Humans are never going to hug the same way again, whereby times of struggle can pave the way for new ways of life, the new normal.
Things like sunshine, movie dates, boardgame nights, cooking sessions, walks around the park. These are the little things most of us will value more post-pandemic. Are these not the little things most of us value more now that we are deprived of it? Deep-diving into self-reflection, we came up with a list of things we missed — and how we can appreciate them, here and now.
The Yearning for Small joys
When everything is business as usual, humans become hooked into an autopilot mode of living. Handshakes and hugs became customary, for formality purposes. After the soft-apocalyptic episode is over, humans will never again hold an embrace, the same way as we did before.
There are two possible ways: the long-standing tradition of handshakes could be replaced by an awkward nod or simple elbow bump.
Or instead, it will be a big long hug as a form of paying our debts of gratitude we often take for granted. If that's the case, every interaction might start with a hug that you might only see from a romantic scene in the past. If grown men run towards each other and hug it out casually on the street, it might be a fun sight to watch, and at the same time, it will melt your heart.
The Habit of Washing Hands
There are no two ways about it, we will never return to our lazy selves when it comes to hand hygiene. The longer these measures are in place, the more likely we are to adopt habits, and we are likely to wash our hands more and more carefully for quite a long time to come — even if you don’t realize your cleaner hygiene habits.
Sunshine
Who knew going outside could be so such a glorious act of victory after they took it all away. Due to measures of gathering and movement restrictions, a walk around the neighbourhood will make a fantastic voyage, and nature getaways such as a simple trip to the park could replace the hype of clubs and disco parties.
Unlocking Out-of-the-World Hidden Talents
Who would have guessed, we will value the gift of confinement. Pushed into self-isolation, we have no choice other than making yourself well occupied.
What could you learn in a few weeks? That somewhat depends on your commitment and the level of boredom. Quilting, decluttering, fixing compartments, basic CPR, painting, conversational French, learning Python for beginners, cooking, meditation, knitting, yoga, website coding, performing saxophone, sign language — it is a world of endless of possibilities.
The result could be the Van Gogh's inspired "Starry Night" painting on the corner of your shelf, self-taught hair cut, all together with a house spring cleaned, gourmet Italian food taught from the internet and piled of books that have been well-read.
