I just signed off from a virtual concert - some colleagues of my boyfriend are true music nerds, so their company has its own band - performing at after work drinks or during the yearly New Years Drinks.
Every Friday the company has a half hour where someone holds a presentation - about something work related, or something personal, or better yet, a combination of the two.
This Friday, with social distancing in mind, they decided to replace that half hour with a 'concert'. There were 5 performances, someone recited a poem, someone played the piano, and there was even an ensemble between two households which had some technical (lag) issues but true nerds as they are they had solved those pretty well - I won't bore you with the technical details, but it was quite advanced and involved using multiple streams, turning on and off specific microphones and headsets, all to play live for all of us.
81 cameras were turned on for the concert, and since each cam had multiple eyes on them, maybe 150 people were 'present' - pretty spectacular for a virtual concert don't you think?
I love these innovations and initiatives. As I'm home a lot due to physical limitations, I can't help but thinking: how many of these innovations will stay after social distancing isn't necessary anymore? I would love to keep a few, virtual meetings and yoga lessons and and and and... They would really make a difference for me as often it's the traveling that prevents me from going to meetings or classes.
And I know I'm not the only one.
Can we solve the puzzle of social isolation because we're forced now to think about how we can stay connected during this pandemic?
I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Another spectacular thing: one of my dearest friend went on her (electric, but still) bike today to cycle 1,25 hours to my city from hers, to visit me, bring me presents, share a glass of water in the sun, and cycle the same 1,25 hours back to her city.
She didn't need to take public transport this way, we stayed 1,5 meters apart (and believe me, I would've loved hugging her!), and still had this opportunity to share a moment and laugh together.
I feel blessed.
These times are horrible and at the same time they bring us moments that can be truly special - maybe the impact of tiny gestures and moments of shared experience is just bigger right now.
Enjoy them. Make them happen. Set up a video call with a group of people this weekend and open a bottle of wine (yes, one bottle each :D). You won't regret it.