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Activism Brokering Warrior (ABW) - A new emerging class among Elders!
I am a self proclaimed Activism Brokering Warrior (ABW). What is at all about? Explaining that is the purpose of this blog.
Activism Broker Warrior is not a true activist, but wants to add two paisa to it at his or her comfort and will. The ubiquitous Whatsapp is his or her default platform. Engagement across many other online platforms and integrating the offline world with it opens infinite possibilities though!
Typically, an ABW is an elder who has lot of life experience, knowledge, wisdom, maturity, time and will to make a difference. But this elder is in the sunset stage of life, therefore energy, enthusiasm, and activity engagement possibilities are limited. But, thanks to social network platforms like Whatsapp, the communication is at finger tip. One can be dynamically part of hundreds of online communities, and communicate with the deft movement of a single finger tip. While there are a lot of online content creators, an ABW wields power by forwarding appealing posts across communities. But, an ABW can do more.
An ABW therefore has lot of fun with platforms like Whatsapp. Like any elder can spend easily two to three hours to read a newspaper end to end, an ABW is capable of spending eight hours a day on Whatsapp platform with a sense of ease. The Whatsapp engagement may initially start with the focus for self, but a lingering objective emerges and grows, which is to become an ABW eventually. Anyone who has lot of time, positivism will easily become an ABW, once he or she learns to surrender to the possibilities of Whatsapp platform.
An ABW has a meaningful role to play. Since there is approx. 70 % younger population out there, totally lost in building their life around education, work, business, love, making money, spending money, exploring the world etc., they need limited and relevant information at their finger tips. So, a good percentage of this class will tap Whatsapp as a theraupetic escape activity or time killing mechanism when stranded with waiting for something. This class is well served by an ABW.
Another important role is emerging for an ABW as our reality is transforming with many gateways across the online and offline worlds. For example, take the world of business, even an offline business can thrive by leveraging online platforms like Whatsapp. Online platforms are becoming pretty necessary for all aspects of life, not just business. Therefore, the field of activism too needs to leverage it. Activism needs communication and therefore communication brokers. Becoming an ABW therefore is a natural phenomenon. Since platforms like Whatsapp have lead to the new realities like “Whatsapp Universities”, an ABW is an automatic self employed Professor Emeritus in it, who has commitments to make a difference till his or her last breath on the death bed, even in an hospital bed, as an ABW needs just one moving finger to operate.
I have been active in the social network since 2007 post my early retirement. I have played with the social networks with a sense of play, exploration, experimentation. I have created various online communities for the same, some of which thrive for a while and then become dormant or dead as the changes come in and go out. I also had many other hobbies in the offline world, for which I leveraged the online world for. But, as I crossed the age of sixty, I embraced the realities of an elder, I consciously moved away from many offline hobby engagements, and growing as an exemplary ABW became more than a therapeutic necessity. I spent approx last two years of intense engagements to sell our home initially, then move to a transitional rental place, then find a permanent apartment, buy it, get it ready and settle down. As this process is now coming to an end, and the past habits can not die so easily, becoming an ABW is an excellent opportunity for me now.
Also, after moving to an apartment, an elder like me will find day to day life as being locked up in our own wonderful resort, and this is a good thing. Key focus for the day is to take care of daily routines like sleep, exercise, bath room visits, medical attention and that is all. Even shopping happens online. Financially one is secure, thanks to the pension or the interest from the bank savings. OTT platforms provide unlimited entertainment. Socializing is primarily on Whatsapp and other social platforms. A negative thought may erupt as to whether that is all left to live. When that happens, the possibilities of becoming an ABW slowly takes shape, and it should.
I want to be the voice of all ABWs out there, as a cheerleader. Please anticipate many activism brokering attempts from me through blogs like these in future. I did not use the laptop well for last six months due to transitions, and writing this blog justified that investment again, so I am in all glee writing this blog.
Since I was active in organic gardening communities before selling our house, I will attempt the same engagement now, but as an ABW. (An ABW can relate to the hippies too!) Also, I notice total lack of collaboration among apartment communities, I will unleash my ABWship in that context too. I am an avid stock market investor cum trader, my ABW will be unleashed there too. This is just about upcoming attractions ahead!
India is all about Yoga, which is unity among diversity, and diversity among unity. It is also about honoring all the entities and processes out there, so an ABW deserves the same. An ABW can be a Yoga broker too!
Welcome to the age of Activism Brokering Warriors. We are much past the dawn, it sounds like strong and bright sun at 10 AM. Let us march ahead, with our nifty fingers, both at the capacity of an elderly individual, and also as one among millions of minions or sparrows who can move a mountain together though!
Namasthe!
Nataraja Upadhya
An ordinary Activism Brokering Warrior (ABW)!
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