“There is a word in South Africa – Ubuntu – a word that captures Mandela's greatest gift: his recognition that we are all bound together in ways that are invisible to the eye; that there is a oneness to humanity; that we achieve ourselves by sharing ourselves with others, and caring for those around us.” Ubuntu philosophy
The word Ubuntu first came to my attention last year, and then again more recently when watching Doc Rivers, ex-coach of the Celtics speak about his coaching experience in the Netflix documentary The Playbook - A Coach’s Rules for Life.
What struck me, is the power of Ubuntu - it is not just a word but a way of life - a simple yet impactful philosophy - that we achieve by sharing ourselves with others. “I am because you are”.
As the COVID pandemic continues, the philosophy of Ubuntu resonates strongly. As a community we are bound together - and I would ask what choices each of us will make to offer care and support to those around us? In the spirit of Ubuntu - How might we achieve ourselves by sharing with others?