The last Friday of this month – how quickly ‘last Fridays of the month’ come by. Things race along as they do everyday while at the same time we’re in the midst of the biggest pause we’ve (or I’ve) ever been asked to experience. A huge pause in the last long while – and a long pause still to come – we’re caught in many complexes both individually and collectively.

#WATWB – We are the World is an initiative set up by Damyanti Biswas and Belinda McGrath Witzhuizen some years ago, as a way of broadcasting good news posts from bloggers around the world. It’s intention is to illustrate that in spite of the denseness of darkness that surrounds us and our communities and further beyond, there are those out there who are angels who see where a need is and take steps to fill that need for another, or for communities, or for planet earth and her inhabitants. Whether it is feeding programmes for the hungry, water for drought stricken areas, accommodation for the homeless, caring for abandoned pets, supporting businesses that have had to close – well, the list is long of those in need, sometimes dire. We’re all being stretched in many uncomfortable ways. We’re all facing the same storm that is covid-19, although our ships and sails are of different sizes and strengths and we sail them differently. Some storms are easier to sail, some very difficult …

‘When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping’.

Mr Fred Rogers

Fred Rogers

Here in South Africa there are so many initiatives, from government, NGO’s, NPO’s, individuals, communities, businesses, CEO’s, in fact just about everyone who can, are donating their time, money and efforts to keep our people and animals as safe as possible in this lockdown from covid-19. Our greatest strength is our people as someone said –

The diamonds in the detritus are there –

faceted diamonds on dark background colourbox.com

I can’t decide what story to highlight – I know of sooooo many and I follow many of these initiatives very closely. Communities, individuals, organisations, businesses, stores – the whole bang shoot – coming together, practising UBUNTU, helping, sharing, being in compassion and in humanity, emptying their pockets as much as they can to help, where needed. Feeding the hungry is one of the priorities. People are being creative, sharing their ideas, making things like masks at their homes by the thousands, to buy and donate, many so very pretty, soft and comfortable, washable, affordable, and effective in preventing the spread of germs – #Masks4AllPlettandbeyondTeams

Feeding schemes request ice-cream and yoghurt containers and the like to be delivered at designated points to be collected and used to fill with soup and delivered to the needy. Animals who have been abandoned are lovingly taken care of and fed daily by volunteers. There are many designated places outside the stores where coffee, tea, bread, oil, maize meal, jam, peanut butter, basic provisions, where one can place their donations. Places to drop off your unused curtains, or any material used to make masks … these are just a few of many initiatives in Plettenberg Bay where I live –

The air is clearer is many parts of the world, rivers are cleaner, animals are returning to their natural habitat and numbers, coral is being restored inter alia which makes me realise how majestic Mother Nature is in her ability to strive for healing and balance. It is truly heart inspiring to see UBUNTU in action in very small and very large ways, humanity in action, caring for our neighbours and beyond. I believe we’re all striving for healing and balance.

Our co-hosts this month are as below. Do pop by and say hello. Their stories are bound to be fabulous and inspiring and bring a sense of the goodness that prevails in spite of –

Eric Lahti
Susan Scott
Inderpreet Kaur Uppal
Damyanti Biswas
Dan Antion

Should you wish to take part in this monthly event and share some good news, we’d love to have you along. This is the linky-list to add your name. Posts to be be 500 words, non-religious, non-political and to say why you liked this particular spot of good news, and attach the link to the story, which I have NOT done this month. Please use social media to spread the good news, using the #WATWB hashtag and badge.

Thank you for reading. May the Force be with you and yours.

A lovely song below – 1min 31 secs., for those who have not seen it. An Irish Blessing, now a South African cover Blessing, in honour of all those in the front line –

62 Comments on #WATWB

  1. I’m late stopping by, Susan, apologies, but it’s always nice to drop in and partake of your positivity. You have shared so much good news. It’s uplifting. I like the quote from Mr Rogers. I recently watched the movie about him and his television show. I’d only heard of him recently so was interested to find out more about him. It was interesting.
    Take care, Susan. I hope you are doing well. We seem to have done okay over here, so far, and are looking to easing restrictions from here on. I wonder how different our world will be in the future. Best wishes.

    • Thanks Norah for coming by, I so appreciate it! No need to apologise 🙂 I must look out for the film, I wonder if it’s on Netflix or some other resource.

      It’s day 55 (I think) here in SA – as of a few days back some restrictions are being lifted as people cannot survive if large and small businesses remain closed. The economy is suffering very badly and there are many hungry people. Our infections still remain low-ish, recoveries are good, deaths are sometime co-morbidity related …

      Schools are allowed to be opened for Gr 7 & 12 beginning June, though there is a feeling that this may be too soon. I can’t imagine when the two schools where SHINE has volunteers for reading, will open. These are gr 2 & 3. I miss my treks to school.

      Good on Australia and New Zealand for good governance re the management of this; I guess all countries who have put restrictions in place to manage it. I too wonder what the new normal will be ..

      All best to you Norah – I hope this finds you and family well and in good cheer 🙂

      • It is difficult to know just what each new day will bring, isn’t it? Nothing is guaranteed any more. We just just take what comes and do our best with it, learning to be patient and adjust.
        I hope you get to work with your little ones again soon. Your input is valuable to them.
        Take care. xx

  2. A beautiful post and yes we are all in pause. And yet in some ways I am busier than ever. Socially distanced but not emotionally distant and that’s what this post is all about. We care. ❤️

    • Thank you Pamela for coming by … it’s quite paradoxical, being in pause, yet busy, with caring and sharing 🙂

  4. Hi Susan, I have always loved Fred Rogers and especially this quote. I am immediately drawn to your word “pause.” My husband has been using this word when I continue to question how we will be able to move forward. One example we talk about is how pilots are required to maintain yearly flying hours. My husband continues to tell me how this is a “pause button” on many of the stringent requirements of our past life.

    I love your phrase “…there are angels who see where a need is…”. Thank you for highlighting a great deal of good that is taking place. I love listening to your son and wife sing. It warms my heart. Take care. xx

    • Yes, everything is on pause and yet there is great activity on all fronts – how paradoxical is that 🙂 Maybe this pause is needed – I suspect it is as we witness in our pausing day by
      day and let humanity in all its guises come to the fore.

      Even as I write to you I’m thinking of how the masks we’re obliged to wear in public is a metaphor for the masks or the personas we normally wear; and how when we unmask when the virus is not such a threat any longer, we will bin and ban our personas as we become more authentic …

      Thanks for coming by Erica, so appreciated. I almost wrote have a great weekend, but it’s Wednesday 🙂 You too take care xx

  5. What a beautiful song! There’s so much good in the world and I’m thankful for you and WATWB for bringing it to light!

  6. Hi Susan – thanks for highlighting so many other things, particularly relevant to South Africa … life will be changed: how much in a few years – is I hope for the better … I would hope the people can influence leaders to be better, to do better. Historically it’s very interesting … but for the young I sincerely wish for the best for everyone … more fairness. Take care and good to know about Plett and its efforts, also the Blessing – which is just wonderful … all the best – Hilary

    • That’s a lovely hope Hilary, that people can have an influence on our leaders ‘to be better, do better’. Let’s hope that the hope turns into manifested reality! Hope all good with you. Today is Freedom Day, the day that Mr Nelson Mandela was our first democratically elected president .. 26 years ago! Have a great week and thanks for coming by. Susan

      • Hi Susan – thanks … I sincerely hope .. .the butterfly effect might become a reality. Though we’ve enough problems with the pandemic and Brexit – how we (UK) come out strong … I am not sure.

        Excellent – I remember being in Jhb at the time of Mandela’s release … coming back here 2 years later, 28 years ago. Lots has happened since then … take care and here’s to a happier future – Hilary

        • I like that – the butterfly effect – and it’s a pretty powerful one too.

          So glad to take you back to this day 🙂 It’s always something to look back – and to look forward –

          • After this episode of life … it’d be great if the butterfly effect really got going with all the good things about democracy …

            … and yes I remember lots of SA days … take care – H

  7. Sci-Fi always said the world would only come together when there was a greater threat to face down. Well, it’s here now and it’s heartening to see how, for the most part, people are coming together. We’ve got a few knuckleheads here in the States trying to throw wrenches into the machinery, but there are some folks who have to push buttons.
    Thanks for posting!

    • I wonder what we’ll make of all of this in a couple of years time. But for the now, never mind in a few months, it’s one day at a time and being prepared to be shocked every day at the utterances that come out of the mouths of politicians .. no names mentioned but here, there and everywhere. Thanks for coming by Eric, and for co-hosting this month 🙂

  8. In a time like now when the world is so scary and there is so much need out there, it is wonderful to hear of all the people coming together to help one another. It gives me hope for humanity. Also, Thank your son and his lovely wife for their tribute of singing the Irish Blessing. Stay safe and well.

    • Thanks for your comment Gwynn. I reckon we just need to pause, and be witness, and help out when we can and be humanity in action. I’ll definitely pass on your thanks to Dave & Jüte – isn’t it a lovely song 🙂 xxx

  9. Hi Susan,
    Thank you for this highly inspiring blog post.
    It’s so heartening to note that in these troubled times, people are coming together as one and helping one another.
    It just goes to show that despite all the depressing realities that we see and hear day in and day out, there is a lot of goodness all around us.
    I am in India, and all over the country there are so many individuals as well as organisations collectively reaching out to people are who are in distress, be it the homeless or elders or the sick.
    Take care, and be safe.
    – Pradeep

    • Thanks Pradeep for coming by – you’re so right, people are helping out. I read your post about neighbours helping each other and these stories are so heart warming. There’s so much goodness about. I know ‘goodness’ and helping is happening in India, long may it continue. You too keep well and safe, Susan.

  10. Thank you for this inspiring post. I love hearing the good news that’s coming from this global disaster, and admire you so much for your commitment to share it. And I love, love the video! Beauty all around. Virtual hugs and blessings, Jeanie

    • Thank you Jeanie 🙂 The good news is sustenance for sure and keeps hope alive, energetic and well in these grave times as we evaluate our priorities for self and others, including Mother Nature and re-set the button …
      Virtual hugs to you too Jeanie, Blessings.

  11. What a gathering of good news and avenues to offer help, Susan. I have found some ways to help here in Florida: buying mulch from the City Rescue Mission which “employs” the homeless to deliver by truck, supplying art kits for needy students, and giving to a food bank.

    Your son and wife have brought inspiration to many with the video. You can be one proud mama! We all need blessing.

    Blessings and peace and good health to you and your family – and virtual hugs! ((( )))

    • A virtual hug to you Marian. Thank you for letting us know what’s happening in your neck of the woods. I wish your nephew Joel (if my memory serves me right) all success in his his supplying art kits for needy student, such a great initiative. And may we continue to help out where needed!

      Thank you for your good wishes. Namaste to you and family and friends, many blessings, good health and all lovely things 🙂

  12. Susan, thank you for this uplifting post, and that lovely Irish prayer/South African blessing video. I’m moved by your stories of coming together, giving as much money as we can, practicing UBUNTU, helping, sharing, being in compassion and in humanity. And thank you for checking out my offering; so glad you’re sharing it:)

    • Thanks Lizbeth for stopping by. It’s great that #WATWB highlights these stories – elsewise would we ever know? We would probably know some of the good being done I’m sure, but certainly for me the #WATWB posts are always a great reminder of humanity in action. A pleasure re sharing your lovely video … I hope it gets the attention it deserves. Have a great weekend 🙂

  13. Yes, it is a joy to hear the good news stories during this pandemic. I have friends locally who are checking in on me and the children to make sure we are coping while my husband is absent (severe OCD and he’s a key worker). Without my friends I would surely lose the plot!

    • Thank heavens for friends and technology Catherine I agree. I reckon many of us would lose the plot if not for the care and concern of others who can help out. Glad you have this. Thanks for stopping by 🙂

    • Thanks for coming by Deborah and we’re all hoping that this epidemic comes to a grinding halt soon. I will pop by you just now – have a lovely weekend 🙂

  16. My friend makes masks and won’t take money, but is glad if we pay with donations to the local Food Bank. So I got 2 cloth masks (one with a butterfly) with instructions how to sterilize them and the food bank got a donation to help feed hungry families. It’s hard to know how this will end, but communities such as my rural area are coming together to try to save local businesses, buy gift certificates from shops and restaurants that had to close, buying food from local farms, and taking care of each other.

    I’m grateful to live in New York State where our governor has stepped up in the very best way to be informative, honest, and truthful. We’ve been hit the hardest as a state, but not in my area which is 5 hours drive west of the big city. We have a few cases but people are practicing physical distancing and wearing masks and gloves. Many like me have the luxury of staying home. We saw how bad things can get when many get sick. (I take this opportunity to apologize to the whole world for our uninformed, greedy, and unhinged president. Every day I wonder how this could have possibly happened. We never know what he’ll do next.)

    • Andrew Cuomo sounds and looks like a great guy Elaine. Straight talking, empathetic (good looking too).

      South Africans relate I think to Americans and your current president. Our previous president, jacob zuma, was a source of frightful embarrassment and great concern to many of us for his unbelievable corruption and stupidity. Although the sadness was that the majority voted for him even as he plunged our country into further extremes. Thankfully Mr Cyril Ramaphosa our current president inspires us and we’re proud of him. I never thought this would happen but it has. He is being presidential and keeping the nation informed. He has great advisors as well. We’re hoping for an easing of restrictions in layers from the end of this month, like some businesses opening, exercise outside our homes, all following strict protocol like wearing masks and social distancing and regular hygiene practices –

      Your butterfly mask sounds lovely 🙂 Thank you for coming by, keep well and safe. Always love seeing your facebook posts of beautiful blue egg shells ready to break and of course your wonderful posts.

      • Your comment heads right for my heart, Susan. I take a deep breath. Thank you. I remember how hard it was with Zuma but didn’t know Ramaphosa was so much better. I’ve liked Andrew Cuomo more over the years as he softened and showed his heart side–as well as his competence and expertise about running New York State is complex and diverse I like his NYC Italian self-confidence that comes from knowing what he’s doing. I learned a lot about his character from watching his interactions with his younger brother who had covid..

        • Yes I saw his interaction with Chris his brother. I really like yiur guv. Believe me Elaine we thought we’d never be rid of zuma. He is still a blight on the landscape –
          We are hoping that Mr Ramaphosa continues to be presidential post covid-19: he certainly has more support now. Of course we’re not hearing about his inner circle; those in the highest echelons, quite a few of them thugs.

  17. Wonderful share Susan. So many wonderful initiative are being taken by so many selfless souls at this time in the world for reckoning and pause and time to remember gratitude. Mother Nature is showing us how good it is for her to breathe while we give the earth a rest and remember kindnesses for our fellow man. <3

    • Lovely comment thank you Debby. Hopefully we’ll all be able to breath a little easier, along with Mother Nature when this virus reaches its sell by date and we retain the lessons learned like kindness to our fellow man ..

  18. Thank you for sharing these uplifting examples of kindness. I believe that positivity and goodwill are contagious. The more we share, the more this grows.
    Keep well and safe!

    • Thanks Donna! Yes, kindness has its own kind of contagion, effectively rippling outwards.

      You too keep well and safe 🙂

  19. More than ever it is the small caring gestures that are bringing our world together. I like your choice of topic for #WATWB and hope that the light these people demonstrate can help the world in a dark time.

    • In full agreement Ally Bean, thanks for saying so .. I believe too that care is shown in a personal manner even if one does not know the recipient. I wonder what is the more ‘noble’ of the two – giving or receiving. Have a wonderful weekend and thank you for pausing by ..

  20. I love that the environment is so much cleaner with man locked up. Not sure what to make of that but it’ll give us all something to think about. We can make a difference without spending billions of dollars (well, on the other hand, the lost economics is well beyond billions. Sigh).

    • Yup, we’ve also had to expend billions of rands to temper this whole drama (who knows where we’re getting it), but so far it seems like much of it is well spent in providing aid where it’s needed. I sometimes wonder if the ordinary man in the street, businesses, NGO’s and the like whose initiatives are not linked to govt spending, don’t fare better … they’re on the ground and they deliver, minus all the red tape. Thanks Jacqui for coming by …

  21. It truly is a time of UBUNTU, of helpers, of outpourings of loving-kindness, and displays of unity consciousness. Such heart-openings in the midst of such challenges feel so precious to me, and so worthy of our attention and appreciation. Thanks for hosting this month Susan.

    • Thanks Deborah for coming by – it’s amazing and wonderful how eager so many are to help especially in times of trouble. And are able to match their talents with a need – I’m thinking of your lovely #WATWB post and that man with his camera linking people.

  22. Isn’t it wonderful to look around and see so many helpers, and so many opportunities to help? These are trying times, dangerous times, and yet people are rising up and pitching in. The planet certainly is enjoying the (hopefully) brief respite from our normal behavior. Thanks for the upbeat report from your part of the world.

    • Thanks Dan for coming by, glad you enjoyed the post. Thank you also for co-hosting this month for #WATWB, popping round to yours right now. Have a great weekend 🙂

  23. I love the phrase, “diamonds in the detritus”, Susan. And many stellar examples of people helping people. I may be an outlier in this, but I do think this “pause” is going to help society move in a more favorable direction for all of us, the planet included, and not just a chosen few. Thank you for sharing your light. Have a terrific day. xo

    • I wish I could claim ‘diamonds in the detritus’ as mine Pam but I can’t. Though I sought out the graphic for that lovely phrase which struck to me too. If you’re an outlier then I am too but I am fairly confident that many see the pause as beneficial even if very difficult.

      I will still check out your recent post on Earth Day. Have a lovely weekend 🙂 xx

  25. Dear Susan,

    Thankfully, the world is overflowing with many individual and collective stories of kind-heartedness, encouragement and inspiration during these strange COVID-19 fearful, dark days. So it’s a joy to visit you at #WATWB and share more positivity about how things are going in the southern hemisphere. The message that keeps hitting home is “we’re (really) all in this together!” Alongside feeding the hungry, the creative and community-spirited mask making undertakings touch my heart. Thank you so much for sharing the beautiful, uplifting video! It’s playing now as I type. What a gorgeous and amazingly talented couple they are!

    Last night in the UK the “Big Night In” telethon was screened to the nation with all its TV presenters being socially distanced from each other. Great comedy TV! And now the charity “Comic Relief” will be able to help those who in need during the COVID-19 pandemic, whether misfortunes have come about through loss of employment or whether someone needs online support while struggling with loneliness and anxiety issues. The list of need will be great and endless! At closing last night the TV show had raised over £27 million pounds. Brilliant! As our government has pledged to match pound for pound donation.

    Sending much love and light across the oceans between us, Deborah.

    • Thanks for coming by Deborah. And the lovely story of that very elderly man of 99 Thomas Moore walking in his garden and raising a huge amount of money!

      ‘The Big Night In’ telethon sounds wonderful. It’s interesting how, from tragedy, humour can emerge .. it seems the most unlikely source. Not always, but sometimes.

      Our President addressed the nation last night. Golly he was presidential and impressive. Clear strong simple language, addressing each and every one facing this scourge. He laid out plans for reducing the lockdown in stages of which he’ll keep us informed. Right now, restrictions are still in place. So essential to wear masks and observe the basic rules of hygiene etc. So far we’re below the curve …

      Love, light, humour to you dear Deborah!

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