Three months ago on this day, I resurrected my 13-year-old blog with a focus on our global landscape as humanity went to war with a germ. I wrote the headline, “The Coronavirus is Here and Our New Normal Begins.”
Anonymous data from Google Analytics tells me that nearly 2,400 people visited my blog. Thank you for coming and I hope that you come back.
I see that 68% of my visitors are based in the United States, 67% use an iOS mobile device, 44% arrived from social media links, and 32% came here directly. I presume, though I’m not certain, that direct visitors subscribe to my email list and only visit the blog when the email doesn’t display content or when they want to add a comment.
The coronavirus is still with us — and by epidemiological indications, it will be here for a long time. We are adjusting our lives (albeit some people more quickly than others) to live with the virus and to not let it control us.
According to every critical analysis and tweet that I’ve seen from virologists, immunologists, infectious disease specialists, and biostatisticians, we are still within the first wave and they believe that Vice President Pence is wrong. He wants us to believe the current normalcy is bad and that we should not be concerned about what some call a hoax. There’s nothing bad nor good about the virus. I’m a realist and I view our lives for what they are.
The new normal is an inadequate term. I used it because I’d encountered it everywhere, from news headlines to casual conversations. But, we’re not living in a new normal anymore. Not really.
“Pedants might be quick to point out that it’s simply a paradox. If something is new, can it really be considered totally normal? And can normal things be brand new? Perhaps more fundamentally, the phrase assumes there’s such a thing as normal in the first place—a sort of blanket status quo: parameters outside of which everything is a bit strange.”
Source: Josie Cox, April 22, 2020.
What do we call this present era of humanity other than a continuation of the past? This is life. Despite many aspects of our life different than our past experiences, it’s unclear when (if ever) society will evolve to a non-pandemic landscape. When up to 25% of the population is adamant that they will not self-vaccinate against COVID-19, I’m increasingly skeptical if the pandemic will ever end. Instead, as I’ve read from numerous medical doctors, we will likely treat this coronavirus strain as we treat the common flu — with annual optional shots to prevent infection.
As I wrote three months ago when I started this creative endeavor:
“I anticipate embedding videos, linking to fun websites, and telling cool stories. I will probably not write about politics, but I will definitely have ideas about our new economy. I want to profile movers and shakers in the viral fight. I want to share their stories and motivations. I want to write about stuff that’s happening around the world, not just in my state or country. Along the way, you may see me update old blog posts with fresher content.”
I’m happy to share that I’ve done most of that.
I haven’t written as much about the world but that will change over time.
I also haven’t profiled anyone. I’ve been thinking about either edited written interviews (as you’d see in a newspaper) or non-edited videos. I haven’t figured out who to approach. Maybe healthcare professionals. Maybe other bloggers. Maybe musicians or authors. Maybe everyday people around the world. Thoughts? Add a comment below.
I’ve also branched out my writing from the singular topic of the coronavirus into broader categories such as politics, racism, and the media. I anticipate writing more about these important subjects in the coming weeks and months.
Also, I’m thinking of starting a complement to my blog in the form of either a daily 4-5 minute YouTube video or a weekly longer podcast. In fact, the podcast could be the location for my profiles. What do you think?
Thanks again for reading my thoughts about the coronavirus as we bop around in this not-new normal. Here’s to whatever comes next.
P.S. If you know anyone who might enjoy reading my blog, please share this blog post with them or ask them to click and subscribe.
