Following this lovely message, I woke up to a slew of notifications sending positive energy and support. Last night, I had to switch off. Actually I went for a long walk and a weep. Waking up to these responses from virtual strangers has been a real kindness. #bcedchat https://twitter.com/MsVictoriaOlson/status/1248456006436139014

On my walk, a few things hit home for me. We are not just teaching in a pandemic, we are living through it. Walking through the starkly empty streets my body registered the endless empty space. I imagined what my ancestors might have felt like to be so small in such vastness.

This experience is also changing the way I think about space and my relationship to other people in space. Ensuring that I am 2 metres away from the strangers I pass changes the way I feel about them. I have to intentionally smile and nod to sustain a friendly feeling.

I think this (temporary) cultural shift is going to have enduring implications for how we relate to each other as a society. I'm curious to see how this will all unfold and looking forward to the conversations that will help us all figure it out. /END