Old-World Habits

​March 12th 2020, I stood at my desk, deciding on what to stuff in my trusty backpack  “just in case” we were not allowed to return to the office the next day. Major public events had been cancelled, my phone was pinging with all the news alerts of further Covid cases and postponed gatherings (some of which I did not mind being out of my agenda, let's be honest). I slipped on my winter coat and went over to see my superior in her office, sensing there was something final in the air.
 
We talked for a bit about all this madness and before I turned around to leave, she warned me to “grab all your stuff because...well, who knows?” We said our goodbyes, I stepped out of her cozy and personalized office, not knowing it would be the last time I saw it.

I was meeting my husband and my father-in-law for dinner at Moishes on St-Laurent. I had never gone there before and once again, I skidded in sideways right before it closed its doors permanently in that location a few months later. 
 
I remember walking the main and watching people looking nervous. The tension was palpable. We all felt the change come upon us but kept our dinner appointment until further notice. The pandemic taking over and challenging our plans made the rendez-vous even more appealing as it shot up in value, going against the odds at this point.
 
Upon arrival, the place was not busy at all, many had cancelled their reservations and we got to talking to the folks at the next table. Even the manager personally greeted guests at each table, thanking us for coming. He must have already felt the dramatic turn on business from so many cancellations in one night. It was a memorable evening, and we goofed around as we walked out of the restaurant. The next day, March 13th 2020, the world shut down.

Five years later, the world is still off its original axis.
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​Office buildings are empty shells of their past glamour; working from home is the new optimized standard. Amazon has primed and milked our wallets. Restaurants expect 20% tip. Trump is back. There are at least three major wars going on. Forest fires ignite every summer. The economy is a roller coaster, and the Quebec health system is failing...among other things. 
 
While it’s not all horrible, status quo has ceased to exist. I’ll take it a step further, when I think of the 80s and 90s, the world spun at a different pace. 

Now?

Being agile, while an adaptive coping mechanism, is a sport we practice regularly whether we realize it or not.

Speed and intangibility 

The frequency at which we change cars, phones, clothing, computers, insurance providers, jobs, etc. There was a time when these changes were only made if truly necessary and thus, we had time to develop an attachment and *gasps* loyalty. It feels as though the sense of permanence is evaporating. Especially with certain tarif changes these days. Everything now is a subscription with monthly fees; a business concept which capitalizes on convenience factors. There is not much left that is tangible and we are kept on our toes constantly. 

Fragmented attention

We are also used to every single piston of our mind being on and working. Watching a movie while scrolling on the phone? Eating while looking at emails? We are increasingly less used to moments that are solely dedicated to one activity at a time.

​To add yet another twist in the speed of things, we humans find ourselves competing with artificial intelligence, which threatens to take over some of our trades. The way we perceive activities, objects, and even people and how we relate to them has changed.  “Change is good” I hear some of you say, but have we gone too far?
 
To counter this effect, I have decided to make a list of things that have been around for years. Actions that have resisted the hands of time and remained intact throughout the winds of change. I call them “old world habits", as they remind me of another era, pre pandemic, the old world. the one some of us were fortunate enough to know. Hopefully, the next time you engage in one, it will cast some fairy dust around you and for a moment, you will be in the old world - tallyho! 

The list

Coffee
Whether you are making coffee, having someone over for coffee, or going to a coffee shop, the action of preparing, making, and drinking coffee have evolved but the concept is still the same. “Want to go for coffee?” is a classic line that will never go out of style. Coffee shops are still bustling with people enjoying their brew, talking, laughing. These places stimulate our senses: smell the fresh coffee beans, hear the espresso machine, I feel the buzz of the people around me, and as I see the barista prepping my order and wait patiently, I am in the old world.
 
Instruments
The fantastic feature of instruments is that they do not have notifications. You pick it up and you play it. It will not prompt you to buy a product you never knew you needed, doom scroll for hours and distract you from your goal. The only thing required by an instrument is practice. For those moments when you play, good, mediocre, or even bad, you are investing time in a skill and in an expressive outlet. Instruments bring us back to the fact that there are no shortcuts: practice and figure it out. You don't even need to play one, just being in the presence of an instrument  is grounding. #tangible
 
Dance
"Care for a dance?" Well I thought you'd never ask.
There was a time when dancing what the only way to get to talk to a woman. In the 1920s swing dancing was a vibrant social dance form and folks used to practice knowing the steps. Now? All that matters is moving to the beat. It doesn’t need to be fancy or perfect! Like playing music, dance is also an expressive outlet and while you are focusing on your next move, you think of nothing else and gain perspective on other matters. It is an old-world act that is timeless. I can just picture Forest Gump looking at Elvis Presley pulling his moves on the telly. 
 
Reading a paperback 
I know Kindles and digitals are very popular, but nothing beats the feeling of a book in your hands. The actual smell of a book,  or better yet the ritual of shopping for a new novel is an old-world experience. Why would I want to trade that for a screen when I can browse the aisles of a small or enormous bookshop, buy myself a cup of coffee (old-world habit combo!), and feel the book in my hands. Once again,  permanency is what we miss the most out of not being able to touch actual items anymore while still paying for them.
 
Lighting candles with matches 
You heard it didn’t you? The friction with the red phosphorus head of the match on the box and suddenly, a flame. It still feels like magic. While lighters are practical, lighting a match is reminiscent of other times and brings me back at each strike.
 
Going to the movies 
Have we forgotten the social experience that is to go to the movie theater? All of us showing up for the same movie, the smell of freshly popped corn and sound the ice makes in a large drink, getting your ticket checked and finding your spot for the next two hours. The surround sound and experiencing emotions in public is and old world habit we hardly ever experience. Think about it: all of us watch series and movies at the time and frequency we want. We no longer need the TV guide or better yet, we all knew when FRIENDS came on (Thursday evenings) and the best part is knowing the rest of the world was watching at the same time. The last time I went to the theater was to see Gladiator II and it was a full house! For those two hours, my phone was shut, and I was in pure bliss with a bag of popcorn as big as my head (the movie itself on the other hand...).
 
Watching DVDs 
When is the last time you purchased and permanently owned a movie? While the convenience of Netflix, Crave, or Disney channels are incredible, why are we paying for things repeatedly? What happened to paying once and being done with it? Of course not. Companie capitalize on our busy lives to make convenience “worth it”. The act of popping in a DVD (or VHS, Beta, what have you...) is a thing I am bringing back. At Christmas? I won’t be paying four different platforms for Home Alone I, II, and The Holiday. I got those on the shelf and I control access at all times. 
 
 Perfume
While we all know by experience that in the brain, the olfactory bulb has a VIP pathway to memory and emotion centers, summoning past experiences vividly and in a flash, the act of applying eau de parfum on wrist and neck or spritzing a lovely body mist before going into the world is a classic and luxurious and helps combat even the dullest days. It’s a trademark move that leaves your signature wherever you go and each time I do it, the perfume matches my energy and reminds me of adventures I am fond of.
 
There are probably far more but for most of these, there is accessibility and as the chaos continues to surround us, comfort can be found in the little things, yet another old-world habit. 

Tallyho Beeple people!