Explorer of Experiences

In this poem, I capture my experience getting the COVID-19 vaccine in Dubai...  At 8am I was standing in a queue There to take the vaccine, hey have you? “Don’t be scared & get it!”, they say “Not worth waiting to get the flu!” So with everyone I stood at that hour Nationality, color, age and job no bar Grocery workers, delivery drivers, Restaurant servers, business owners Men in suits, women in boots... Guards whispering, as if in cahoots! Patiently waiting, no throwing a fit, Some even making a picnic of it. Then we see nurses in blue arrive In tow are the vaccines, we feel alive 300 to administer in today’s drive. How’ll it be when I get the needle? In the left arm...for it may go feeble Any side effects if my body reacts? Stop overthinking, focus on facts An official said when he saw my ID: “Step aside”. Did I look shady? I joined three men who hadn’t a clue! “Why’re we here out of the blue?” Let’s not ask, I agreed with the guys As they took us past glancing eyes So turns ...

Living in excess was one of the markers of our lifestyles pre-COVID. But when I meet you on the other side of this pandemic, which of these excesses are you going to ditch?  Excessive pollution Excessive disruption Excessive procrastination Excessive depression Excessive capitalism Excessive work Excessive consumerism Excessive hurt Excessive buying Excessive drinking Excessive usage Excessive wastage Excessive whining Excessive blame Excessive sighing Excessive shame Excessive seriousness Excessive nonchalance Excessive carelessness Excessive imbalance Excessive ignorance Excessive passiveness Excessive arrogance Excessive recklessness Excessive self-doubt Excessive cynicism  Excessive fall-outs Excessive optimism Excessive indulgence Excessive air miles Excessive absence Excessive stockpiles Excessive apathy Excessive fallacy Excessive selfishness Excessive hopelessness

Not just brands, but employees too should be mindful of how they communicate in times of a global crisis Posting mindfully in times of a global crisis The onus is on each of us, not just personally, but professionally too, to exercise sensitivity while posting on social media in a time when businesses and individuals globally are experiencing the wrath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not just brands, but employees’ own social media platforms are having increasing impact and reach. Now more than ever, consumers are closely watching how brands are communicating to their consumers, clients and vendors across various platforms. Thus, as employees and advocates of the brands we work for, the microscope is on us as well. After all, it does not take time for an inappropriate personal post to go, for the lack of a better word, viral.   How we engage with the community online and offline during this unprecedented situation will be extremely critical. Our social media behavior now...