A New Normal | On Adjusting to the Times
The new reality we’ve all had to face at the onset of COVID-19 is no longer very “new” these days. Day to day existing during a pandemic doesn’t feel as surreal anymore, and we’ve all had to make adjustments to the times. Some of these adjustments are big, like relocating from cities or dense urban environments. Others are small, like the checklist we say in our heads before leaving the house, which now rings, “phone, keys, wallet, mask.”
As these adjustments start to settle in, we’ve had some time to reflect on what all of this means going forward. We’ve found a renewed sense of honesty in conversations as the formal structures of our daily lives have shifted. Our old system of going through the proper motions, like shaking hands, or sitting down for a formal meeting, has been replaced with more intentional and personable interactions. Meetings these days are more genuine and casual, and while we face some unforeseen challenges in these outdoor, 6ft apart client meetings (the glare of the sun makes it nearly impossible to look over plans on a laptop!), we are just happy to be together in person again.
In adjusting to this new normal, we’ve found that maybe we were all running on autopilot with the old system anyways. Maybe it feels better to be more open, honest, and playful in what would normally be a stressful situation. There are so many unknowns in the world right now, and carrying the stress of it all can be overwhelming. Is it possible to shift our perspective and find the silver lining?
In such tumultuous times, we’ve realized the importance of taking a step back to focus on what really matters. Focusing on and nurturing our relationships with those around us are crucial to finding light in darker times. This could mean nurturing a relationship with yourself, your family, friends, neighbors, pets, or plants. It could mean finding a little nook in an outdoor space where you can let the sun hit your face and feel relaxed and taken care of. We want to help create these moments for people, and give them the feeling of a personal sanctuary that can be used every day. These are spaces to connect back to yourself, your loved ones, and the nature that’s around us.
We are all in it together. At Falling Waters, we are facing every new challenge and becoming more gritty and real. We are stripping everything back down to the core, and rethinking our approach to creating beautiful and livable outdoor spaces for people to enjoy. We want to focus on the realness of these spaces, as they are not meant to be used for a one-off photo shoot, but for our daily lives when we want to go outside and catch a breath. We’ve realized the importance of not over-doing it. Keeping it simple, useful, aesthetically pleasing, and beautiful.
For now, we are taking it as it comes. Trying our best and living in each moment. The greatest reward is seeing people enjoy and create lasting memories in their spaces. Nothing will change that, and we will always keep moving forward. We might not be able to go sit inside of a restaurant, but we can make a plate of food at home with our people and sit outside to catch an evening breeze as the sun slips away. Focus on those simple moments and the rest of the pieces will fall where they may.
