19 Things We Took For Granted Before The COVID-19 Pandemic That We Miss Now

The coronavirus pandemic has altered almost each aspect of our lives: the best way we work, be taught, father or mother, eat, socialize and extra. The various modifications we’ve undergone have prompted us to mirror on life earlier than COVID-19. We now discover ourselves eager for the straightforward moments, interactions and experiences we by no means gave a lot thought earlier than.

As we glance again on the final 12 months, we requested folks to share the precise issues they miss that they took as a right of their pre-pandemic lives. Right here’s what they instructed us:

“That’s the purpose the place you’re fully disconnected from the world, munching on complimentary biscuits and watching the third film you didn’t get to see in theaters.” — Jen Ruiz, journey blogger at Jen On A Jet Airplane

“I used to complain about one other faculty fundraiser pizza night time or the cash concerned with that dance recital. Now I miss all of it. I need to stand shoulder to shoulder with different dad and mom, attempting to get the proper picture. I need to pay $Three a slice for a bit of chilly Costco pizza to learn my child’s faculty. Carry me all of the birthday events.” — Samantha Scroggin, parenting blogger at Strolling Outdoors In Slippers

“Whenever you’ve been ready for the band to start out, and everyone seems to be getting stressed and excited. Then, ultimately, the lights dim, the guitarist strikes a warm-up chord and all of the sudden everyone seems to be on their toes cheering.” — Adrienne Hedger, illustrator at Hedger Humor

“Now no person can inform who’s smiling and who isn’t, so that you don’t really feel such as you’re connecting with others in your neighborhood.” — Samantha Rodman, psychologist

“Though the mothers would at all times stare — like they’ve by no means seen an previous man in his pajamas blast Def Leppard with the home windows down.” — Steve Olivas, host of “The Commute” podcast

“Can’t you simply hear the sound of movie show popcorn popping as you stroll into the theater to see the most recent film to return out? Extra importantly, can’t you scent the buttery goodness?” — Scroggin

“After I had spare time, I might go downtown and {photograph} folks in a metropolis surroundings. They have been folks I knew nothing about. Then I’d spend a lot of time questioning what their life was like, who they have been and what they have been doing. However now I simply don’t take pleasure in people-watching as a lot. I feel I’m too conscious of the overall wrestle of individuals maneuvering by the pandemic.” — Kenton Waltz, photographer

“I’ve at all times gone to see loads of reside theater, irrespective of the place I’ve lived. And, though I reside exterior of Houston now, I nonetheless handle (or managed) to get to New York Metropolis not less than 4 occasions a 12 months to see not less than two exhibits a go to. It might sound, ahem, over-dramatic to say it, however I ache for it. Anticipating the expertise as a hush falls over the gang. Being fully entranced as time stands nonetheless. Sharing the expertise with a roomful of strangers. All of it. I by no means dreamed how a lot I might miss it.” ― Jenny Block, writer of “Be That Unicorn”

“Who knew shaking arms and hugging could be one thing I might have taken as a right? Even in New Zealand, with no neighborhood COVID-19 circumstances, I discover myself second-guessing the right way to greet somebody and find yourself sitting there for just a few seconds awkwardly.” — Eamon Wood, journey blogger on the Wayward Wheeler

“On-line courses are extraordinarily robust, and I by no means thought I’d should do college like this once I began final 12 months. I miss being round different college students and finding out at school with different folks.” — Denisha Bracey, pupil

“I miss with the ability to have an evening out in town with my husband, whether or not or not it’s taking in a play and a pleasant dinner or simply strolling round a mall on the holidays. Being immunocompromised, my husband and I’ve needed to be tremendous vigilant and acutely aware about all the pieces we’re doing. I miss with the ability to savor these particular moments.” — Matthew L.M., studying and improvement skilled

“Is there something as invigorating and uplifting as a sea of strangers standing up and lifting their arms one after the other in a dance of humanity and collective appreciation for his or her favourite baseball group? I miss the roar of the gang. The crack of the bat. The cheering. All with one objective: pushing your group to victory.” — Scroggin

“I miss carrying my most studded leather-based jacket or a superb go well with with Chelsea boots. I miss the routine of preparing early earlier than date night time with my spouse and taking turns within the mirror doing our hair and make-up.” — Tevy Khou, illustrator

“Randomly assembly folks in public and making new connections. Sudden grocery retailer conversations or simply petting somebody’s canine. It’s so troublesome to try this now that we’ve got to maintain our distance from one another.” — Bracey

“Whenever you’ve simply witnessed and unbelievable efficiency, and somebody begins the standing ovation, after which one after the other everybody else joins in.” — Hedger

“I miss meals that I didn’t prepare dinner or that doesn’t come from the identical two or three locations within the small Texas lake city wherein I reside. We go into Houston now and again and get takeout and we took an RV journey for a few weeks round Thanksgiving and had to-go meals from native haunts. However I miss the culinary surprises that got here with work and volunteer journey and assembly up with mates. I miss the chums and the journey, too. Desperately. However I additionally miss the meals itself. I miss the sensations of the acquainted and the unfamiliar alike and the satisfaction that brings.” — Block

“Once they hand you the beer and it’s full to absolutely the rim, so it’s important to maintain it away out of your physique, and it’s dripping down the edges onto your hand. You need to shortly drink a few of it to get to a manageable stage.” — Hedger

“A member of the family got here down with COVID-19 just a few weeks in the past. They reside throughout the nation, so I didn’t have the chance to ebook a red-eye and be by their facet. Being bodily current with family members can help with therapeutic, and we didn’t have that choice.” — Sinclair Ceasar III, psychological well being author and speaker

“I notice now that I assumed there could be extra unity throughout a widespread, life-changing occasion akin to this pandemic. A lot turns into politicized in our nation that shouldn’t be, particularly when so many have misplaced a lot. I miss believing that extra folks would finally do the appropriate factor.” — Sham P. of @HomeWithPeanut on Twitter

Responses have been calmly edited for readability and size.