There’s a lot going on these days for everyone. Even when the days are not technically as busy as they used to be, that doesn’t mean that things are easier. Difficulty is a combination of more than just time worked. But then, I don’t think I’m saying anything that the world of amateur writers aren’t putting into words everyday anyway.
The reason I mention it is that it impacts the way we need to interact with others. Everyone is going through this together but it can be easy to internalize feelings and forget that everyone is experiencing the same internalization. Stopping to smile at the sun shining down, or to take a deep breath of crisp clean air has never been more important. Sharing the experience with others doubly so. Reminders to stop and be human are important for everyone.
Fundamental change is happening in the world. Maybe things start to look “normal” next year at some point, but that doesn’t mean that they will actually be normal. Normal should not be part of any person’s vocabulary for a long time to come. Needing to “return to normal” is not a normal thing. The fact that we need to “return” to it, means that what we are returning to is not the real thing.
We aren’t going to know what the future should look like for years. Zoom has become a thing for better or worse and many people around the world have discovered that it may actually be a better solution for them than how things used to be. Just as many (if not more) have discovered they need to be out of their house everyday for various very good reasons. But where they be may not be the office.
When the world finally opens back up, we will only just be beginning a new exploration of what we collectively want the world to look like.
It won’t look like 2019.