Most people identify the coronavirus as having a negative impact on our social life with friends and family but I think in some ways, it has been quite the opposite. The amount of phone and video calls that I have made and received during this time have more than doubled and honestly, I don’t think I have ever communicated with my family and friends this much in years.
Telecommunications across the board has substantially increased since the stay-at-home order went into place. Normally when there is a sense of urgency or crisis we turn to our family and friends to connect, vent, and receive guidance but since there have been limitations on all social interactions we have turned to video and voice calls to get through these times. And we should be incredibly thankful to be enduring this pandemic in an era of technology because over a hundred years ago during the 1918 Pandemic it was an incredibly lonely time with little to no communication with the outside world. Now grandparents are Zooming with their grandchildren and friends are now having virtual happy hours together.
More importantly, the conversations we are having with one another have been more meaningful and deep which in turn makes us feel more connected. We have all been experiencing this pandemic together so we all have something in common to discuss and reconnect. Whether I have spoken to someone recently or haven’t spoken to someone in months or possibly years, I have found that I am really conversing more and having less basic small talk and with everything going in the world I think the need for having better conversations is necessary. I have asked other friends, coworkers, and family members if they feel the same and they have agreed the communication and connection-level has risen significantly despite not being able to socially interact. Even the people I know those dread phone interactions and use texting as their main means of communication, have made steps to communicate and engage on the phone and video calls as well.
Between constantly having Zoom calls or House Party calls and doing walk and talks there isn’t a day that goes by that I haven’t spoken to someone. I personally have two of my best friends that live out of state, one near the Boston, MA area, and the other that lives in downtown Denver, CO. They are both professionals working for schools and between the multiple time differences trying to catch up with them has always been tricky. Now since we all have more flexibility while working from home and we all have more free time on our hands, since we are all on lockdown, we are able to catch up so much more. And let me say, having the ability to talk to them and my other friends and family more regularly has helped me cope with all the continuous changes that I have endured in my work and home life since COVID. I know many people have been suffering during these times especially with the huge lack of social interactions but I like to think that there is a silver lining to this pandemic. We have found new ways to communicate with one another and are going the extra mile to do so.
People are finally really getting to know each other and their neighbors, from a distance of course, and I feel like we are finally getting back to our roots before technology. Yet without technology during this pandemic, communication would be nearly impossible. I just hope that when this pandemic is all over that we continue to have stronger communications with each other going forward.
Written by Alyssa A. Blando
Sterk Family Law Group is here to assist you
We are aware that everyone has been affected by the recent response to COVID-19 but we hope that you find some comfort in knowing that we are still operational and here to assist you.
Whether you are a current client or if you are looking for family law or estate planning assistance, our team is here for you and will continue to be available to address your concerns.
To the extent possible, we will offer remote consultations and provide services from a distance.
You may message us here, email our office at info@sterkfamilylaw.com, or call 815-600-8950 and one of our team members will be able to assist you.
This is a legal advertisement from Sterk Family Law Group. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be construed as such. This article is for informational and educational purposes only.