Not long ago, we used to criticize our children for their lack of social skills. We would routinely watch a large group of teenagers sitting at a table in the restaurant, with their faces glued to their smart phones, texting (rather than talking) to each other. The visual was, frankly, extremely cold. And, we would routine ask ourselves if our children would (or even could) develop the basic social and interactive skills necessary to be successful in life.

Then, along came COVID-19. As I am sitting in the restaurant here in Naples (on a little well-deserved escape from a long summer working from above my garage), I see a society that is drifting even further apart.

In the past, when my wife and I would walk past a stranger, we would always glance up and say “hope you have a nice day” with only a smile and our eyes. Wearing face coverings, which are now mandatory, puts a veil across every person’s face, which disallows the projection of emotion. With the majority of communication being non-verbal, I feel as if we are no longer truly “communicating” anymore.

Just like our children.

But the extreme changes are not limited to masks. Here in the hotel, the signs proclaim that we cannot ride in an elevator with members who are not in our family. We must stand at least six feet apart, and are not permitted to high-five, shake hands or fist-bump. Even the bartender withdraws after handing off a drink with his back to our face.

In many operations, there is also no “office” anymore. No conference rooms, no coffee machines, and no crowded break rooms. We are encouraged and taught to stay as far away from each other as possible. We meet virtually now, interacting with nothing more than a glitchy computer screen. Just like our kids. While recognizing that this is the new “norm,” it is extremely cold. In a time where, I feel, we should all be coming closer together, we are forced to be farther apart.

I hope that the new “norm” doesn’t persist. I hope that we can shake hands, share hugs, shed our masks, and exchange smiles with both friends and strangers again. And, I hope that we become less like our children, not more.

Moving forward, I would say keep up the good work keeping this invisible and elusive virus at bay. But don’t forget that, while we may need to adhere to some temporary restrictions, we are social beings who, every once in a while, need to embrace, hug and see our colleagues smile.

Will COVID-19 make society colder

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