Roughly four and a half months into the Covid 19 era, as experienced in Northern Europe and although I am fortunate not to have caught the virus, it does seem to have messed with my head. The pandemic has forced us all off our own little mouse trails, work – home – pub – social media – repeat.
My understanding of the structure of time, my identity, my relationships, my history and my future have all been intensely questioned. I can’t be alone in experiencing a deep and extended period of reflection during this time. What do I want? what’s important? what’s not important? If this is the case, then if we have collectively asked all the big questions of ourselves, then does this mean we are all now on the way to living better lives in tune with our true desires and better natures?
Or is all this navel gazing a luxury of the lockdown that will evaporate on contact with the reality of un paid bills and the growing dole queues of the coming winter.
We have different futures to contemplate
Welcome to the Super Safe Society – social interaction is on line, germaphobia, food from the ghost kitchen, foreign travel for the few, exchange your health data on your first date, isolation, system crash, permanent crisis mode, retreat into the private sphere.
Welcome to the Resilient Society – adaptation, we culture, glocalisation, regional products, supplies are shared or exchanged, urban farming, flexibility in the workplace and circular economies. People no longer trust state actors and form Neo Tribes.
Option 2 would be a positive by itself and a corrective to the ongoing environmental crisis or maybe a vaccine will show up by Christmas to return us all to our self regarding and self destructive ways.
One thing is certain these are historical times, with extraordinary dangers and extraordinary opportunities.
