when the path ahead seemed obscured by fog. Yet, in those moments, you held onto the belief that perseverance would light the way. It did, right? I hope you remember the strength that carried you through those days, the inner resilience that kept you moving forward even when the road was rough.
As you read this letter, embrace the lessons learned, both from victories and defeats. They have shaped you into the person you are now, a testament to your growth and evolution. Celebrate the progress, no matter how small, for each step forward is a victory in itself.
I encourage you to continue seeking knowledge, exploring new horizons, and challenging yourself to step out of your comfort zone. Growth thrives in the soil of curiosity and courage. Allow yourself the freedom to make mistakes, knowing that each one is a stepping stone towards wisdom.
You’re not alone.
Yourself truly!