Social distancing bringing us closer together

The situation we find ourselves in now is unlike anything we've ever experienced before. How wild is it to think that, all across the globe, everyone is experiencing something similar? We now all have a common threat and everything before this seems trivial — almost silly!

I understand that every country will be handling this pandemic differently, but lockdown seems to be prevalent everywhere, with social distancing being the main goal to stop the further spread of this virus.

Despite new rules that restrict us from seeing loved ones, going out with friends, being among a crowd, and so on, I have found myself almost more sociable and better connected with my friends and family than ever before.

Does anyone else have an old WhatsApp group with friends from your childhood town or old pals that have lost touch in recent years due, to everyone's lives becoming more hectic and busy? I had one, and now we’re speaking on a daily basis — something we haven’t done in years. 

I see my family maybe on a monthly or bimonthly basis. While the lockdown has only been a couple of weeks, already family members have created new group chats, planned activities to do together and organised virtual hang-outs to ensure we’re all connected. I suppose it’s similar to the effect that the lockdown had on everyone’s attitude to being outside — once it may not have been a consideration (partly due to the shit weather we’ve had for what seems like EONS), but now it’s restricted, so everyone has this yearning to be outdoors all the time. And when you do go out to the shop or for a run, you take that fresh air in and appreciate your time outside in the sun.

Most of our lives have radically changed in the last couple of weeks. This will be different for everyone, but mine almost seems like it’s on pause or at least moving in slow motion. This sudden change of pace brought feelings of anxiety initially, but now I’m easing into it and I find myself reaching out more than ever before to old friends, new friends, family members and strangers.

Some of us may have more time on our hands now, because of the disruption the pandemic has had on our lives, but this will enable us to make more time for our loved ones. But I think there’s a deeper connection that’s being made among everyone through this disaster. It’s a scary time, we’re worried about our family and friends and that makes us reach out, reconnect, vent and support each other.  

I really feel for the people who are out there now in lockdown alone, and I hope they’re getting messages or phone calls from friends and loved ones. As this continues, social connection will continue to be an important aspect of how we all get through this. It's human nature to need that social interaction, and I’m looking forward to seeing the creative solutions that combat loneliness throughout this pandemic.

Artful Sonder xo