As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are all living a new normal. A new normal that requires pretty significant adjustments to the way we live, work, learn, and socialize. Many countries around the world, as well as many states in the U.S., are under various forms of stay-at-home orders that make it a bit difficult to stay connected.
This means that people had to find ways to adapt and adapt quickly, to maintain some semblance of normality with most face to face contact no longer safe. People are getting creative taking all sorts of activities to video chat in a wonderful display of human determination for connection.
The New Worship
One of the oldest institutions in the world is turning to new technology. With traditional worship deemed dangerous in some communities, especially for high-risk worshippers, church services are going virtual.
Religious worship is one of those things that’s all about human connection. Praying together, regardless of the specific religion, is something that many all over the world rely on in times of hardship. Large gatherings, however, are no longer deemed safe by many governments and leaders. So, in a season of important events for pretty much every major world religion, people are turning to video chat to maintain that aspect of their lives.
Sobriety and Social Distancing
Another absolute essential for some that has been made very difficult with social distancing is Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and other meetings of a similar nature. The idea behind AA is sharing with others and a community that allows for healing and camaraderie to maintain sobriety. For those in the program, this is not an optional part of life. It is necessary for survival.
To keep the meetings going when gathering physically isn’t possible, the AA community is turning to sites like Zoom and Google hangouts. These platforms provide something that simple social media cannot, that sense of face-to-face communication and contact that keeps people going.
Family From Far Away
In a more casual sense, video chat is also the perfect way of staying connected with family when physical visits aren’t permitted. Sunday family dinners, co-parenting, and any type of family connection outside of the household is all of the sudden very difficult in the time of the coronavirus.
Staying connected through video chat will never be able to replace hugging your parents or your brothers and sisters. This is an unfortunate reality, but it’s certainly better than nothing.
Virtual Cocktail Hour
Socialization outside of the family is just as important as within. Since being stuck on lockdown, my brother has been doing regular cocktail hours over Zoom with his friends. My little sister has hilariously dubbed them “Internet Vodka Parties”. Staying connected in fun ways is so important, especially when everything seems so difficult. Friendship and social gatherings are part of what makes life worth living. There’s no reason to let these connections go by the wayside just because we can’t see each other face to face.
People all over the country are doing everything from cocktail hours to game nights over video chat. It’s a true testament to the adaptability of the human race. These video chats will help us get through this with our social and family relationships, religion, or sobriety (or all of the above!) intact. Thanks to modern technology and a little creativity.
