Kerry-Anne Allerston
Image: Supplied
Guys, it’s wild out there! I think the more we life, the harder it becomes, and the only way up or through is to lean on each other, collaborate and share.
I’ve been on a ponder about small towns where I haven’t lived and even what life is like in townships. A lot of us will never know, but I’ve chatted to enough people who do live in these places and I think we have a lot to learn. Stuff is getting more expensive by the minute and I think I may even have touched on that pretty recently, but I’m not sure how people are going to survive. The middle area is not middling. The people on the bottom end are getting poorer and the ones at the top end are getting richer.
Look, I’m not bummed at the people who are buying their second yacht this weekend. If you’ve got money to burn then good for you. And it doesn’t matter whether you worked your bum off to get where you are, if you won the lottery or if you inherited millions. I’m stoked for you and you’re a lucky fish. It’s the other sneaky fishes that scam, cheat and steal their way to the top because that usually means they’ve taken from people who, more often than not, already don’t have an unlimited supply of randelas. Those are the fishes that are the problem. If you’re that kind of fish then channel your energy into doing good and making money the old fashioned way. I know the hustle is real and sometimes it doesn’t actually seem like that choice gets you anywhere in the end, but I think it means you’ll get into heaven and you’ll have good karma on your side.
And if you’re a golden lucky fish then sprinkle some of what you have on those who have nothing. I know, okay, bossy boots over here, but you cannot get buried with your billions. Well, you can, but there are no shops where you’re going, pal. So, back to the beginning of my story. Communities in small towns and townships get by because they share. And I think we all need to learn how to let go of some of our nuts and roll them on over to the squirrel next door or down the road. Every load lightens when more people do the carrying and problems are more easily solved with love and compassion.
I don’t know what that kind of life is like and it’s easy to comment out here like a little professor, but I’ve been to lunches and parties in townships and small towns, so that’s really my only point of reference. Sharing is a real thing. Everyone brings something and there’s an inclusivity that I think we may lack in other neighbourhoods. As living costs and petrol prices increase, and I just heard there’s another gigantic hike around the corner, I feel a whole lot more struggle on the way. We need to support each other’s businesses, share social media posts about events and markets going down in our town, advertise our friend's gigs at our own events and share whatever we can whenever we can.
Some of us are out to sort ourselves out and that’s understandable and kind of human because survival mode. Just remember, when the zombies come, you won’t be allowed on your neighbour’s boat because they’re taking the other neighbour who dropped off a bowl of lasagna when their great aunt passed away the month before. And they’re also letting the guy down the street on before you because he fixed the garage door when they couldn’t afford it or do it themselves. It’s a thing. We all need to put our weapons down, literally and figuratively, and hold hands a little tighter. There are wars going on all over the world and I know they’ve been going on since the beginning of time, but hatred, negativity and bad vibes are just no good. We need to seriously love hard right now and be kind.
We need to create some kind of harmony and peace where we work and live so we can lean on each other, have shoulders to cry on and hands to hold us up in the tougher times. If they’re not that tough yet, they will get there at some point. It’s like saving up for a rainy day. Give not because you want to get anything back, but give because you can and because you want to, and it’ll come back to you on a rainy day when you need it most.
Also, I wish we could ride bicycles everywhere like they do in Europe. I wish I drove an electric car. I’ll make these wishes on the next candles I blow out and I’ll ask the universe very nicely if I can have one. I’d also like everyone else to have one, like I’m Oprah. I’d like to try and build on people’s dreams by handing out electric cars to everyone like they’re Skittles. Just imagine.
So, all I can say for now is I don’t think it matters how many nuts you’ve gathered and how big your pile is. I don’t think it matters how you got them either. Just share them. I hope someone fun lets you onto their boat when you’ve got to evacuate in an emergency because we all know zombies can’t swim. And if you didn’t know that, you’re welcome.