We have made it through two seasons of COVID. If we can believe what we are told, there are likely two more to go. I am not so sure – I think it will be longer.
Still, I have adjusted. Many of you have probably adjusted, too. I usually do not forget to put on my mask when I get out of the car these days. I usually remember to clean my hands when I get back into the car. I have become pretty knowledgeable about video conferencing and all the other sorts of technology that allow us to keep a safe distance.
Doing business from a distance is not as difficult as I once thought it might be. Technology has eased the burden.
I have gotten used to a new routine in the morning. The old routine always felt rushed. And everyone around me always seemed rushed too.
These days, I get up and amble into my day. I grab a coffee, sit in the sun, and catch up on the news. I can stop and consider what lies ahead, do some thinking about what I want out of the day, eat some breakfast, and then get on with it.
If I have a meeting, I walk up to the office and start up the Zoom. If I have a deposition, I’ll put on a tie, grab a coffee, and start up the Zoom. I rarely drive. I walk a lot. I talk to the dog. I talk to my wife. I talk to my kids.
I visit with friends throughout the day via text or Zoom. Life is slower and yet more gets done. And throughout, I feel at ease. In the meantime, the air feels fresher and lighter.
As a business owner, I see the benefits of changing the way we do business. I am more thoughtful in my work and I can give more attention to my clients.
Courts have taken time to adjust, but they are adjusting, and ultimately the justice system is going to be more accessible to more folks in Connecticut and easier to navigate for all.
I do not want to go back to the way things were. I am hopeful that we embrace the changes that have made our lives better.
Still, there will be roadblocks because there are entrenched systems in place that will be hard to move, even though moving them may be more beneficial for our communities.
I was speaking to a medical professional last week who has been providing tele-health services since the pandemic began. Whereas folks used to come see him at his office, now he can provide the bulk of his services via video conference. He told me that the health insurance companies are going to mandate that he begin seeing patients in the office soon because the companies do not want to pay for tele-health services anymore.
That kind of view is short-sighted and fails to account for the increased access to healthcare that tele-health provides.
COVID is a plague. And it will stick with us for a while, I think until we reach herd immunity. And people we care about will get sick and some will die. That is the tragedy of the COVID virus.
But we should not underestimate our resilience or our capacity to take advantage of change. There is real opportunity to improve our lives because of this scourge. I am hopeful that when the plague finally passes we will not return to old ways that sapped our strength and our well-being.
Still, I have adjusted. Many of you have probably adjusted, too. I usually do not forget to put on my mask when I get out of the car these days. I usually remember to clean my hands when I get back into the car. I have become pretty knowledgeable about video conferencing and all the other sorts of technology that allow us to keep a safe distance.
Doing business from a distance is not as difficult as I once thought it might be. Technology has eased the burden.
I have gotten used to a new routine in the morning. The old routine always felt rushed. And everyone around me always seemed rushed too.
These days, I get up and amble into my day. I grab a coffee, sit in the sun, and catch up on the news. I can stop and consider what lies ahead, do some thinking about what I want out of the day, eat some breakfast, and then get on with it.
If I have a meeting, I walk up to the office and start up the Zoom. If I have a deposition, I’ll put on a tie, grab a coffee, and start up the Zoom. I rarely drive. I walk a lot. I talk to the dog. I talk to my wife. I talk to my kids.
I visit with friends throughout the day via text or Zoom. Life is slower and yet more gets done. And throughout, I feel at ease. In the meantime, the air feels fresher and lighter.
As a business owner, I see the benefits of changing the way we do business. I am more thoughtful in my work and I can give more attention to my clients.
Courts have taken time to adjust, but they are adjusting, and ultimately the justice system is going to be more accessible to more folks in Connecticut and easier to navigate for all.
I do not want to go back to the way things were. I am hopeful that we embrace the changes that have made our lives better.
Still, there will be roadblocks because there are entrenched systems in place that will be hard to move, even though moving them may be more beneficial for our communities.
I was speaking to a medical professional last week who has been providing tele-health services since the pandemic began. Whereas folks used to come see him at his office, now he can provide the bulk of his services via video conference. He told me that the health insurance companies are going to mandate that he begin seeing patients in the office soon because the companies do not want to pay for tele-health services anymore.
That kind of view is short-sighted and fails to account for the increased access to healthcare that tele-health provides.
COVID is a plague. And it will stick with us for a while, I think until we reach herd immunity. And people we care about will get sick and some will die. That is the tragedy of the COVID virus.
But we should not underestimate our resilience or our capacity to take advantage of change. There is real opportunity to improve our lives because of this scourge. I am hopeful that when the plague finally passes we will not return to old ways that sapped our strength and our well-being.
The Law Office of Eric R. Brown 
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