We're living in the strangest of times. It is the most unexpected, unpredictable time of my life. I'm sure you feel the same.
As we go into our sixth week of lockdown, and seventh week of working from home, milestones have appeared, passed and faded in the rearview mirror. An Easter weekend camping on Anglesey; my environmental sustainability module in Berlin. For some friends, their wedding days. For others, family funerals.
It's been a period of quietness, worry, productivity and reflection. Thinking about our changing routines, and what we'll carry with us on the 'other' side. The changes we'll make; the things we'll do first. I will eat fish and chips on the beach.
We've done a collective 426 puzzles, jigsaws and Lego models between us here, I think. I've probably done well over 100,000 steps on digital dancefloors. I still haven't watched every episode of Tiger King.
But measuring time by quantity, not quality, feels redundant right now. It doesn't matter how many weeks, or how many jigsaws. Numbers are inadequate when we're missing things that most make our lives worthwhile. Friends and family and a hug and a beer garden on a sunny day. The things that matter when we talk about our weekends and our plans and we smile and remember.
While I avoid TV news generally, The Guardian told me this morning that our economy will take three years to recover from the impact of coronavirus. So the question becomes how we balance the uncertainty and jobs losses with a re-evaluation of what's important to us? How do we reward the people we value the most, not just those who negotiate their own enormous bonuses and tell us they're important? Bobby Kennedy said that GDP measures 'everything except that which is worthwhile'. So how do we focus on what's worthwhile – even when it's silly and frivolous and life affirming?
Just a year ago, our survey said 99.9% of economists would dismiss that question out of hand. But no more. When the days are tough give some thought to what you value. Write it down and hang on to it. We need to make these voices heard and remember the power of this pause.
Stay well,
Fiona
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This blog was first published in the Wordscape newsletter on 28th April 2020