It started with a calamitous week.
I broke a side mirror on my car, or rather, the road broke it when it fell out. Then I left a tissue in with my washing. If you’ve ever tried to get a 1000 micro tissue fragments out of a woolly jumper, you’ll know my pain. I dropped my electric toothbrush in the toilet, had my first vaccination (which turned me briefly into the walking dead), and when I finally sat down for a relaxing Friday night beer, I knocked the glass over, spilling it all over my coffee (beer?) table and carpet. Yep, there was definitely something in the air last week besides Covid-19 and pollen.
If normal can be described as a typical week, this wasn’t it. But let’s face it, normal has taken on new meaning.
For most of us, it seems we may finally be coming to the end of our strange pandemic reality.
For the most part, I’ve got used to it but when I really think about it, I still have a hard time accepting this has happened, although it shouldn’t really be a surprise.
There were already movies and books about mass pandemics but that was largely fiction. Now, every radio or Spotify advert I hear about wearing facemasks or being vaccinated sounds exactly like something you’d hear in the background of a dystopian Sci-Fi movie. How is this reality?
Living in the UK for 40 years now and seeing our greenspaces constantly built upon, our wildlife in decline, and our relatively small island ever swelling with more people, it does seem inevitable that something will have to change.
Of course, I didn’t want this. I don’t want this for anybody. I just wish we could address these problems ourselves before it’s too late. After years of watching nature documentaries and seeing how the rest of the natural world seems to exist in such an ever-adapting balance, it’s hard to see how we fit into that. I’m a logical person and tend to take a scientific approach to things but it’s hard to pinpoint exactly how this balance in nature is maintained. We can physically see the impact of our own interference when you think about the animals and plants we’ve transported outside of their native countries, often to devastating effects on existing ecosystems.
This idea of balance in nature is actually one of many themes I explored when planning my first novel, Something Stirs. Here’s a quote to prove it:
‘The Inner Lands have a balance,’ Draneth explained, perhaps in response to their silence. ‘This place creates what it needs to survive. I believe that is the answer you have been seeking, Sill.’
The Inner Lands: Something Stirs, page 129 (paperback)
For many people this has been a tragic time but I don’t want to focus on that right now. The truth is, for me, there have been many positives about the new ways we manage our daily lives so I’m going to quickly share a light-hearted look at what things I’d like to keep and discard in the “new normal”.
- Office working.
There are definitely positives to working in an office, such as getting to know your colleagues, free heating, a proper desk-space and occasionally lifting banter. But I’m lucky enough to have an office at home and I can work even more effectively from it. I don’t miss rushing to get ready in morning, the stress of the drive, or the extra time and energy all of that cost me. I’ve still kept in touch with people. The past was not an efficient way to run a life so I’m hoping we continue to embrace a more modern approach to working. We have the technology to still connect with people – let’s use it.
- Food shopping.
I am definitely one of those people who despise the weekly run to the supermarket. For me, the challenge was to see how quickly I could get in and out and I celebrated each time I managed to leave and return home within the hour. For the last few months, I’ve been having my food delivered. This was already an option but the cost put me off. Now I’m saving some money on petrol, why not treat myself to this luxury? Again, I save energy and time that I can spend (or waste?!) on other things, like writing this blog!
- The cinema.
Please, please can we maintain social distancing in cinemas? Seriously, just rip out half the seats. I love the big screen but nobody wants to sit next to a stranger who romantically comments to his girlfriend, “fast little f*cker aint he?” when I’m trying to genuinely appreciate the athleticism of the Asian lead. I guess we’re all an idiot to somebody…
- General cleanliness.
This is something I want to keep! As somebody who is awesome at catching colds (is this my superpower?), I love the idea of cleaning shared desks before and after use. We should have been doing this all the time. Honestly, the monstrosities lurking in those keyboards (shudder).
- Exercise.
I’ve always done this, but now I can fit a short workout or run into my lunchbreak. Not only am I less tired than I would be at the end of a long day, it actually has the added benefit of perking me up in the afternoon so I don’t get that after-lunch slump. It’s a win-win for both me and my employer.
I’m sure there are other benefits a new normal could bestow on us. I wonder, what are some of the things you’d like to see change or return?
As usual, thanks for reading and if I have any advice to impart this week – check your pockets for tissues every…single…time.
theinnerlands.com 