Approaching two years deep into the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve seen a major shift in the way many of us approach life, both in a nebulous sense and in tiny- day-to-day details.
When one Reddit user asked people to reminisce on the things we considered normal pre-Covid but feel totally weirded out by now, people were more than happy to provide plenty of examples.
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Real priorities.
“Watching post-apocalyptic movies and seeing things on abandoned store shelves that we damn well know would be long gone. Like TP.”
That’s true, every apocalypse-related movie I’ve seen featured at least one mostly-stocked grocery store. It’s just not realistic! That’s the first place people would be going!
Sharing isn’t caring anymore.
“Sharing drinks with people. I used to never think twice about drinking after someone.”
Even wanting to try a bite of someone else’s food, both just seem so abnormal now. If I want to try some, I’ll order one for myself.
Just passing by.
“I really miss greeting strangers with a quick smile in public places or seeing that they’re smiling at me.”
This is why we’ve seen the rise of the good-natured head nod. It communicates the same thing as a smile, but is still visible with masks!
A simple wave.
“In the Southern US, a handshake used to be a given. Now everyone has to do this weird half attempt or ask if it’s okay to shake hands. Most people have just stopped. It’s so bizarre.”
One person said they’ve just started bowing, which I respect.
One-time visit.
“In-person work. Haven’t been on site since March 2020 other than picking up an ergonomic chair once we knew we weren’t coming back for a long time.”
This experience sounds just like that of a number of my friends. Grabbing all those office essentials and seemingly never returning.
My own design.
“Knowing what the lower half of faces look like. I imagine my own version and then I see them without a mask and I get a sort of dissonance.”
Our brains have really been working overtime to fill in all the blanks left by masks, no wonder we’re so tired!
Just browsing, thanks.
“Going to browse around a store for no reason. I won’t go to stores anymore unless there’s something in particular I need.”
Being able to stroll around a store was such a simple pleasure many of us took for granted, it seems.
Getting there and being there.
“Still going to work when you’re sick because you’re not ‘too sick’ to work.”
Another person added, “Taking mass transit and going to work even though I was sick because I didn’t feel sick enough to warrant using one of my days.”
No places to go, no people to see.
“Dating during COVID sucks. There are no social gatherings to meet new people.”
“Making new platonic friends is also impossible now!” Another commenter said, “[…] I was just starting to join a bunch of groups and stuff to meet new people and now none of those exist anymore. I have no clue now how to even make new friends.”
All eyes on you.
“Coughing/Sneezing in public.”
Some even explained the lengths they’ve gone to to avoid this, “I tried holding in a cough in class because the water I drank went down funny and I started choking but still kept trying to hold it in, it was awful.”
The daily grind.
“[…] a commute. My commute is now 20 feet from my bed to my table. I can’t imagine having to do 45 mins one way again. Such a waste of my day.”
This is definitely one of the positive changes for those who moved to work-from-home. Less money spent on gas, too!
Zero-contact delivery.
“Opening the door for the pizza delivery man. I love being able to have my food left at the door.”
“I hope we never go back to the old way,” wished one reply, “If I want to put on a bra and see people I’d eat at a restaurant. If I don’t I order a pizza!”
Now make a wish.
“Blowing on a cake to take out the candles and then giving it to other people.”
One person determined to stick with candle-blowing said, “We put the candle on a separate cupcake for our kid’s bday, so the cake stays untouched. I intend to keep this tradition going!”
Feeling vulnerable.
“I always feel very odd when I watch movies and people just walk into stores without wearing a mask.”
Same! Even movies made before 2020 have me feeling some sort of way when I see crowds without masks on, it’s instinct now.
Working hard.
“Crowded gyms. Now, if someone is working out close to me and breathing hard, I immediately feel mildly grossed out.”
For once I consider it a good thing that I don’t go to a gym. It’s for my health, I swear!
All you can eat.
“Salad bars were always kinda sketch but I miss them.”
Another comment mentioned buffets, so all get-your-own-food establishments can be counted under the ‘kinda sketch but we miss them’ category. I’d give anything to safely go to a Chinese buffet right now.
Tight spaces.
“Bowling. Putting your fingers in a ball that has been used by numerous people and then eating fries from a shared basket.”
I can’t say I’d ever considered bowling this way, but now that I have, I won’t be able to see it the old way ever again.
Surfing the streets.
“Uber pools.”
“We don’t have Uber where I live so, while I know what this is, it took a second to compute and I thought it was for sharing swimming pools,” said one reply.
In their defense, going to public swimming pools could also be on this list!
Open wide.
“Going to the dentist […] Just feels weird to have your mouth wide open and no mask on.”
For some people, this felt weird long before Covid, so not much has changed for them. Sure, it’s their job, but that doesn’t mean I have to like how it feels.
A tender moment.
“Hugging people.”
“I’m so hug deprived at this point, hugging a pillow at night feels good. You are spot on,” agreed another.
This one is felt by many. Next time you’re able to safely see a friend or family member, make sure you give them a nice long hug.