Hey,

Hey,
remember travel? That thing – as enthusiastic explorers of
planet Earth – we did as frequently as financially possible
pre-pandemic? Yeah, that. Well, I’m calling it: it’ll be better
post-pandemic.

Hold your eye-rolls and raised eyebrows. I’ll explain.

My diary currently looks like someone (metaphorically) took
Tipp-Ex to it – as does most people’s right now. The
shoop-shoop-shooping (don’t tell me you haven’t been binge-watching
Friends) I was supposed to be doing down slopes on Canada’s west
coast back in March
is scratched out, and the cycling around Vancouver‘s
Stanley Park I had pencilled in to show my dad my new home has all
but been erased. Weekend excursions to hike mountains have been put
on indefinite hold, and I sign off every FaceTime with friends who
are meant to be exploring
California with me this summer with gritted teeth and an
awkward inhale, for who knows if the trip will materialise. It
probably won’t.

In place of these entries are: bake banana bread (what else?);
try (and fail) to make that mega-frothy TikTok coffee thing; and
meow back at the cat from the flat upstairs. All fun activities,
sure, but not quite comparable to the those I had planned
previously.

My self-pitying side (which I like to think is a fairly small
side, but I’m a Pisces so who can really say) is sad that, for now,
I’ll miss out on visiting so many fun places. Yet the optimist in
me is resolute in the belief that I will enjoy them all the more
when I eventually do get to experience them.

You see, if I’m honest, I wasn’t looking forward to actually

skiing as much as I was wearing the high-waisted snow pants I
scored in a
charity shop while taking in the view from the top. And, as
much as I love having family to visit, I worried we’d get under one
another’s feet in my small flat.

That was all BC (before coronavirus), however. Now, I’m
desperate for the day when I can glide (read: flail) through fluffy
snow on skis, and I’m more excited than ever to see my dad’s face
IRL, so an outing together – literally anywhere, even the arse-end
of nowhere – would be the icing on top.

Pre-pandemic me had a hard timing being present. I feel like
that’s something many of us have in common. It wasn’t that I was
unappreciative of my adventures. Far from it, in fact. But my head
always seemed to be stuck in the future, clogged up with concerns
of what was to come next – so much so that I missed out on a lot of
little moments that, today, I consider luxuries.

Now that the wellbeing of our loved ones is reliant on the
success of our
self-isolation, we’ve been forced to slow down for the greater
good. Of course, it felt uncomfortable at first – as most
unfamiliar routines do – but I, for one, am starting to enjoy a
more gentle pace of life. I simply cannot get caught up in thoughts
of the future, of making plans and goals, as it’s all so uncertain.
As sickly as it sounds, I’m living every moment. Every hopeful,
lonely, quiet, anxious, grateful, empty one of them. I’m learning
appreciation on a whole new level.

Now, when I occasionally leave my flat for essential supplies
and exercise, I get giddy at the sight of the cherry blossom around
the corner. I ugly-smile when I see waves lapping the beach, and
snagging a glimpse of the mountains at the end of my street on a
clear day sends me over the edge. Every little thing – every sign
of life – excites me, and I can’t wait until it’s safe to explore
more of the world through these fresh eyes.

Government-enforced lockdown
along with the pandemic that caused it have made the world
unrecognisable in many ways, countless of which are sadly negative.
Along with health struggles and the devastating loss of loved ones
is the financial despair many are facing. In amongst all the
heartache, though, are a few little beams of light. The kindness of
neighbours, a profound appreciation for humanity and, somewhat
unexpectedly, some environmental shifts that haven’t gone
unnoticed.

In Punjab, one of India’s most polluted cities, people are
reporting being able to see the Himalayan mountains for the first
time in decades as pollution levels have plummeted; in Venice,
the canal water is so unusually clear that fish can be seen
swimming beneath the surface. I hope that, in seeing the positive
effects reduced human activity has had on our planet – and in such
a short time – we’ll have a collective light-bulb moment. We’ll
reconsider some of our travel choices, and perhaps opt for more

conscious adventures instead, electing to explore alternative
transport options – maybe trading planes for
trains where possible, or Uber rides for
cycling – as well as being mindful of the destinations we
choose to visit and the impact that our tourism has on that
community. I hope that we’ll continue to make extra big efforts to
support small businesses – favouring independent coffee shops over
Costa and Starbucks – wherever we go, and that we’ll embrace
staycations in our own magnificent backyard.

Above all, though, I hope that we can be entirely caught up in
every adventure that comes our way – be it a Californian getaway
(fingers crossed) or an amble around our home towns. And, most
importantly, I hope we can have our favourite people along for the
ride.

See? Better!