The New Normal
What an incredible time we are all living in, aren’t we? A tiny micro-organism, that can’t even be seen with the naked eye, and the entire world has bowed down to it. Indeed, if there is any superpower at the moment, it is the COVID-19 virus! Suddenly, the world as we knew it, the world in which we were busy leading our even busier lives – has come to a crashing halt.
Much of what is happening in the world right now is in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the world waits with bated breath for Life to become normal again. Yet …… what is ‘normal’ anyway? Have these few months of living in the ‘essentials’ mode changed the way we look at normal?
In many ways, our lives have become minimalistic – we are staying at home, not spending on needless things, spending a big chunk of time taking care of ourselves, our homes and our families. Paradoxically, it is also a time where we are milking technology for every drop – we’re doing everything online – be it business meetings, classroom teaching, meeting friends – we’re finding newer ways to connect in this era of social distancing. How much of this will we carry forward into our lives?
Here’s a dekko at what has probably changed irrevocably for us, and for the generations to follow:
Vocabulary Additions
The last few months have seen a rapid evolution in our vocabulary. Social distancing, lockdown, PPE (personal protection equipment), quarantine, containment zones, have become words of everyday usage.
Altered Social Interactions
‘Social distancing’ is not just a new term in our vocabulary, it is a whole new set of social behaviours that we are adapting to. From shaking hands to folding them in greeting, from hugs to 6 feet distance waves, from blowing kisses to wearing masks – the way we relate to each other has undergone a sea change.
Our Relationship with Technology
Much of the world has been significantly dependent on technology for many aspects of daily life – work, entertainment, leisure activities. Yet, when it comes to interpersonal connect, technology has always been seen as coming in the way between ‘real’ connection between people, adding the barrier of the screen or gadget. We have all believed that face-to-face is preferable to Facetime, real is at any given time, better than virtual. The pandemic has turned this belief on its head. What would we have done in these times of social distancing and travel restrictions, had we not had Facetime, Skype, WhatsApp and other video calling applications? How would we have reached out to our loved ones, our friends, and to the community at large, had technology not come to our rescue? What the pandemic has shown us, is that our need for human connection transcends all other needs, and when ‘real’ is not an option, ‘virtual’ can indeed serve us beautifully. So, part of our new normal is probably going to be a different way to relate to technology, where we start seeing technology as an aid to human connect, rather than a barrier!
Breakdown of the Concept of Physical Space
A dedicated space and location for specific needs. You need to go to a school to learn and study. You need an office with a specific setup for work. You need a clinic to examine patients, or to conduct therapy. You need malls to shop in, multiplexes to watch movies in. Restaurants to eat out. The global response to pandemic has shattered all these beliefs. All you need is yourself, your devices, and your focus – and all of the above can happen from your home. School comes home to you on your screen, you can have virtual meetings with your co-workers without having to commute daily to office, and your work gets done just right. Doctors can examine you online, and you can connect to your therapist online too. Tele Health and Tele Mental Health options help you ensure that you’re taking the right care of yourself. While many of us have already known and adapted to the convenience of online shopping and Netflix, these have now become a way of life rather than a choice you would exercise. Of course, as we look forward to malls, theatres, and other public places to open up soon, it is highly likely that consumer behaviour has undergone a seismic shift that is unlikely to fall back to how it earlier was.
Mental Health Concerns
Unfortunately, uncertainty is going to be part of our new normal. With global economy having undergone an upheaval, with job losses and pay cuts across industries, sectors, and countries, worry and concern about the future is likely to be a topmost concern for many. This is fertile ground for anxiety, depression, and other mental health vulnerabilities to set in.
Yet, with all these changes, it is also worth asking: what are we likely to carry with us into our new normal? What are some things that haven’t changed, and are likely to remain unchanged?
Family at Centre Stage
This time has brought home the fact that our family is at the heart of our life, and our number one priority. We may have been highly ambitious, accomplished, driven and distracted by the external world, but our loved ones continue to reign supreme in our hearts. When push comes to shove, when it comes down to what is truly important for us, most of us, like homing pigeons, have flown to our nests, our homes, our loved ones. We may argue and fight, we may dislike many things about each other, we may often crave space and freedom, but we don’t cease caring for and loving our families. The pandemic has given many of us the gift of time, precious time to reconnect with our family members, re-ignite the flame, and re-energise the bonds.
Essential Needs
Yes, the pandemic, and the world’s response to it, has also reminded us of what our essential needs are – both physical as well as emotional! The dreaded Corona has given us a close-up view about what our priorities are, or ought to be! The needs at the bottom of Maslow’s hierarchy continue to be the fundamental needs, no matter how advanced civilisation becomes. Yet, our core emotional, psychological, and perhaps spiritual needs, are equally crucial, and ignoring those, could lead to various mental health or interpersonal challenges for us. These essential emotional needs are essentially our deepest yearnings for connection, peace, and harmony. Thus, we have all learned that we need to strike a balance, ensure that our essential physiological needs are met, at the same time, we are also meeting our essential emotional needs.
So …… as we take cautious steps into the future, we carry with us the blueprint of the core of humanity, unchanged and unfettered. Our new normal, I am sure, will continue to be founded on this essentially human core, and, resilient race that we are, we fill find a way to intelligently adapt to the changes that the world as we know it, has undergone. Finally, we will carry an awareness of how the littlest of beings in Nature can precipitate a global transformation of a breath-taking scale and magnitude; and this awareness will, hopefully, keep us humble and human!
