46. One Thing I Learned From The Pandemic

Going for a walk during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic really bothered me. Considering there was little else we could do for a time, my regular walking routes were busier than normal, which is what bothered me. However, it wasn’t the simple fact that there were more people than normal that bothered me, it was that somehow even with more bodies on the sidewalks, there was less human interaction. People would go so far out of their way to avoid walking by you that I’m sure a short walk around the block turned into a maze through the neighbourhood for many. It seemed that there was a rule that you had to cross the street at least 14 miles before meeting an oncoming ambler.

The intentional avoidance was actually quite impressive, and as annoying as I viewed it at the time, it made me think of what else we do or don’t do to intentionally direct our path forward.

If you just walked down the street unintentionally, you would have no say about who or what comes across your path. You would get whatever virus might be coming your way, and if you have your head down, you might bump into it with no warning. On the other hand, if you choose what side of the road you’re on and what direction you go, you get to keep some semblance of control. This is the most wonderful thing about life that we have: you get to choose what side of the street you walk on and what direction you go. In case you’re wondering, yes, that is a metaphor.