Dear readers, I know, COVID-19 is a bitch and I’m the first one to wish it had never happened.

This said, a few good things happened because of the pandemic that I hope will stay in my life even when the virus is finally put to sleep.

・First of all, I like the slower pace of life. Not that I had been frantically running around before the pandemic, but staying away from central Tokyo gave me a chance to reacquaint myself with my immediate surroundings, take long walks along the river and enjoy the little things.

・I also got to love masks, of all things. Why, you ask?

1. In winter, they are great to keep my face warm.

2. I don’t have to shave every day

3. Dog breath? No problem!

・I know that Zoom and Skype were here even before COVID-19, but now I know I can take part in events and do other things without leaving my house.

・For a while, I loved teaching university lessons and doing interviews in my underwear (I mean the part that doesn’t show on camera). But I must admit that face-to-face interaction is much better.

*****

Now, what about you? Is there anything that you hope will stay with you?