Profoundly optimistic about life after lockdown

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Whoever would have thought that we would experience anything like this? Lives under threat, many of us locked in our homes with children under our feet. These are, by any measure, extraordinary times. Despite the inherent fear and the limitations I, along with many others, am profoundly optimistic about the lessons we are learning during this time and the changes this is likely to bring as we rebuild our lives, businesses, communities, country and global politics after COVID 19. 

Let me start by being very clear; I am not making light of our current predicament. Lockdown is causing exceptional financial suffering and worry for many. Isolation is taking its toll on mental wellbeing. The virus we are hiding from is creating fear and threatening lives. The latter point is personal to me; Rachel, my wife, is a doctor leading one of the busiest A&E Departments in the country. Every day she puts her life at risk to save others. I carry a constant fear for her safety in the pit of my stomach. 

Yet, in the midst of all this fear and suffering I believe we are rediscovering something extremely precious, something which had inadvertently been allowed to drop in our priorities. We are re-finding the time and space to reflect and, despite our isolation, we are rediscovering a long lost sense of community. 

In my local town I’ve been amazed at how friendly everyone has become. The people I see  enjoying their one permitted time of outdoor exercise all smile and exchange cheery greetings (albeit from a safe distance). The standard greeting now seems to be to acknowledge the ‘crazy times’ we are currently living in. 

The more strictly isolation is enforced the more we seem to be driven to connect with one another, even those we don’t know. Imagine how rich our lives would be if friendships continue to form on this level. If we all put aside petty differences or fear of strangers and continued to connect more fully with one another in future.  

Our roads, once full of rushing cars, now seem filled with cyclists and runners, many of whom seem new to exercise. Could the nation now be discovering wellness as we try to avoid illness. An enormous burden would be lifted from the NHS if we were all to maintain this personal responsibility for our health. 

The air is sweeter without the grime of car fumes and aeroplanes. From an environmental perspective, while I appreciate it is a complex picture, the impact of the lockdown is broadly positive. I can’t help but envisage how much easier our environmental commitments would be to meet if we were to maintain the current levels of travel and consumption.

Having the kids at home is a challenge many of us are facing. Without the never-ending ferrying around and after school clubs our children finally have some time to be children. We have time to do the simple things as a family. Children even have time to be bored, something it turns out that is essential for healthy psychological development. Could it be that this period could lead to considerably stronger family bonds?

Volunteering is at an all time high. Despite the risks to personal health the UK has mobilised hundreds of thousands of extra people who are willing to help. Just down the road from me there is a poster pinned to a tree where someone is offering to do anything to help anyone in need and publishing their mobile number. If this were to continue post COVID 19 our sense of community and support of the weakest in our society would be transformed. 

We are seeing the rich and famous vying for press coverage by showing how much they are willing to give back to society. Seeking fame through generosity is in sharp contrast to the grotesque flaunting of wealth through extreme consumerism that has been the hallmark of popular culture over the last decade. I for one would much rather see the next generation raised in a prevailing environment that understands that we are stewards of what we have been given and our primary role is to ensure that it is used to the best effect for all. 

On a global scale countries have become united against a single adversary that threatens us all. I sincerely hope that this will mark a change from the recent retrograde steps into thinly masked racism and narcisim to a more informed and collaborative approach. Such global collaboration will be essential for us to solve the environmental challenges we also now face.

So yes, lockdown is scary and is causing genuine suffering. We could easily become overwhelmed with negativity, but to do so would be to miss the opportunity. Lockdown is the biggest pivot point I have seen in the last fifty years. We are learning lessons that could give rise to an exciting future. I, for one, am dedicated to finding all the opportunities I can to make this happen. How about you?

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