A strange kind of magic: coming out of lockdown

Has lockdown worked a kind of magic on us all? Perhaps many of us welcomed it with some sense of relief: we could forgo the constant juggling of family, work, commuting and social engagements. Perhaps our lives had been too intense emotionally and mentally. We were given the opportunity to rest and reconnect, with only the bare essentials. A lot has been said about our fears and anxieties, but haven’t we experienced resilience too? For Emin, it has been an epiphany. 'Instead of feeling sorry for myself, it’s the other way around. I don’t feel lonely at all.'

With the end of lockdown and a sense of apathy slowly taking over our earlier resolve, I am wondering how we can keep such moments of magic going.

And so, I have come up with a list of things I'd like to take with me from lockdown into normality. I want to keep the inner calm and wisdom that I have reached, the clarity of mind and the empathy. I want the men in my life to keep cooking for me – the magic of lockdown having unleashed the unsuspected inner chef in some of them. I want to keep watching movies en famille and practising yoga on a daily basis. I want to keep taking the time to witness the beauty of the changing seasons – hello ducklings and cygnets! And I want to keep sharing my thoughts with the Culture Whisper readers twice a month, hearing your reactions and being challenged.

As for my wish-list for the magic of l’après, here it is: I can hardly wait to visit an exhibition opening, go to Sadler’s Wells or sit in the Olivier Theatre brimming with excitement for what I am about to watch. I want to have intense, uplifting conversations with friends over a dinner table. I want to enjoy a fabulous meal in a glamorously crowded restaurant. I want to get a good facial and a deep massage. But above all, I want to discover the world again, interact with new people, dance, have fun, hug and be hugged and feel young and wild again.

Happy deconfinement everyone,