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What has changed most about the world since the pandemic began?

it's interesting; a lot has changed and not a lot has changed. for most, I would argue that the internal trauma of this experience is and will continue to change us faster than the external world does. aside from the obvious, staying inside, masking up, staying solitary, and everyone working from home, what has changed? each of those experiences impact our immediate comfort levels and sense of self more than the function of the world at large, seemingly. people are learning to grapple with their aloneness, their loneliness. people are learning to either see each other with softer eyes or more inward eyes or judge eyes. our lives are pouring themselves into computers more and more and more and more and more. it's all so annoying really, interesting too. just... it's all so much. people are tired. people are tired of having to change themselves for a society that won't help us, each other. I'm projecting, to be sure, but it's a felt, collective experience too. people are changing in that we are forced to meet each other where we are all at, collectively, because we're all hyperconnected and "going through" this pandemic together on the internet. can't bullshit yourself and say you don't know what's going on. it's written everywhere and shoved in your face at all times. it's exhausting. personally, I'm exhausted from it. it's also a curious thing to watch unfold, and, writing these entires helps examine it all, too. also, other things, outside of the pandemic have happened since quarantine hit--equally as traumatic. like the death of George Floyd which added just enough fuel to the fire of police brutality that it lit the country on fire last year. literally, riots and fires all across the country. the Wendys down the street from my home in Atlanta was bored to the ground after rayshard brooks was murdered by a police officer there. I went to protests and marches and riots and watched police tear gas crowds. I learned that I am too sensitive for all of that, and commend the people that can put their bodies on the line. it's hard to say what has changed most--it's all been changing. the way we relate to ourselves, the way we relate to each other, the way we relate to our institutions. if anything, I would call for more compassion for ourselves, more communication and patience for each other, and more "burn it to the ground" with our institutions.