The New Normal

Are we seeing in this photo the new normal at play?  I think not.  Rather I conjecture we are seeing the well known and tired human conditioning to do things my way.  To take it one step further, don't care for anyone else, do it my way, the easy way and don't get caught.  In this age of the pandemic, this typical human attitude to life assumes new levels of censure, with behaviours in the opposite direction now being purposefully demanded.   Even when alone, we are being challenged at this time to be conscious of the other for, during a pandemic, we can never think we are living in some lone bubble.     

We are reading about establishing travel bubbles to allow safe travel between designated countries. Still one must ask if such a concept works.  Surely, it will only succeed under strict standards of cooperation and responsibility being enforced and respected at every level and by everyone.  Just one loose canon, just one lax action and the bubble is burst. 

Holding to a bubble philosophy in life, even at the best of times, is questionable and unsustainable as we do not exist on our own.  We are ever connected and interdependent.  Life is never about being isolated, thinking we are special or stronger or better.  We sure find that out when our self-imposed bubble bursts.

 More than ever, our asserting personal responsibility matters, having repercussions even for the sake of human survival.  Of course, responsibility does not come easily.  It does exact a personal cost.  To be the opposite may seem easier but it has consequences that we may rather not choose at the best of times.  In this extraordinary age,  being irresponsible may be about much more than being uncomfortable; it may lead to catastrophe.    

Thanks to a virus, the way ahead is set - we all win together.  This age is a great teacher in decent human behaviour.  Respect and responsibility rule always.  Bubbles are for the birds.  

A picture tells the story.