by Gabrielle von Ille, Founder and Managing Director of Lifa Communications
In the world we used to know we measured a country’s wellness simply by its GDP; mother nature cried out for help giving us various signs we ignored; we worshiped the wrong heroes; mental issues and pills were on the rise; our food consisted of E numbers; we created only with the intent to monetize or go viral; we were materialistic beyond measure; and most importantly, our values seemed to be completely out of whack. Surely, we were connected through technology and social media but actually we were more disconnected than ever.
We distracted ourselves with various means; we lost the art of conversation, we were rather heard than try to listen and understand, we followed our egos rather than our inner guidance. And we were taking nature and our loved ones for granted.
We kept saying we are too busy – we wanted more time. We kept saying things were not going in the right direction – we were praying for change. Well, I have news for you – it is here, it is just not taking the form we expected it to take.
The stock market is no longer an indicator of our society’s wellness; health and safety are taking precedent over profit; nature is flourishing. People are offering their skills and services for free. We are suddenly part of a community and strangers are assisting vulnerable members of the society without expecting anything in return. We are realizing that the true heroes are the doctors, nurses and the people working in the supermarkets. Last night I had goosebumps all over my body when I heard the applause and music playing for these heroes – which made me regain faith in humanity. People are smiling, listening to each other, and sending encouraging messages and sharing funny stories. We are creating, innovating and planting to keep entertained.
Over the last couple of days, I have reconnected with friends and family all over the world and I have had more real conversations than I had combined over the last 5 years. We have shared laughter and fear, hope and feeling of hopelessness, deep thoughts about life and we have been each other’s sources of inspiration. Because we are all going through this together.
I have always been fortunate to be able to jump on a plane any day I want. The day this changed was a huge emotional crash for me. Confined to my home I made a promise to myself never to take movements for granted and I vow that I will always fully appreciate and be present when I’m together with my loved ones.
And when the (new) normality returns, can we please remember the things we did, the things we felt and the things we appreciated during this vulnerable time? Because the question is not ‘how are we going to survive this?’. The question is ‘What are we going to learn from this?’
Gabriella von Ille is one of Africa’s leading experts on strategic communications and is an independent entrepreneur, speaker and business owner. She has worked with numerous African companies on their communications strategy, investor relations and crisis communications, as well as aspiring businesses in other sectors such as technology and fashion. Born and raised in Sweden, Gabriella started her career in the Office of Congressional and Public Affairs for a financial regulator in Washington DC. She thereafter took a job as a journalist for an investment magazine. Today she is the Founder and Managing Director of Lifa Communications, a Johannesburg-based strategic communications and investor relations firm. She is also Co-Founder of LifeLoveWater, Navigator54, and Otito. Gabriella is expressly passionated about entrepreneurship in Africa and the roll that women play in shaping the continents’s economic future.