To many people will go back to the old normal.

[frazzled]

14. It's like if you ever faced a life threatening illness or disease

I haven’t, but I partnered with my spouse when he did, over the course of a year. He thankfully came out on the other side of it, but the habits we formed during that year didn’t go away for a long time, and they came in baby steps, some of them in eventual modified form lasting for these nearly five years.

It included washing hands the second we got in from the outside (a necessity when his immune system was entirely compromised), so that this was nothing new to us today. It also meant making efforts to reduce stress during the reentry into work and social situations by saying no more often and not trying to do everything. Overall reducing obligations and spending more time at home. Priorities and habits change after a brush with mortality.

I bet a lot of people will take baby steps in emerging from this situation too. And a lot of the habits and changes we’ve adapted to during this crisis will become permanent, though in modified form. Eating home more often, shopping for food judiciously and less frequently. Keeping distance in public places still as we venture out.

Others will throw all caution to the wind and resume old ways immediately. And that is what is scary, because it affects us all.