Most
people try to keep a certain distance from others in this fourth week of government-regulated-behaviour
in public areas. Much of this change in behaviour is fear-driven, as we want to
avoid being infected by the potential virus-carrier approaching us. To do that,
we need to actually look at who is sharing the pavement that we are walking.
Total absorption with earphones, whilst watching a video or writing a message,
are difficult.
As a
result, we seem to be more aware of each other than we were before this
pandemic befell us. A by-product is that more people are also smiling at
strangers, making way for others to pass, thanking each other for acts of
consideration and thoughtfulness. It even pays off, as such simple civility normally
makes us feel good about ourselves.
This new
empathy is unlikely to last but one can enjoy it whilst it does.
Ich mache dieselben Erfahrungen und freue mich, dass ich nochmals sovielen freundlichen Mitbürgern begegnen darf, die mir ein Lächeln wie in Kindertagen schenken, als ich ein hübsches kleines Mädchen war. Welch erfreulicher Revival!
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