Pause, think, engage

A theme throughout this time of isolation has been appreciation of the simple things, which are heavily juxtaposed with the challenges we face, but nonetheless important. They are the everyday guideposts of life, which give us pause, give us time to think.

Many have new guideposts, driving home what matters most in life. For me, it's the morning check-in with my daughter about home-school work, calls with friends I haven't spoken to in years, walks with my wife at the end of the day — things that often got squeezed out of the pre-crisis daily grind. The more time we have to pause and think expansively, we naturally give the world more time in our minds. Old silos fall away, new chances for engagement take root.

In recent news coverage, there has been more discussion about states planning for post-COVID life, often called the "re-opening." Though many more challenges remain before that happens, that planning process makes one think: What next? What will we have learned from this that will last and improve our world? Will old struggles that have been laid bare — like the "digital divide" issue around rural broadband access — continue to dog society?

Right now, it's too early to tell. So many questions remain about the current situation, let alone the rest of 2020 and beyond. However, with so much profound re-thinking and re-focusing happening everywhere, powered by people helping one another, it would be hard to imagine how a lasting impact couldn't result. We came to a fork in the road, and were forced into one option by necessity. There will be a similar choice when this crisis is over. It's clear that hope, love and progress have built a powerful momentum through our natural connections. That momentum refuses to be left behind.

— Gareth Henderson