The
world as we knew it turned upside down today.
These
few months down, we had fallen into rhythm. It is our culture. Not the best one
but we were used to it. Being slow. Being comfortable. We are just learning to
stand up on our own without the backing of the seniors. There was nothing to
worry about. We could scrape our way through anything.
And
this guy comes up like he owns the place, and pits us against 7 year-olds. None
of us knew what this was about. Someone knew, but it wasn’t us. Someone agreed
to this, but it wasn’t us. Unknowingly, we are thrown into a competition for a
spot to perform. Take it or leave it: play well or let the 7 year-old play.
It
has been long since such vigour was seen in the room. Honestly, it was great. It
was adrenaline pumping and made me work so much harder than usual. He made us
efficient. He made things work. Things still fall apart, but at least we know
what this is supposed to sound like. We know what the final structure is
supposed to look like when we can hold it together. He is clear. He is
decisive. But it is poles apart from what we are now conditioned to.
One
innate response to unknown changes is caution and objection. That we all did.
We were like animals surviving on whatever we could, analysing the situation
based on instincts and gathering together to make fight or flight plans.
Today,
we have been all shaken in one way or another. Is it a wake-up call for us? Have
we become too complacent for our own good? Can this guy bring about a reform or
are we just going to let things be and scrape it again? Are we going to show
him our worth? Or admit that we are worse than 7-year-olds? To take up the
competition is falling into his bait – it is exactly what he wants. But it is
potentially beneficial to us as well. Fighting an enemy together would make us
stronger, all the better that it appeases everyone else. We might as well do
this well.