UNMASKED

Cliches are the worst, but here comes one anyway. The one about the eyes being the windows of the soul. This overused phrase took on a new meaning in the chapter of our lives that began in March 2020. With our faces half-covered, our eyes needed to work extra hard to communicate what a smile suddenly could not.

And then it all changed when masks went away.

Our re-emergence into the world was gradual. First we went back into actual meetings as COVID restrictions began to ease. Face-to-face interactions became possible again, which meant we had to step out of our Zoom screens… and out of our pyjamas.

Suddenly being able to "turn off video" was a thing of the past, just like wearing a suit jacket with a pair of tracksuit pants. The world was calling us to step back into meeting rooms. And we answered, though not without our social anxieties.

Even so, face-to-face wasn't exactly face-to-face because we were still wearing masks. It was more like eye-to-eye and forehead-to-forehead. Now it's full-face-to-full-face, and doesn't that sometimes feel like a lot?

Sure, there are advantages. People are instantly recognisable again. We've all had our share of awkward moments, when someone seemed unfamiliar simply because they were hidden behind a mask and some sort of headwear. Yes, we should be able to recognise our friends and family anywhere. But a pair of eyes don't give us much to work with (unless you're lucky enough to recognise someone's particularly memorable hat).

And then there's the relief experienced by anyone who wears glasses. Was there ever a foolproof way to stop them from getting steamed up? There were various products on the market and pieces of useful advice - for example, put the mask under your glasses and not on top. This might have worked for many, but for some the problem persisted. Now, in an uncertain world, that's one less thing to worry about.

Also, no more worrying about forgetting your mask, and having to walk through a mall with your T-shirt over your nose and mouth (if the mall would even allow that). No more worrying that your mask would clash with your outfit. (Or did no one else worry about that?) There's no question that a maskless world offers us a range of freedoms.

On the other side of the coin, there's definitely a sense of being exposed, and I'm not talking about potential exposure to the virus that still lives among us. I'm talking about putting a full face out there without the reassuring barrier of a mask. True, it was strange at first. But some might say it became a weird sort of comfort.

Once again, we're being seen. It's exhilarating but also intimidating. We're out there again in full force (or is it full face?) Great as it is, it feels like it takes a bit of getting used to.

But to end on a positive note - which is always nice to do - we once more get to appreciate the joy of a simple smile. Cliches don't get bigger than this one, but there's something to be said for adding a smile to someone's day.