Let’s Not Go Back to Normal

I’ve weathered some storms in my day, but this one takes the cake.

When have we ever witnessed the shut-down of the entire world?

I’ve been watching the shut-down of the city. Surrounding cities, too. The whole Kansas City metropolitan area gone dormant, hunkered down, waiting for the wraith to pass. And it doesn’t stop here. It extends like a pernicious vine, reaching out into all the cities and small towns and rural areas in the state of Missouri. And every other state. And every other country.

That’s the world we’re currently living in, and it’s weird. It’s disheartening to see shops and restaurants closed, old favorites with doors shut, some potentially never to reopen. Kids are out of school indefinitely. Many parents don’t have jobs, and the lucky ones who do are trying to work from the kitchen table while spouses and kids orbit the room, vying for attention because there’s nothing left to watch on TV that hasn’t already been watched. It’s uncomfortable going to the grocery store, passing people in the aisles, staying back six feet or more, wondering what masked strangers are thinking as they walk by. Trying not to breathe anyone else’s air. Arriving back home and scrubbing hands as if they’ve just touched a rotting corpse.

I was struck by the all-encompassing impact of this COVID-19 thing as I watched Andrea Bocelli’s Music for Hope concert at the Duomo di Milano on Easter Sunday. As his stunning arias soared throughout the cathedral, drones sent back videos of silent cities all over the world. Milan. Paris. London. New York City. The streets and sidewalks of these cities – usually some of the busiest in the world – were empty, deserted. My mind knew this was happening. After all, it’s been all over the news. But to see it like that…

I’ve heard that birds sing on Madison Avenue now. And the sky over Los Angeles is blue.

On my block, neighbors still stop to say hi to each other and have a quick chat, everyone remaining well within the social distancing guidelines. Families walk by the house laughing, talking, enjoying the sunshine, and reveling in the feeling of being outside the confines of their walls. Where did all these families come from? Runners are out in droves, dogs are excited about being walked by their people; everyone, it seems, has discovered the great outdoors. And everyone seems happy.

Is it an illusion? I hope not.

Before COVID-19, we lived in a world ruled by fear. Fear of not being good enough, fear of not having enough, fear of not looking right, fear of not fitting in, fear of being left out…the list goes on and on. The media fuels these fears by showing us everything we’re missing out on. Social media is even worse as we watch our friends go on amazing vacations to places we’ve never been and have experiences we’ve only dreamed of. All fully documented on Facebook or Instagram for our entertainment and vicarious enjoyment.

But think about this. Right now we live in a world where all of us are missing out on everything because everything is closed down or canceled. We’re all in the same boat.

Or, to put it another way, none of us are missing out on anything at all, because there’s nothing happening to miss.

Either way, there’s a void, right?

Now look at the ways in which people are trying to fill this void. Positive quotes. Silly memes that make people laugh. Pictures of puppies, babies, bunnies, kittens, and other cute animals. Zoom conversations with family members and video happy hours with friends and coworkers. Family walks in the neighborhood.

How many pies, loaves of bread, and dozens of cookies were baked in the past month? And how many people picked up a book for the first time since college?

Here’s the real question: Why didn’t we do all these things before the virus shut us down? Why didn’t we spend quality family time doing a jigsaw puzzle, playing in the backyard, or walking the dog? Why didn’t we get creative in the kitchen, get out the paint set, read a book, or sit in the sunshine? Why didn’t we call friends and family members to check on them and see how they’re doing? Does it take a crisis to get us all to remember what’s truly important in life?

I’m not downplaying the seriousness of the situation we find ourselves in. It’s tragic for many. But I do hope that when this is over, we won’t go back to normal. Maybe this crisis will help all of us reorder our priorities and focus on the things that mean the most to us. I know I’m rewriting my list.

When this is over and we’re released back into society, I hope to see even more people out for a morning run. I hope families still go on evening walks with the kids. I hope friends and family continue to make the time to call each other, have lunch, grab a beer, or talk on the phone, just to stay in touch, just because they care. I hope all of us continue to realize how precious this life is and how quickly things can change if we’re not paying attention.

Let’s commit right now to not going back to normal. Let’s create a new normal where we love each other, laugh more, nurture our creativity, spend time in nature, and aren’t afraid to reach out and connect with others.

Namaste.