All over the world, for several weeks, the crazy pace of our lives has been brought to a standstill by a tiny creature that’s invisible to the naked eye. Now everything is carefully being restarted. What will happen when it’s all over? What will our lives be like? Are we going to learn lessons from this time out or will we just pick up where we left off? Here are some examples of things I’ve heard over the past few weeks.
When it’s over...
“I’ll stop working at weekends: no analyses, no reports, no work e-mails. I’ll just take the time to disconnect and take care of myself and my loved ones.”
When it’s over...
“I’m going to devote at least an hour each week to going around the offices and workshops, just to find out how my colleagues and their families are getting on. I’ll call those who are further afield: I no longer have any excuses for not taking advantage of videoconferences.”
When it’s over...
“I’ll carry on applauding and thanking all those who work hard for us every day. Not just medical personnel, but also the cleaners, the restaurant staff, the mail service team, the guards, the Fire and Rescue Service, the administrative personnel, the online support team… everyone who works to make our daily lives easier so that we can concentrate on our own jobs.”
When it’s over...
“I won’t complain about the queues in the restaurant, I’ll use the time to speak to colleagues who I don’t know, since I’ve learnt that time is precious and we must make the best use of it.”
When it’s over...
“I will transform the virtual discussion groups I’ve been participating in with my colleagues into real get-togethers around a table, over a coffee. I will see what I can do to help my colleagues and I won’t hesitate to ask them for their support when I feel I need it.”
When it’s over...
“I regret having invested everything in my career, to the detriment of my colleagues and those who are close to me. Now I know what matters most to me: appreciating my colleagues and the love of my nearest and dearest. I won’t let my life be ruled any more by what others expect from me, but by my own convictions.”
When it’s over?
Personally, I hope that these strange months of suspended reality in a world moving at a slower pace will have given us the opportunity to reflect on what we can really change to make our world a better place. For ourselves and for future generations.
Pierre Gildemyn
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