To think our new normal could be a better way of life?

[Wehttam]

Ok first of all, hear me out. Maybe this is hypothetical fantasy but I think it has merit.

As we are adjusting to Lockdown and both its benefits and disadvantages, I have started thinking about how civilisation may be able to use this as a starting point for a new way of life, accepting the previous 24/7 have it all lifestyle is fundamentally poisonous to our wellbeing.

I fully understand this is a global pandemic and is catastrophic for many people, losing loved ones, suffering illness and the fear of how this could potentially affect many people’s lives going forward economically is a worry no one wants or needs, I am not minimising this nor am I advocating for blanket suffering or pain before you come for me.

Environmentally this is momentarily allowing the planet to slowly recover from one of its biggest problems, Us. Look outside, the air is cleaner already, the noise we had so become used to has quietened, our frantic pace of living has slowed, for most of us this will have untold health benefits as well as benefits to nature we will see manifest further over the coming weeks.

I fully appreciate how for many people this is an uncertain time, those suffering DV or poverty are living in hell, the situation right now is unpeeling the veneer society generally paints over these problems though. What if our new reality was to help those who are vulnerable and suffering but still maintain this level of calm muted living.

Excessive commuting, over consumption of single use anything, traffic everywhere, takeaways, shops, bars clubs, restaurants catering for every niche or whim, flying everywhere incessantly, worrying about having he latest this or that, which all means sweet FA at the moment. What it all boils down to is all of that was needless to actually live and breathe properly wasn’t it?

Eventually once Lockdown starts to be lifted, are you willing to go back to that chaos the outside world had become? I’m not so sure I am and I dont think it will be any good for those who do. Thoughts?

TBH I think people will go back to behaving pretty much as they always have done as soon as possible. There may be a bit less business and personal travel, but that's about it.

Hard to say though, as, depending how long this takes, world will look quite different. We won't just be able to go to galleries, theatres, shops, cafes, restaurants etc, as presumably a lot will have gone under for good. And a lot of us won't have money to go to them anyway.

Jolly today, aren't I?

Lovely for those with supportive, warm marriages and families nearby, but beyond shit for isolated and abused women and those living a world away from family - whose solace is work.

And, sorry, but without massive policy changes, this won't do anything but make domestic abuse worse.

Very poignant Weary I remember reading that poem a month ago and it actually made me see a new perspective on this.

Echo this is why I’m asking the question because we will have to adapt to a new way of living, do we make it better for us or more toxic than the last time?

I think people will be desperate to travel, consume and work as they often have done but i do get your point about the environment op.

I would love some of the things to last - more home working & flexible hours, communities helping those in less fortunate circumstances, less conspicuous consumption, less commuting, slower pace of life

However i think it’ll all revert back to business as usual pretty quickly

It depends how you were living your life before and what you value. I was happy with my life before. My life hasn't changed that much in lockdown but I can't see friends and family, have nice days out and DD isn't getting her education. Lockdown is fine here, we have enjoyed being in the garden and spending time together, but we do that anyway. I'll be looking forward to going back to more normality and seeing family etc when it's safe to do so.

My getting back to normal is being able to see my parents and DSis in Belgium, my in laws in Canada and DSil in the US. FaceTime and phone calls are rubbish compared to being able to see them.

It depends what your ‘normal’ was I guess. DH worked mainly from home anyway. I work freelance from home. We don’t over consume, or fly here, there and everywhere, or live in chaos. The main change for us is not seeing our family and friends, and I can never see that as a positive.

Sadly I think everything will go back to normal pretty quickly.

People need to work to survive, so what do you propose is the answer? Pubs, bars, restaurants and shops all employ millions of people and those people rely on their jobs to feed themselves and their families, and these are jobs that can't be done from home.

This idea that people will all of a sudden be able to work from home all the time is just a pipe dream. We need shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, gyms, leisure centres to keep the economy running and to keep the country going. Most people don't do jobs that mean they can work at home and pop into the office once a week - those people still need to work and travel and commute.

It's a nice idea but it's too idealistic. Our economy and society is not set up for a slower paced life. Don't get me wrong, it's been lovely to have lots of free time but it's not affordable for the majority in the long term.

Maybe the trade off Mother Nature will allow is giving up the damaging stuff so we can live a harmonious life that no longer tramples over the ecology of the planet? 🤔

I'm going right back to normal as soon as I can.

I enjoy a so called "hectic lifestyle." I don't like being at home all the time. I like seeing my friends and family, going out to restaurants or the cinema, and yes, travelling.

It's OK not to enjoy a "quiet life." That's not for me. I feel like a prisoner in my own home right now and I don't like it.

I hope some of the environmental changes continue on the new path. Cleaner water and air are great benefits. I think many employers and employees will continue to seek home-working solutions which will reduce the number of cars on the road and less time commuting. And a whole generation will grow up with better hand hygiene!

And yes, for me, getting back to normal means I can see my family and my friends. It also means I can do my job, which is impossible to do from home.

I also think it'll save my relationship as being stuck indoors with someone else 24/7 is not healthy!

I think celebrity activists should start.

Give up flying and do activism by conference call. No takers?

I guess you aren't using the food banks or begging for rent relief right now. So I expect you are indeed nice and calm.

Me too.

No, I don't want it to stay like this. I wouldn't wish that on my fellow man. Most are not as privileged as you and me. They are not calm. They are in the chaos right now. They don't want to live off your generous handouts kind lady however benevolent you feel today.

If they have no bread let them eat cake.

The roaring 20s happened pretty much after the 1918/19 flu pandemic. People will pretty much go back to how they were (depending on how badly the worldwide global depression will hit them)

I liked my life before all this happened thank you.

I think the main thing I would like to see come from this is more working from home if people are happy and able to do this, and less international business travel seeing as it is clearly possible for many of these meetings to take place online. So I do hope that some of the environmental consequences remain.
But equally I like going on holiday, I like shopping, going to the cinema, we eat out all the time.... I want to get back to these things as soon as I can.

And that piece of writing by Kitty O’Meara really grates on me I’m afraid, seeing as a large number of people are at home panicking about their jobs and income and homeschooling their kids and not seeing their friends and family..... I’m finding it very hard to find much peace in this personally.

And that piece of writing by Kitty O’Meara really grates on me I’m afraid, seeing as a large number of people are at home panicking about their jobs and income and homeschooling their kids and not seeing their friends and family..... I’m finding it very hard to find much peace in this personally

Agreed. It comes from such a place of privilege.

I haven’t been on a plane in 20 years, home educate the kids around working at home. DH commutes a few miles by bus or train. Rarely drive. Happy in life, still happy but restricted.

The only big difference is being cut off from extended family and aggression in the local shops over access difficulties.

Not really feeling it.

Yy to the poem by Kitty O’meara is self indulgent guff

I’m sure a single mum trying to entertain 3 kids in a high rise is having the time of her life right now 🤦‍♀️

That poem or whatever it is is an overly sentimental piece of crap. For a tiny tiny portion of people that will be reality. A lot of people are suffering and a lot of people are selfish.

Assuming that I don’t die and come out the other side of corona, I do not know how I will avoid my frantic life. Most of it is demands placed on me by circumstances and by others. I do a lot of driving. The school near me didn’t want my ds. I drive a 20 mile round trip every morning and afternoon in order to get him to a school that actually gives a shit about him and helps him. I do not have any idea how I can avoid this driving. He does have SEN and could not deal with getting there alone. Unfortunately my younger child needs picking up at a different time. More driving. This leads me to pick up grab and go food so the kids can eat in the car. Shit for the environment but means they can get homework done once we get home.
It’s just more and more shit like this and so I can’t see how to put a stop to it.

I can't wait to return to normal - I am trying to work from home - with highly vulnerable and at risk children - via telephone conferencing and text message - it feels very risky for them - sorry but I am not making memories with my kids or enjoying the peace - I am trying to work with 3 kids including one who is a key worker at 17 (supermarket staff) and it's bust and stressful and boring!

I hope that a few good things come out of this nightmare. Among them:

1. That organisations that were previously wary of allowing staff to work from home come to realise the practical, financial and environmental sense that WFH makes. This becomes normal.

1. That as a society we have an increased awareness and sensitivity to domestic violence. We can use this as a springboard to stamp it out