MJ: You are normally never in one place for very long, how does it feel to stay put?
CC: Soothing. I love that there is no need to pack or rush to the airport. I am not pining for my fast-paced lifestyle at all. What I really miss is my friends and social interactions. I have been thinking for a while about trying to slow down but there is always an excuse not too (all I can say after all this is F*** FOMO!). Truth is we all need to be much more mindful about how much we travel, and that goes for both work and play. This time at home has been a blessing in disguise. I fully realize that this makes me sound very privileged, but I have decided to be grateful for the stillness.
MJ: What do you miss the most from the pre-Covid19 world? And what do you not miss at all?
CC: The thing I miss the most is going out dancing, getting sweaty, forgetting about real-life altogether, and really letting loose. The thing I don’t miss at all is public transport and constantly worrying about being on time.
MJ: Are there any habits you picked up or changes you made to your life that you intend to keep even when the lockdown is over?
CC: Walking! Every day I’m getting up a little earlier and walking a little further. It has been like reconnecting with an old friend (all Parisians are walkers but when I moved to London I slowly lost this habit. There was always an excuse to use transportation: the pouring rain, the size of the city, the lack of pretty pedestrian pavements, my love for impractical shoes…). I go walking early in the morning before the crowds come out, and chose either empty streets or the beautiful parks. I talk to myself, I listen to podcasts, I hum along to my music without worrying that someone could hear me. I come home feeling thankful for blue skies and beautiful blooms, my brain ready for the day ahead and my step count satisfyingly high (nothing quite like a competition with yourself to stay motivated). I have suddenly remembered why I once did it every day and hope I can carry this into post-Corona times. Taking time to enjoy the world at this pace, one step ahead but never in a hurry.