So heels... do you think we'll ever wear them again?
It's not a random question.
Think about it. Here in the UK we've just had our one-year anniversary of the beginning of the lockdown and the official start of the pandemic. That means, we've been wearing comfy clothes and comfy shoes for a year now.
We all are looking forward to the normality. But how many things have become a new norm during this year and how many old normal things would need to be learnt anew?
I am asking about wearing heels because I've had an unexpected, rather traumatic (slight exaggeration) experience wearing heels the other day.
Let me tell you this story.
On wearing heels
My husband made chicken fajitas last night. But he forgot to buy sour cream (how can you forget such an important ingredient?!)
Anyways. I volunteered to go to the shops as I fancied a walk alone. Yippee! Mum walking alone is a real treat.
As the weather was warm, I decided to wear my super old spring shoes, which have the teeniest heels. I used to wear them when I was pregnant, because the heel is so small and they are rather comfy.
Well, let me tell you - I cannot remember the last time I felt this awkward, self-conscious and uncomfortable!
The sound my heels made on the pavement.... I thought people in another town could hear me.
I didn't know what to do with my arms. They wanted to be swung slightly differently, for some bizarre reason.
My posture - basically I think the cow wearing skates would look more comfortable. I had a feeling that I am bouncing instead of walking.
So yes, all in all extremely stressful experience.
On meeting people
I am an introvert through and through, but I do enjoy seeing people, chatting, exchanging stories and simply sitting together admiring the view.
Spending nearly the entire year without talking to anyone but your immediate family, meeting other people does sound like a new experience to me.
I feel like I need to re-learn to communicate with people. Remember how to ask questions. And most important, teach myself how to pause and allow other people to talk because I've noticed this tendency to chat non-stop when I meet someone I haven't seen in a while.
On going out
I love eating out. I love having a drink at a pub. But yet again, I almost cannot remember how to do it! Here in the UK, restaurants and pubs been shut since late November, that's 4 months! And even before that strict social distancing rules didn't allow us to have the same pub and restaurant experience as we had before the pandemic.
Remembering how to have fun while having a drink outside your living room will be a learning curve for many of us. Not jumping up when other people coming too close. Not trying to get too comfortable on the bar chair or not reaching for a TV remote while ordering food.
The end of the lockdown and life getting back to the normality is a long awaited thought. But relearning the old normal ways of living might take some time.
What do you think? What are post-lockdown dreams and ideas you would like to fulfill?
#reflections #post-COVID-19 #newnormal