Love in the Age of a Pandemic
In the brunt of stringent travel restrictions and profoundly challenging circumstances, it is clear to us that the nature of love has undoubtedly changed. Self-isolations have compelled us to experience new kinds of distances and reshaped our personal relationships. No longer is an act of love measured by the time spent together but rather keeping away from loved ones and staying in. Sometimes a simple “I love you” could mean the hardest “Goodbye”, especially for so many courageous, powerless beings braving through the front lines.
If anything, this pandemic has only exacerbated the plight of loneliness. This silent epidemic has very real consequences that can aggravate symptoms of anxiety and depression. As people start to feel the almost unbearable weight of social distancing, millions all across the world have started to turn to dating apps in hopes of solace, in search for intimacy and company virtually. Match Group which controls 60 per cent of the dating market including Tinder saw a soaring rise by 15 percent of new subscribers and a record-breaking three billion Tinder swipes.
The pandemic might have just revolutionised the dating game with the many creative ways to keep conversations going, and especially the rise of an entirely new phenomenon: the video date. Apps like Match and Tinder are equipped with a video feature that allows daters to chat. Before Covid-19, only 6 percent of people chose to use the video chat option to court but the numbers have risen to about 69 percent. I believe it is apparent that as most people withstand the ravages of the pandemic and the anxiety of missed opportunities to socialise, more ways are being used to interact with people.
The pace of dating has slowed down and we are slowly seeing an end to the hookup culture which dominates the millennial social scene as physical touch evidently is fraught with plenty of potential risk. This legion of budding romances are allowing emotional connections to thrive and having longer, genuine conversations in this swipe-based world.
Even back when there was a semblance of normality, relationships were already hard work. And this ongoing crisis does not make it any easier, straining even the strongest partnerships. Plenty of studies have shown a spike in divorce and break-up rates induced by the past few months of lockdown. This is because the pandemic merely elucidates and amplifies the already inherent problems and behaviours, good or bad, in a relationship. It truly is an exhausting battle just to be okay as we wrestle through the current moment, which is why the greatest testimonies of love are illustrated through communicating, tolerating and understanding one another. It is so crucial to remind yourself that you are not the only one going through a difficult time.
Despite the indispensable opportunities to re-establish lost connections with our loved ones, it sometimes still feels like there’s a layer of real human connection missing. Based on personal experiences, I can wholeheartedly tell you that a long distance relationship, especially in a pandemic when there is no certainty of meeting again, is a heavy weight to bear. As much as video calls and text messages become your new best friend, there will be times when the longing becomes unbearably painful and the solitude becomes unsurprisingly lonely. The most you can do is to remain hopeful of your dreams even when the future seems bleak. Navigating relationships, especially in a long-distance, can be rather difficult as we have always assumed its intimacy is best mediated in close proximity.
However, I have come to realise that a long-distance relationship can be a magnificent thing. It builds trust and commitment early on in a relationship and allows a pathway of deep, honest and meaningful conversations. You will find that there is so much space and time for self-growth and exploration. Once you have established the emotional connection with someone dear to you, it becomes an unbreakable bond and you will be able to journey through no matter how hard things become. There is more magic when you feel the touch and warmth of the person you love after months of not seeing each other, knowing they will always be your destination. One lesson from an observation of love in the age of Coronavirus is that it has released us from the societal expectation that closeness and flourishing our relationship requires physical proximity, and that there are thousands of ways to connect with each other. It is only a matter of trying and making the effort to do so.
There is more magic when you feel the touch and warmth of the person you love after months of not seeing each other, knowing they will always be your destination.
This Valentine’s Day is a poignant reminder of how easy it is sometimes to take someone that you feel is guaranteed and forever there for granted. It is my fervent hope that this day would be a celebration of new light, a celebration of coming out of the dark times in your relationship with a much greater sense of appreciation and gratitude for the partner we have chosen. It is not just about what is happening now, but also how this experience is going to strengthen you as a couple for the rest of your lives. Let us be the generation who stay persistent and resilient amidst this turbulence and continue to inspire fierce, lasting love. Maya Angelou’s words still reverberate loud and clear with echoes all across the globe,
“Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time.”
[Written by: Cassandra Marcos]
