I Want Social Distancing Forever
And I am prepared to bear the consequences
Social distancing evolved as a sole means to govern our daily lives when the disastrous 2019-pandemic spread around the globe. Rolling back earlier, we were accustomed to being closer to friends, coworkers, and many others. We lapped, tugged, and cuddled our pets. The interaction was unrestricted. Our emotional closeness mostly relied upon physical proximity. This nearness was endeared as a sign of empathy, gentleness, and respect.
We were used to handshakes and hugs, which were the means of unspoken communication. But things stirred up differently in the past few months. We have hesitantly changed something in ourselves within a short period.
Every famed person on the planet virtually started begging us to maintain social distance. TV’s and social media flooded with advice. They were the same people who once told us to hold hands and stay united. Were they breaking us apart now? I don’t think so.
The social distancing approach was adopted as a mandatory practice to save lives after the deadly pandemic fumed out of its pot. Perhaps, for us, it is one of the deadliest catastrophes to be witnessed in our lifetime. The viral disease (COVID-19) deflated thousands of lives. This threat riveted everyone to adopt distancing with all living beings. This threat without a face, color, or shape was suddenly in everyone’s breath.
Distancing is a mandatory measure for breaking the chain of infection of COVID-19, but we could hardly adopt it in the beginning. For the first time, I noticed that simply keeping distance with people was a herculean task. We need a conscious prejudice and alertness to keep away from anyone approaching us. “Please wait there — ” was a difficult line to say and sounded like an order. It was just like the older people said — It is medicine and its bitter.
But again, distancing didn’t come easily to me, and neither with you (probably).
What social distancing felt like to me?
To be honest, it felt more like emotional distancing to me in the beginning. When my colleagues began avoiding handshakes, I was suddenly untouchable. At times I unconsciously extended my palm, only to receive a “Namaste” in return. Embarrassment came along with the realization that we should not be exchanging handshakes. I was suspicious later because I never know what the other individual had grabbed a while ago.
People mostly kept away and barely crossed the imaginary radii around me. I named it as a personal space. It is a shield of space around me, covering myself and extending out to a few meters radius. It was the space that I kept for myself and nobody is allowed in its proximity.
And then the change took place.
Just within a month, I could warmly adapt to this way of life. Days passed, and I grew habitual to staying aloof. It was the power of the human brain to adopt the changes. I believe it is what changed Neanderthals to the present Homo sapiens.
Today, after a few months of self-training, I feel the difference. I discovered that empathy, love, and respect can equally flourish from a meter away. I learned social distance was not able to detach human emotions, which rather was the orthodox dogmas they follow. Nothing terrible happens if we don’t shake hands. My personal space now is naturally mine, and I am committed to preserving it. Anyone who tends to breach into this space is offending me and my beliefs. But obviously, the radius has grown longer than a meter now.
Today, I dare to ask to move a little further — in case. It’s a basic discipline for everyone and I am confident that there is nothing wrong asking for a little space in between. Don’t worry because if someone respects you, they will equally do it from the distance. If someone doesn’t they won’t do it either way. The best thing that happened to me is — I feel much safer now.
It is why I stand to vote for social distancing to continue even after the pandemic crisis lits out. I believe the distancing approach is a relief during certain exasperations that practically is also a cover to manage the human weaknesses.
- I got rid of people with a stinking breath. I hated the sweat bleached perfumes and the odor of the clothes of many. This applies equally to myself and if someone used to find me offensive, they can breathe longer now.
- It’s safeguarding for women and children. Raggy gropers are a mile away in the supermarket queue. It applies to the crowded areas where the abusers extend their hands or press their trunks against you. Also, distancing took a toll on pickpockets. They just realized their hands aren’t that long.
- The shopping stores appear mannered and in control. People are alert not to crash the carts or to stand longer around.
- We learned a new way to greet. This respectful gesture that can be made from a distance. “Namaste” 🙏 is not a tough move to practice. Joining palms offers better gratitude and respect for your guests. Ancient Vedic practices have described “Namaste” to induce a flow of positive energy and gratitude. But more than that, I am not profoundly interested to transfer the collection of microbes from your palm to mine, or vice versa.
- I feel that I inhale fresher air in my personal space. A few meters have saved me from inhaling other people’s exhales. It safeguards me from getting any respiratory disease like the COVID-19. This air shield equally protects from the squeaking farts of Uncle-X. A little closer to him would certainly have devastating consequences.
- Standing away at a distance earned respect for people with small height. Each time when a tall guy comes around, it unconsciously illustrates the difference in height. Height matters less when you are distanced. I am happy for T. Lannister.
The social separation, once a compulsion is a basic discipline now. Our ways of social interaction are revising, so is our civilization. It’s progressing to change nothing colossal, but the distance of personalization. An additional layer of privacy is entrapping us as — the personal space. And this small change can catalyze a huge impact on our lives.
Now that I have realized that life with social distancing is equally possible, I am happy to live with it. Time demands it more than ever.
How old is the practice of social distancing?
Distancing is not new to this world. It’s an old tradition.
- The Vedic tradition of Hindus has a system to seclude the close relatives of the demised for 13 days. It is practiced in white clothes and a separate place. Apart from a sign of mourning, this tradition is also for the prevention of any disease carried by the demised to other members.
- In the past, the Newar community in Nepal isolated travelers after a long journey for about two weeks before they were allowed to meet their families. They did this to prevent spreading any disease carried by the traveler to the community.
- Distancing also flourished in the 14th century, when the “Black death” cruelly wounded the world.
But with ultra-socialization and overpopulation in the world, this ideology was abandoned for long. Now that its significance has resurfaced, we must keep it alive.
Regardless, I just want social distancing to be practiced forever…
