The headache of the new normal

Humans are so resilient. After early shocks to us, individually or collectively, humans find a new equilibrium, developing a new normal. If the disruption is not too great, say a coronavirus pandemic, kids, teachers, businesses, fire fighters and even healthcare workers develop alternatives that in time stop being new and become routine.

It is two years ago last week that the world – the world – ground to a halt, everyone – even New Zealand – floored by the coronavirus pandemic. Locked down was the term, the policy and the reality. People rushed to buy toilet paper. The...