The next normal

US deaths reported per day

I don't even remember how long it's been since our routine was disrupted. Three weeks? A month? Something like that. For a lot of people are being seriously impacted by this pandemic, and not only the poor souls who've actually contracted the virus. Millions suddenly find themselves out of work, and the longer the "lockdown" goes on, the more will find themselves falling on hard times. It's possible this will make the Great Depression pale in comparison, though it's too soon to tell.

Having said that...

A funny thing happened on the way to the end of the world. Forced to work at home rather than getting in cars, buses, trains and airplanes to get to work, millions of people have significantly reduced the pollution they typically produce. And we're using less electricity. Weird, isn't it? Our economy has to crash in order to improve our environment. Economic productivity, at least as we currently practice it, is clearly correlated to the degradation of the very air we breath. I guess that explains why it's so damn hard for our leaders to agree to set and attain targets for reducing the damage we do to the planet.

There's something in this experience that could teach us something about other ways to work - yes, most meetings are unnecessary or can be done perfectly well via teleconference. To play - how about a family bike ride through the neighborhood instead a drive to some commercial fun park? And even to eat - no commercially produced yeast? Learn how to make your own sourdough. Maybe we can re-learn some of what were basic skills for our grandparents and embrace the simple pleasures that make life feel worthwhile and don't require the endless acquisition and consumption and waste of ever greater quantities of pointless consumer products.

DC, MD and VA covid-19 statistics for April 15, 2020

When the pandemic subsides, what will be changed? Will we have learned anything? Will we have reassessed the way we live, learned to appreciate what we have, made adjustments to live more sane, appreciative, sustainable lives? Will we have seen that baking bread or tending the garden with our families or along is more fulfilling than going to meetings, writing reports and shopping online? Or will we just go back to business as usual; get back into our cars and drive to the office, fly to the conference, take prosperity and our health for granted? Will we just continue down the rabbit hole of digitally mediated consumerism and impersonal social detachment? Don't fool yourself; we were already practicing "social distancing" through our mobile devices and "social" media. Will any of us take this opportunity to embrace healthier, happier lifestyles and a better way of living?

And lest you presume I'm some sort of self-righteous scold lecturing from my holier than though keyboard, I'll point out that nobody reads this blog, so this message is really just to myself. I am processing these lessons, asking myself these questions and wondering if I can embrace this opportunity. I realize that I view this all from the perspective of privilege. I am a white collar knowledge worker who only needs a laptop and a cell phone to earn a salary higher than the income of the average American family of four.

I know that many people are struggling and just want to get back to work and school and have things return to "normal". But this is a pivotal moment in our societal evolution, and I very much hope we can make the most, or at least something valuable come of it. And I hope those of us who are passing through this from a position of privilege consider what it's like for those who are struggling and think about how we can forge a more equitable culture that recognizes the contributions of all our citizens and values rich, diverse community over profit and personal gain. 

The choice is ours. We've been handed a stark reminder that most of our daily activities, at least in the Western world are frivolous or at best optional. Deprived of physical human contact and freedom of movement, in some cases having lost people to this virus, we've been reminded of what's really important. Or should have been anyway. So what are we going to do about it?