How level 4 changed us . . .

What did you learn about yourself — and your world — from level 4 lockdown?

Maybe you perfected your sourdough. Maybe you wrote a novel. Maybe you fell out of love. Maybe just wearing pants was a victory.

The word “unprecedented” has been used so often over the past four weeks, but is there a better descriptor for what Aotearoa did to fight Covid-19? A nationwide shutdown of all but essential services; a wha¯nau of five million in this together — but apart. At 11.59pm on Wednesday March 25, we were confined to our home bubbles with only the company we were keeping at that moment. And it changed us.

On Day 13, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, acknowledged: “I miss people”. On social media, we fantasized about a new world. Author Elizabeth Knox wrote, “Lockdown has made me want no cars ever. Buses and e-bikes, and e-trikes for older people.” Comedian Dai Henwood asked “How would you prepare differently? More track pants?”

But life and death did not stop. Babies were born, people died and we weren’t there. Some people had it better and some people had it much, much worse.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister announced plans to move to level 3 from next Tuesday. Soon, we can walk on a beach. Three-quarters of us live within 10km of the ocean. So near, but lately, so far. Will we ever take that for granted again?

Some more life lessons from level 4: A good scone is hard to make. Teachers work hard. We love our grandparents more than we’ve said out loud. We really, really love health workers, supermarket staff and courier drivers. We are changed.

Today, we’re asking readers to reflect on life at level 4. We’re inviting you to share your thoughts and stories.

Email us at newsdesk@nzherald.co.nz with a few words, a drawing or a photograph. Include your name and age (or let us know if you want to remain anonymous), and next Monday, we’ll report back in a special feature: Life lessons from level 4 — what Aotearoa learned in lockdown.