3 Minutes of Freedom
In the city of Melbourne (Australia), we are granted a whole day off on the first Tuesday of each November.
Some would say it’s trivial, and some will react abhorrently however many of us say it’s our 3 minutes of freedom.
A 3-minute horse race, The Melbourne Cup stops our nation and possibly the world and we Melbournians respond with a four-day break.
Halleluiah, this year, we’ve deserved it.
We’ve recently been crowed The Worlds Most Locked Up City and we need to show the world that we know how to live – we want to regain our title of The World’s Most Liveable City.
Many workplaces ‘officially’ provide the Monday prior to The Melbourne Cup as a day of leave and the planners in this world, request the day off, a year in advance. The schools in my home close their doors and we’ll all be home yet the front door will be open to get out, celebrate, shop and socialise.
For those of you who have four days of Freedom because of the 3-minute race it’s time to get out and leave your computers, your ‘working for home’ title and invest in the businesses of Melbourne and Victoria. Think small businesses and sole traders who need your patronage.
If you’re an employer, this is a great time to invest in your people by giving them time to rest up and take a ‘mental health’ break. Being confined to a computer and locked up with others (even the family!), is going to have a lasting effect on many.
For those of you who need to keep the doors open, ensure you inject some fun, food, and freedom to help bring joy to these four days.
Hello world, this is Melbourne speaking and remember to tune into us on Tuesday 2nd November 3pm (AEDT). We won’t be working, taking your calls or responding to your emails, we’ll be celebrating our 3 minutes of freedom!