I’m in a contemplative mood. Break out the champagne, please. This means that I’m starting to relax enough to think about things other than what’s on my to-do list. I feel a spa day coming on. Yep, that’s the power of Spring for me.

 

The warmer air signals that sandals and pretty toes, lighter clothing, green grass, brighter colours, and the possibility of lunch outside with my tribe, COVID-19 permitting, of course, is in the vicinity. Ok, so we still have a few more weeks of August, but hey, just the thought makes me smile.

 

The world order is not changing. It has changed.

 

If you’re still hankering for a return to what was, here’s a news flash. The world order is not changing. It has changed. Done. Not going back.

 

I felt it quite strongly in December 2019. I did say I’m feeling pensive. Who remembers when Zozibini Tunzi, the young woman from the Eastern Cape, the exquisite African beauty, conquered the ultimate beauty title, Miss Universe? I remember my boys called their haircuts the “Mizz Zozibini” as they mirrored her flawless, ‘un-pageant’ look.

 

It was the 9th of December. I woke up to an otherwise benign Monday, except for the blasted load shedding and power outages on unprecedented levels, to the news of this extraordinary feat. We were in Stage 6 load shedding.

 

When we remember Tata Mandela and Archbishop Tutu. And we all love each other.

 

Until that point, we had never heard of level 6; level 4, as bad as it was, had been the limit. South Africa has a wicked sense of humour. In the midst of darkness, pun intended, she was able to shed some light. In the flick of a switch, just as Eskom brings the darkness, we were the rainbow nation. Again. When we remember Tata Mandela and Archbishop Tutu. And we all love each other. As always, this is as fleeting as the news cycle.

 

The Springboks had done the same thing, a month earlier, when they won the Rugby World Cup, after a drought since 2007. But wait, that was not the only magic of that historic win. It made Siya Kolisi the first Black captain for the Boks AND the first Black captain to win such a glorious cup.  

 

I know I’m sounding like such a sporting fundi right now, impressing myself, but I have to give that title to Mr T. I really hope that his love of sport is infused into our boys’ genetic make-up so that he has armchair buddies in future. We met in May 2009, during the Champions League, and till this day, it’s the only “clause” I have in terms of access to him: “Do not disturb me during Champions League”.

 

We always live in hope.

 

Twelve years later and I’m still making good on that agreement. I’m also pegging my hopes on our boys. So far, they’re lukewarm on sport. But I’ve seen sparks of excitement and interest around the 2020 Tokyo Olympics currently on now, delayed due to COVID-19. We always live in hope.

 

Back to the state of play of the world order. I know that the health pandemic has pushed us all to our limits and many of us are using 2020 as our reset button, to continue to forge ahead.

 

But indications of change were apparent before that, long before that. Some were in tunnel vision.  And the coronavirus came as an antidote to our comfort-induced inertia.

 

Change is the lifeblood of our existence. If it’s purposeful, it’s usually painful. And boy, we’re in pain! But what an exciting time to be alive. Embrace the seismic shift in our world order.