With appreciation: Our pre-pandemic workplaces gave us much to be thankful for
The past several months have not only redefined our definition of work, they’ve forced us to move on from those things that we took for granted when showing up for our 9-to-5 job each day. Small things, like some time to ourselves on the train or a quick conversation with our favorite barista, and large things as well, like a dedicated work setting and in-person contact with others. Still, we’ve embraced remote working — the commute’s much easier, the autonomy is refreshing, and the dog is always nearby, ready to engage in some necessary and unnecessary distraction.
Even as the work-from-home months continue, it’s becoming increasingly obvious that our new appreciation of remote working is making us a bit wistful for our previous working environment.
Before we forget what we appreciated about our pre-COVID working life, we asked several of you to reflect on some of the things that you were most thankful for about working on site. With some karmic thoughts that these good things return in the future, here’s what you had to say:
“I’m so thankful I had great people to talk to every day. I miss small talk — in-person small talk — so much.”
— Kim B., Naperville, Illinois
“In retrospect, I’m really thankful for my old office. And I know I’ll never sit there again since we’re going all remote.
The view wasn’t great, but it was warm in the winter and cool in the summer and I just feel like I was so productive there.” — Carl Victor, Milwaukee, Wisconsin “Good coffee, good friends, good walks, good print-outs of my work — I’m thankful for all that.”
— T.R., Chicago
“I think what I’m most thankful for were the small acts of kindness I’d experience each day, from people being friendly on the Metra and moving their bags or just smiling and saying ‘hello.’ Then the security guard at my building, who is now out of a job and was an absolute sweetheart every morning. I’m thankful for the workload, which was so much more consistent when my team was all together. Finally, I think I’m most thankful for the whole concept of work — the commute, the faces, the hellos and goodbyes. It was like a life within a life and I want it back.”
— Jean T., Chicago
“Happy commutes. I’m thankful for happy commutes. Seeing friends on the train and chatting all the way to the city and then on the way home. I have a void in my life now and I’m thankful for the days I shared with others and I’m hopeful that they’ll one day be back.”
— Laura Thompson, Morristown, New Jersey