This Week | Thursday, February 24,2022 durhamregion.com | 16 Canada's leading thinkers reflect on how COVID-19 has changed our community, Canada and the world, and forever altered the future. We are not the first generation to endure a global pandemic, nor will we be the last. History has proven that when faced with unfathomable trauma, taken to uncharted waters, we navigate new ways to live and be. The entire world forced into the same boat but not the same vessel. At the brink, our spirits frayed, our minds overwhelmed, our core eroded, faith in the human spirit of resilience, love and unity kept us afloat. With "normal" stripped away, living in bubbled islands, run aground with no anchor, forced to see ourselves from the inside out, people chose to live, inclusive or divisive. Everyday tasks became daunting and tainted with fear, anxiety and mistrust. Community and social cohesion mean having common goals, shared values and acting with the common good in mind. People crave contact, communication and community -- we are built that way. With social norms of "normal" gone, behind faceless masks, longing for others, craving contact, life and death magnified to extreme levels, we floated without purpose and control. Social interaction is human nature. We need it and yearn it. We stopped talking and started walking. Biking, hiking, Peloton, sitting on the john, TikTok, watch the clock, bought a dog, lived in a fog. Hoarding, baking and cottage laking, time stood still. Some in canoes, learned joy and solace of quiet, self and nature. Some in speed boats, lost power and control, unable to find the key, and handled the loss of life as they knew it. They paddled with a divisive heart. Those of us who have experienced and survived life-altering trauma know the mind, body, emotions and spiritual connection to self and others. Mother Earth brought the entire planet together for us to learn if we were listening. To slow down, find true priorities, discover and create and to remember who we are from the inside out. To reconnect and renew our human spirits. To realize and recalibrate our courage, strength, joy and love of self and others. Joyce Jonathan Crone is Mohawk, was born on Six Nations and is a retired teacher living in Muskoka region. 'WE STOPPED TALKING AND STARTED WALKING' OPINION: OUR CHANGED WORLD PANDEMIC BROUGHT US TOGETHER TO LEARN - BUT ONLY IF WE'RE LISTENING Those of us who have experienced andsurvived life-altering trauma know themind, body, emotions and spiritual connection to self and others. JOYCE JONATHAN CRONE Column Jason Liebregts/Metroland I always dreamed of having a camp or an outdoor facility, but always thought it wouldn't be. This came up and it seemed like the right time. I believe in the culture of a healthy lifestyle and being outside is part of that for me, so this is a passion project. John Fisher, Uxbridge As the pandemic dragged on Uxbridge resident John Fisher decided to pursue a long-standing dream of opening an outdoor facility, and is now renovating the Trail Hub, a new gathering place for Uxbridge trail users. Amy Gaudette photo OUR CHANGED WORLD 'With spending more time at home, I found we were able to connect with our neighbours even more. We had no busy schedule and spent lots of time outdoors. Every day I had the chance to speak with someone walking by and made so many new relationships with the people in our neighbourhood!' Amy Gaudette Amy Gaudette is an Oshawa resident who opened a free doggy treats cafe on her street during the COVID-19 pandemic. Durhamregion.com asked Gaudette to share her thoughts on how the pandemic has affected her experience connecting with others.