A large number of my friends and clients (I’m a freelance writer) are sick.  I am only vaguely aware of the killer flu strains that are traipsing through Europe and, scarily enough, a friend of my just returned from Germany having been sick the entire flight.  She’s only now just starting to recover after seven or so days of illness. 

I’ve been getting messages from different people apologizing for delays due to sickness and, consequently, I haven’t had my usual load of projects for a few days. 

What I find most interesting of all is the degree to which we really do depend on one another for everything.  Yes, we are all plugged in to the internet and electronic devices that we need in order to properly communicate, but we also need each other in order to perform our duties. 

With the age of technology came the age of independence.  We all became self-sufficient beings that used everything but one-on-one contact to communicate with our fellow humans.  We have distanced ourselves from our colleagues so as not to engage too much into personal communication.  We have made each other disposable through digital technology and continue to deny our reliance on the feelings of others. 

This sickness seems to have brought to life our own weaknesses.  Not only do we still all belong to our fragile biological bodies, but we still rely on each others “feelings” to make the world work.  If a great majority of the people in my circle fall ill, they cannot work and, therefore, neither can I.  Sure, I can write blogs, but the projects on which I base my schedule are suddenly put on hold.  As a result, the consumers who depend on my client’s brochures and websites in order to make decisions have to wait. 

So as much as we distance ourselves, we still all live in the same small, interconnected world.  Many, many years ago sickness would debilitate a small village or town.  Now, despite the fact that I haven’t met most of my clients in person, the same still holds true. 

Drink lots of fluids and feel better.