Things are Never Going Back to Normal and We Must Accept That
Going to the movies, going to our favorite restaurant or bar on a Friday night, catching our team play a game, traveling the globe, working out at the gym, and so on are how we used to live life and we can again but we must stop pretending everything is normal as it is not and likely never will be again -or at least the way we knew it.
Instead of pretending that this virus does not exist and that everything is perfectly fine, what we need to start doing is to get into a place of complete acceptance that post COVID-19 life will look much different than it was before this pandemic come upon us. Forget about post COVID, it is different now and will not be changing to what we used to know as normal anytime soon, if ever at all.
I go out to get my essentials and to go to get gas or to the doctor and I am simply amazed at how many people act like everything is normal and that this virus never happened at all. I see people not wearing masks, not practicing any social distancing, and just acting like everything is just as it has always been and it is business as usual to them. It literally floors me that this is taking place as we continue to have infections and deaths go up and the pandemic shows no sign of slowing down.
People act like things are normal and that there is no deadly virus out there and they think of what they want above what is best for others. I mean, even if they are thinking about themselves, why do they not care about their own health and well-being?
This is another thing that baffles me.
These folks act as if the virus is as a certain politician says, “a hoax” and they do not take any precautions. They truly do act as if things are normal and that we do not have a highly contagious infectious disease ravaging through our cities and towns trying to kill us. These people are going to beaches, to malls, and everywhere in between as if everything is just fine and as it has always been and that is certainly not the case.
They act like things are normal and they are for sure not and in all likelihood, never will be again.
As places start to reopen across the country (some authorized and some rogue style) we must begin to come to the realization that life will not be what it once was and we must begin to accept these changes that are happening, if we do not, it will kill us and everyone around us. If we do not wake up and take things as serious as they are, then the loss of life will go from tragic to utter chaos.
You know that favorite movie theatre that you used to go to or that pub that had your favorite band, or your local football stadium, or even a bowling alley that you enjoyed frequenting?
All of these places and all of the things that we all enjoyed doing will look very different in the upcoming weeks and months and perhaps, they never will look the same again. They will either be gone completely or they will look drastically different from here on out and that is our new reality, we either accept it or not — but it is here.
There is a saying in a 12-step program. “We must be rid of this selfishness. We must or it kills us. “
This applies here. If we act in selfish ways, we not only put ourselves in danger but we endanger others too. To not accept this new way of life and adapt to these changes is dangerous for everyone. It is this way of adapting and being selfless and thinking of others above our own needs that is what we need in this moment.
This is our new normal. We must accept it. That reminds me of another saying I like, “Acceptance is the answer to all of my problems today” and we must accept this new normal, for us and for others. It is by accepting our new way of life that we can protect others. It is important that we think of others, it is especially important now. I want us to have our old lives, but this is where we are at and we must accept this.
How we do accept this new way?
Together, that is how we accept it. This new way of life we accept just as we always have and that is as one people, one nation, and by helping each other and being there for one another through whatever happens. This is how it is that we come to terms with how we must live now in this new reality that we are faced with.
In reality, there is not a safe way to go out until we have a vaccine and here is why I say that.
People do not listen. They do not social distance when they are out and they do not wear masks, for the most part. People do as they always have done and that is do what they want to do with no regard for the safety of others. This is what they do and what they will continue to do. It is up to each one of us to be more careful for this reason.
People just do not listen. They never have listened to rules and this sadly has been the case with this virus situation, but it is always what people who do not follow the rules do, or don’t do. If people would follow the rules then this thing would be be easier for everyone and things would be open already in all areas.
So, what we must do is look at what the “new normal” will look like, when things are fully open again. It is important to understand just where we are and what this thing is and if we fail to accept that things will be different than what they are now and what they are going to be. It is up to us to accept things and then act accordingly.
Restaurants will be a challenge as will bars. These places are difficult locations to social distance and wear masks so they pose a challenge for people when they do reopen as they are starting to do now. I believe that reopening is too soon but here we are, we find ourselves in this situation whether we want it or not, this is where we are and we must accept it.
Reopening is something that we knew would happen as things must go on, but we did not know how it would look and what it will be when it happens and we are about to find out just what our new normal will be and how it will evolve as we move through this. It will not be like anything that we have ever seen in our lifetimes, but once again, this is where we are and our new life in COVID-19.
Let us look at some of the changes that we will see as we move through this.
Restaurants with temperature checks, spaced out seating, waitstaff with masks and even face shields, and separated areas in kitchens to keep cooks safe and spaces sanitized.
Circles drawn in parks to keep people socially distanced
People facing walls in elevators and keeping capacity to three people
Hug gloves (Plastic tarps to allow people contact)
Churches with one person per row and masks with no communion
Sporting events with no fans and all games in one location
Beaches with caution tape to keep people at a safe social distance
Casinos having less machines and limiting people at card game tables while having masks, temperature checks, and getting rid of buffets and bar seating areas.
Dentists using hazmat suits while working on a patient
One-way aisles in grocery stores, masks, and social distancing
Gyms with less machines, machines separated by plexiglass, social distanced classes, smaller locker-rooms, reds
Nail salons and barbers in complete coverings from head to toe to protect them from customers.
Glass returning to taxis and ride-share companies to keep the driver and patrons separate.
Social distanced dating and business meetings
Movie theaters with less customers, six feet apart concessions, and seating limited and separated.
These are just some of the changes of our new normal and our new reality here in America and across the world. This is our new world as we try and find our way back to some sense of normality and back to a life that is once again less isolated and happy, but at the same time a safe reality for us and for those around us.
Safe is the aim. Keeping people safe from getting sick and ultimately dying is what is most important and what is where we need to be at, but ready or not, we are reopening and even for those like me who are against going back to the world before this virus is under control and before we find a vaccine and a cure, we must accept what is coming.
We must accept that things are starting again and we must accept that whether we are ready for this or not, this will be our new normal, this way of life is upon us and is now here in front of us. The question is, are we in fact ready for this new world that we are about to embark on and are we ready for all the changes that I have mentioned and so much more that will be upon us in the coming days and weeks.
In closing, we have seen the deaths, the sickness, the ways that this virus has destroyed so many lives in just a few short months. We have cried with the victims and for some of us, even become sick ourselves and been filled with fear of this virus raging through our cities. This has not been an easy time, so as we go back out into the world to our gyms, our jobs, our old way of life let us remember one thing.
Think of others. Realize that this is our new normal and when we go about our days, let us think of others and not return to our old ways of thinking and acting and let us take the steps to protect ourselves and protect others and for us to especially protect the elderly and vulnerable from this virus that shows no signs of going away anytime soon.
Things will never be the way that they once were and this is something that we must come to acceptance of. We are all going back to doing the things that we enjoy and that we need to do, but let us do so in a way that puts others and public health above the needs of ourselves.
Acting aligned with thinking of the needs of others is our best way to return to life and reopen things. Following the rules of those who know more than we do and social distancing, wearing a mask, and being selfless while also doing what makes us happy is the best way to proceed as we move out of this — or into the next phase.
That is how we all must approach this new way of life that we now face and this is how we must act, we should act in accordance with the new reality we face and in doing so be selfless and think of others — to do otherwise could be fatal and devastating. This is our new way of living whether we like it or not and this is now — our world.
