Who remembers this popular song from the musical ‘Oliver’ back in the 1960’s? Harry Secombe belting out “Every day would be the first day of spring…”
What would you do if you ruled the world? Or even just your own little part of it? What is the first thing that you would do? How would you go about easing some of the worst injustices and difficulties of our society? How would you bring comfort and healing to our broken world and the suffering of the natural world all around the planet?
People are very quick to criticise those in government – to say that the mythical ‘they’ should magically do something about ‘it’, but I rarely hear any answers or practical suggestions being offered.
I think that the first thing I would do is declare each Monday to be weekly ‘Hug Each Other Day’ when everyone is encouraged to give lovely warm hugs. Now don’t laugh! It has been scientifically proved that the physical, mental and emotional benefits of a regular, prolonged, twenty second hug are quite staggering. Let’s boost the health of the entire nation by hugging!
Next, fair wages for all – a lot less for a few and a great deal more for many – and decent working hours and conditions for all – something which our forebears fought so hard to achieve and which, in our ‘enlightened’ Twenty-First Century society seems to have completed disintegrated.
I would organise communal facilities for people of all ages who wanted/needed them – especially meals, but possibly go on to include living accommodation and practical training as well. These would be run and maintained by volunteers from all sectors of society who would be awarded points for each job (the more unpleasant or arduous, the more points) which could then be exchanged for money or other benefits. The doors of these centres would be open to all and if more facilities were required, the community would come together to organise and/or build it, using public money and resources. There would be no need for anyone to be on the streets or sitting alone at home in isolated loneliness or desperation.
I am not suggesting a communist state, just accepted and widespread facilities where everyone could go and be accepted, receive what they need, give what they can.
There would be few laws, just encouragement, rewards, and bonuses.
Wrong-doers would be helped, healed and remain as useful members of society.
How about a national day of ‘Unconditional Love’? I think we’d have at least two a month of those. Any suggestions as to how it could be put into active practice?
Of course, I am being a bit silly! Or am I?
We certainly can’t continue as we are at present.
And if we heal ourselves, both individually and collectively, we will also be in a much better position to treat everything else around us with kindness and consideration. We can integrate a policy of walking more lightly on the land, of working with nature not against it, of practices which harmonise with the rest of the world rather than conflict.
Pie in the sky? Really? Why can’t we change things for the better and do it differently? Are we really all so set in our ways, so uncaring, selfish or just plain scared that we daren’t even consider a new order? And we have to do something. Life on this planet cannot go on as it is – we all know that.
Rather, this is a golden opportunity to take life and do something amazing with it. We can all begin now, today. Light a candle in the metaphorical darkness and bring some love and goodwill into the life around you.
So, if I ruled the world, Monday – today – would definitely be the weekly ‘Hug Day’… so please hug as many people as you can today and see what a difference it makes already.!
What would you do?
