That feeling we might be missing - Collective Effervescence

It is 8am, Monday morning. The start of another week.?For me and many, it marked the start of week 5 of stay-at-home orders.?A small drop in the ocean compared to what other countries have gone through I know, but still, not an insignificant period to be on pause from your ‘normal’ life.

That morning, the first thing I saw in my inbox was an essay in the New York Times by Adam Grant, “There’s a specific kind of joy we’ve been missing”.?Ironically, given I am writing this from lockdown, this was an essay about reopening, of New York roaring back to life and the rush of emotion that can be felt coming together again.?That feeling has been termed ‘Collective Effervescence’. Instantly the term hit a chord – essentially it is the collective consciousness – the energy formed when people come together, or the ‘joie de vivre’ that spreads through a group, infectious and unstoppable. It is the fizz or sparkle that brightens up our ordinary days.

As he wrote about the joy of experiencing this collective energy, I realised that it is the loss of this that really has had the biggest impact on me this lockdown.?It explains why, despite soldiering through - staying at home, keeping busy, trying to make the most of it, there is that feeling of something that is missing.?

Introvert or extrovert we are social creatures.?Did you know we laugh five times as much with others than on our own? That’s what I miss the most in these lockdowns.?It’s the unscripted or unforced conversations, the laughter in the office or the drinks and chatter with a group of friends.?It is these little moments that brighten your day and energise your spirit and perhaps it is these moments that you don’t appreciate until they are no longer there.

And whilst I remind myself to be grateful, and I know that the impact of this lockdown is far worse for so many, I’m sharing this to remind people that it is okay to not always be okay. If you can’t quite put your finger on it, but you are feeling a little lacklustre, a little glum, or that you are missing your usual spirit, you are not alone. Maybe you, like me, are just missing that ‘joie de vivre’.

Hopefully, before we know it life will return to ‘normal’.?Sydney, whilst in a sad state of solitude right now, will come roaring back to life, and if we so desire, we can talk, dance, sing and celebrate together once again.

Until then, lets reflect on and learn from what we might be missing in our lives right now so that when we do return, we can return differently. Be more present in the moment, and take time to connect, converse, laugh and smile.?It is time to appreciate those seemingly insignificant moments in our daily lives, which in fact are more significant than we could ever have known.

You can read Adam Grants essay ?“There’s a Specific Kind of Joy We’ve Been Missing” here - https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/10/opinion/sunday/covid-group-emotions-happiness.html