The news has been sharing stories of an increase in children deciding not to go to school.

In Australia, it seems that our state in Victoria has seen an increase in numbers. Some people are putting it down to the fact that we had more days in confinement during lockdown (263 days) compared to other states that had an average of 60 days. This has resulted in more mental health and anxiety issues not just for children but adults too.

It’s not surprising actually. Going through lockdown here in Victoria was a completely different experience than what my colleagues were going through when I was working. In fact, I would say that the Victorians were all more traumatised in their own way that others who didn’t go through it will never really understand.

Nevertheless, the pandemic and lockdown has made everyone evaluate and reassess things and people in their lives. For me, it was the realisation that I don’t want to be part of the organisational systems that espouse people yet their business models are driven by profits. It meant stopping social media; getting rid of toxic people and those who used my ideas for their gain. The hypocrisy was too much. Enough was enough.

It seems that something is happening in our lives. A big reassessment and evaluation. Are we going through a change of some sort in society where people question the old structures, the old hierarchies or simply choose not to be part of it anymore. If I can use a Dostoyevsky term of “going underground”. (From Notes of Underground).

I wonder what the future holds. Part of me thinks that it’ll be a world where people start to let go of the things they have become sickened with and return to things that are more practical. Working with your hands, creating, building with your hands Taking up the old crafts that had been long forgotten and with a renewed sense of creativity, make things that reward them with a sense of accomplishment and joy in just making something of their own.

This week in our French conversation class we talked about this young man who quit school to focus on his passion of carpentry (of old and not modern methods). I see this and I love it.

This is our future. I see an increase in shops and studios being built in our area related to crafts. I taught my husband to knit and will teach others to do the same too.

The future is all about getting back to basics. Crafters, entertainers, artists, artisans….I’m excited to see the burst of creativity that will come out of this.

I may even say that people would be put off by technology or AI, fake news, ChatGPT and others who try to sell snake oil to them. This is the year that many people will have their eyes opened and finally say, “enough of selling me lies. Unless you show me action, or changing yourself, I’m walking”.

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