How to biggest threat to public health in 100 years has put things into perspective.
Remember the news pre-2020, pre-COVID? The beast from the east, flooding, Brexit, plastic bags, politics. In other words, we never had it so good. We didn’t really have any problems. Every day, it seemed, was a slow news day.
Those anxieties we used to have about progressing our careers turned into anxieties over keeping our jobs. The worries about DIY turned into worries about keeping a roof over our heads.
We’re creatures of habit. We have 2 weeks abroad every year on autopilot. We go to football matches, bars, and restaurants. We celebrate the same birthdays and holidays at a hundred miles an hour, until we’re put to rest at the final event of our funeral. In many ways, I’m grateful that COVID has taken away that monotony and slowed down the pace.
And with that slowdown, I’m beginning to notice things. Trips out used to whizz by in a blur, but now there’s more detail, more appreciation. A majestic Oak tree, a timeless coastal vista, ornate, historic architecture. The experience of simply going out for a walk is now more colourful, deeper, richer.
Pre-COVID and lockdowns, the things I cared about the most were safe, so maybe I neglected them, put them into the back of my mind. They’ll always be there, they’ll always come back.
Most of all, COVID has reminded me of what’s really important. It’s dissolved away the flimsy man-made machinations we’ve built up over decades, in the vain hope of establishing a plastic community with online friendships. But, ironically, as we move to working online from home, I’m beginning to appreciate the real things more than I’ve done in far too long.
How has COVID affected you? Drop me a message below or check out the Forum.