Don't Look Back | Globe Opinion

“A reminder of how much small businesses matter to us. They not only make neighborhoods & downtowns feel unique, but they contribute to the local economy with jobs, and they're the first ones to contribute when a local charity needs donations. We supported local [businesses] before but now we're taking extra thought to order takeout from more than our usual places, and realizing we can order from a local bookstore online just as easily as Amazon.”

Sarah Wharton

“A must keep is a deep appreciation for teachers. We now have a much better understanding of their talent, skill, patience, and good humor. We also have undeniable proof that they're the linchpin of our society. If the kids don't go to school, we don't get to go to work. Please remember that the next time your local teachers are at the bargaining table.”

Darci Klein

“Losing my retail shopping habit. Since being in sweatsuits for 6 months, I've stopped worrying about keeping up with the latest fashions. My DIY tie dye/bleach applications are so much more fun!”

Linda Savage

“As an essential worker, at a home improvement store, the appreciation I have received from so many people for being there so they can redo their space from painting and remodeling to gardening. We sold lots of flowers 🌸 this year!”

Aila Sundelin

“The pandemic has been a reminder to everyone that service workers are the backbone of a functioning society. Unfortunately, not everyone is getting a wage that reflects how essential they are, so I’ve been tipping a lot more (30-50%) at places like restaurants, coffee shops, and hair salons. At the very least, we should all be saying “thank you” more often, like many folks did at the start of the pandemic.”

Kaitlyn Henry

“Everyone is together facing a common struggle. It has stretched our collective creativity to problem solve, and in some cases manifest new arts and interests.”

Lo Whittington

“None. The pandemic is preventing humans from needed interactions with others - a condition already on life support because of social media and video games. The next generation is in real trouble if we don't go back to 2019 soon.”

Landis Cole

“Customer service has come back; deliveries, curbside pickup and pre-ordering feel like the old days!”

Lauren Bukowski

Keep the Change

We should become a cashless society once and for all

“Ordering groceries and other household items from Walmart, on my iPhone. Also given a choice of times for pick. Some locations have delivery service. For this 80 years old lady, I hope I never have to go to a retailer again.”

N Ruth Vaughter

“Not having to sign our name for credit card purchases.”

Kelly Parisi

“What I’ve liked about the lockdown is the fact that I don’t have to worry about waiting in long lines when I go into a grocery store to buy food. It’s so much easier to get groceries delivered, and to have the delivery person(s) just put the groceries right outside my door, and then get them myself.”

Miki

“It’s hard to imagine a future when we again feel comfortable handling filthy bills covered in bacteria and pathogens”

Globe Opinion

The Doctor is Out

Telehealth visits should become the new normal

“Psychiatric telehealth.”

Margaret Go

"In the midst of the pandemic, tens of millions of Americans have used telemedicine for the first time, and it has been met with overwhelming patient acceptance"

Globe Opinion

Ditch the Office

Let's make working from home permanent

“I love how much time I get to spend with my family now. Even though I'm working from home, I can always be around them and do all sorts of simple things together. It is such a feel-good feeling!”

Antara Chakraborty

“Working from home and being trusted as a professional to do the job I was hired to do effectively, efficiently and in LESS than 8 hours a day/5 days a week. Evaluations based on productivity and output, not on time spent in the office.”

Carla Hebert

“Keep working from home, at least part time. I wouldn't mind seeing/interacting with my coworkers 1-2 times per week. But otherwise, my commute seriously sucked.”

Daniella Leifer

“Remote work. I am aiming to get all the paper aspects of my job digitized so I don’t have to go into an office five days a week. I want the flexibility to work from where I choose.”

Laurie Ressler

“Working from home, the time that I don't waste in traffic everyday, the pollution I'm not causing, the money I'm saving on gas and laundry (because, yeah, I don't wear pants now).”

Scott Herr

“I know I'm not alone with this but working from home has been a Godsend. Commuting from just outside of Boston to Harvard Square was a daily drain - physically, psychically, and financially. Working from home has saved my sanity and my wallet from that horrid daily experience. I will never go back to working in an office 5 days a week!”

Kim Costigan

"I've been a fan of working from home. Not having to commute, and having greater flexibility in my day to see the people I love, while also staying (arguably more) productive has made for a better quality of life when it comes to work."

Thomas

"Once the coronavirus situation has returned to normal, telecommuting ought to be fully encouraged and implemented as a long-term policy alternative to excessive highway and public transit dependency."

Globe Opinion

Get Well Sooner

Give everyone paid sick leave and make it normal to take sick days

“Keep masks for all future ‘flu’ seasons.”

John Connert

“The focus on wellness, whether that's through exercise, meditation, or just generally practicing more self-care than we as a nation are used to doing.”

Katie DeBonville

Will coronavirus erase the stigma of sick days?

Globe Opinion

Take it outside

Reconnecting with public spaces and the great outdoors

“Quieter streets that are safer to bike on with decreased commuter cars. Cleaner air which does smell better. Skies that tell so much about decreased pollution levels. Always saying ‘nice day’ or ‘good morning’ while walking AND getting responses.”

Madeline Fine

“Freeing up city roads to have more protected bike lanes/pedestrian walkways.”

Pru Barker

“I realize how much I love my house. Just looking out the windows, watching birds, squirrels, even moths and dragonflies. I'm grateful.”

Eve Webster

"Slow time. Walking in the neighborhood and seeing so many people and pets out."

Theresa May

"Expanding pedestrian space and space for outdoor dining in cities. Please continue!"

Andy Breeding

"While the weather allows it, having more outdoor venues in general that can be taken advantage of more. Towns and areas limiting/blocking car traffic for more outdoor seating and walking areas in the seasons/places it makes sense especially is a good addition to communities.”

Melissa Hart

“On our neighbourhood walks, we encounter friends, neighbours, people we have seen before and strangers. All/all of them are more open and more friendly than pre-pandemic. This strengthens the feel of ‘neighbour’ in the ‘hood.’ ”

Bryan Boyd

“Time to walk in and tend my garden every day.”

Virginia Berman

“I started biking around the city for the first time in hopes of avoiding the T and uber. With fewer cars on the roads than usual, it has been liberating and a great form of exercise. We need to continue prioritizing new bike lanes and cycling safety.”

M. Greeley

“I like the fact that there's not so many people wandering around aimlessly, and that I was inspired to design some new artwork. I also like the fact that my online virtue Tae Kwon Do classes, knitting, listening to music, and talking/playing with my pet congo African Grey Parrot, Aziza, give me a lot of solace.”

Miki Polumbaum

Don't Shake On it

Replace the handshake with new greetings

"Personally, I’d rather stick my hand in a can of spiders than clasp hands in germ season."

Globe Opinion

Liberating Liquor

Make it easier to get a buzz and give a buzz to local businesses with cocktails-to-go and other reforms

Has the time (finally) come for liquor licensing reform in Boston?

Globe Opinion

Don’t Look Back

A conversation about what we should keep from pandemic life — and what we can now reimagine, curated by Globe Opinion.

“Losing my retail shopping habit. Since being in sweatsuits for 6 months, I've stopped worrying about keeping up with the latest fashions. My DIY tie dye/bleach applications are so much more fun!”

“As an essential worker, at a home improvement store, the appreciation I have received from so many people for being there so they can redo their space from painting and remodeling to gardening. We sold lots of flowers 🌸 this year!”

“Everyone is together facing a common struggle. It has stretched our collective creativity to problem solve, and in some cases manifest new arts and interests.”

“None. The pandemic is preventing humans from needed interactions with others - a condition already on life support because of social media and video games. The next generation is in real trouble if we don't go back to 2019 soon.”

“Customer service has come back; deliveries, curbside pickup and pre-ordering feel like the old days!”

Sign up to receive our latest stories on how COVID has changed everyone's lives.

Live

From Zoom dates to elbow bumps, coronavirus altered the way we live our daily lives practically overnight.

Social Distancing

Creating new social habits — and getting rid of old ones

“I'm writing now, frequently; I'm making cards for all occasions; baking on a regular basis and reading non-stop....all guilt free; I have the time because staying home protects my neighbors.”

“As a society we are more open to talking about personal/public health and more honest about individual tolerance for risk.”

“Being an eye witness to my toddler’s rapid development. Hugs and kisses on demand. Home cooked meals. Landscape projects in our urban backyard.”

“Being with my wonderful partner. Everyday. All the time. Being an active present part of each others’ days and rhythms.”

“The circumstances of the pandemic brought faculty in my College even closer together. I also became more acutely aware of the dynamic teaching and service activities performed by my colleagues.”

“Being more thoughtful about how our neighbors are living. Realizing that being forced to live inside yourself can be a powerful change from our sense to diversions.”

“Family zoom get together meetings. We have them once a month. I am more connected to members of my family who live far away than I have ever been.”

“Not feeling that I “should” get out of the house and visit other people. I like my house and I enjoy staying home.”

“More live streaming of events — live shows and concerts (for a fee), life events such as weddings, funerals for those who can’t make it due to distance or infirmity, and government meetings like town board and school board.”

“I like the quieter pace of life; the lack of traffic. I like it when strangers care enough about me to wear masks, but still acknowledge my existence with a bow, a wave, a word.”

“I'm not expected to go out all the time, especially to bars. I'm an introvert, so I've been training for it my whole life.”

“Time to garden, work on home projects, cook, read.”

“Less pressure to participate in things I don't really care about.”

Keep the Change

We should become a cashless society once and for all

“Ordering groceries and other household items from Walmart, on my iPhone. Also given a choice of times for pick. Some locations have delivery service. For this 80 years old lady, I hope I never have to go to a retailer again.”

“Not having to sign our name for credit card purchases.”

“It’s hard to imagine a future when we again feel comfortable handling filthy bills covered in bacteria and pathogens”

The Doctor is Out

Telehealth visits should become the new normal

“Psychiatric telehealth.”

"In the midst of the pandemic, tens of millions of Americans have used telemedicine for the first time, and it has been met with overwhelming patient acceptance"

Work

Suddenly, pants are optional. Millions of people started working from home during the coronavirus, raising the prospect that the workplace of the future has arrived.

Ditch the Office

Let's make working from home permanent

“I love how much time I get to spend with my family now. Even though I'm working from home, I can always be around them and do all sorts of simple things together. It is such a feel-good feeling!”

“Working from home and being trusted as a professional to do the job I was hired to do effectively, efficiently and in LESS than 8 hours a day/5 days a week. Evaluations based on productivity and output, not on time spent in the office.”

“Keep working from home, at least part time. I wouldn't mind seeing/interacting with my coworkers 1-2 times per week. But otherwise, my commute seriously sucked.”

“Remote work. I am aiming to get all the paper aspects of my job digitized so I don’t have to go into an office five days a week. I want the flexibility to work from where I choose.”

“Working from home, the time that I don't waste in traffic everyday, the pollution I'm not causing, the money I'm saving on gas and laundry (because, yeah, I don't wear pants now).”

"I've been a fan of working from home. Not having to commute, and having greater flexibility in my day to see the people I love, while also staying (arguably more) productive has made for a better quality of life when it comes to work."

"Once the coronavirus situation has returned to normal, telecommuting ought to be fully encouraged and implemented as a long-term policy alternative to excessive highway and public transit dependency."

Sign up to receive our latest stories on how COVID has changed everyone's lives.

Get Well Sooner

Give everyone paid sick leave and make it normal to take sick days

“Keep masks for all future ‘flu’ seasons.”

“The focus on wellness, whether that's through exercise, meditation, or just generally practicing more self-care than we as a nation are used to doing.”

Will coronavirus erase the stigma of sick days?

Play

Before coronavirus, you couldn’t order beer with takeout food in Massachusetts. Good luck turning the clock back on that.

Take it outside

Reconnecting with public spaces and the great outdoors

“Quieter streets that are safer to bike on with decreased commuter cars. Cleaner air which does smell better. Skies that tell so much about decreased pollution levels. Always saying ‘nice day’ or ‘good morning’ while walking AND getting responses.”

“Freeing up city roads to have more protected bike lanes/pedestrian walkways.”

“I realize how much I love my house. Just looking out the windows, watching birds, squirrels, even moths and dragonflies. I'm grateful.”

"Slow time. Walking in the neighborhood and seeing so many people and pets out."

"Expanding pedestrian space and space for outdoor dining in cities. Please continue!"

"While the weather allows it, having more outdoor venues in general that can be taken advantage of more. Towns and areas limiting/blocking car traffic for more outdoor seating and walking areas in the seasons/places it makes sense especially is a good addition to communities.”

“On our neighbourhood walks, we encounter friends, neighbours, people we have seen before and strangers. All/all of them are more open and more friendly than pre-pandemic. This strengthens the feel of ‘neighbour’ in the ‘hood.’ ”

“Time to walk in and tend my garden every day.”

“I started biking around the city for the first time in hopes of avoiding the T and uber. With fewer cars on the roads than usual, it has been liberating and a great form of exercise. We need to continue prioritizing new bike lanes and cycling safety.”

Don't Shake On it

Replace the handshake with new greetings

"Personally, I’d rather stick my hand in a can of spiders than clasp hands in germ season."

Liberating Liquor

Make it easier to get a buzz and give a buzz to local businesses with cocktails-to-go and other reforms

Has the time (finally) come for liquor licensing reform in Boston?

Think

Has the traumatic experience of a deadly pandemic changed the way Americans think about their country, their commitment to their neighbors, and themselves?

Make Democracy Better

Mail us ballots and make more public meetings virtual

“Mail-in voting expansion must be kept: look at the amazing voter turnout in MA primaries and general election. Voter registration online also is a big improvement. All lead to more people participating in our democracy.”

“I really appreciate how much easier it is to participate in club, school board and city council meetings. As a mom of young children all of these things are suddenly far more accessible to me.”

No time to waste on mail-in voting

Town meetings are a Puritan relic. After 387 years, let's hope the coronavirus ends them.

Flight Cancellation

Find new means of travel and adventure that keep us grounded