What is in a smile? As the world adapts to a new reality, each individual will recognise what it is they took most for granted. I too, have gone through this realisation. As we were advised to be socially distant and avoid certain places, I missed plans, from the coffee dates at Starbucks to the long awaited concerts and sports events. As we were further ordered to stay indoors, these plans seemed almost unimportant. I now started to miss people. People from my friends and family, who I spent endless hours with to the random strangers I constantly came across, be it the nice women at the Primary checkout to the funny tutor who motivated me after the longest lectures.

Now, that Social distance and lockdown have become the new normal I’ve realised that Plans can be adapted and People can be reached thanks to technology and creativity, but there are some things which we cannot quite do, and that is see Emotion. Everyday as I used to rush to my 9am lecture, run to Tescos, enjoy a night out or even catch a Tram I would observe a lot, a lot of emotions. This made me feel connected to the world. Whilst huffing and puffing trying to look for my lecture room in the first week, I would see someone else do the same and realise were all in the same boat. Whilst at a concert singing along happily I would look round and see everyone doing the same and feel connected to them. Whilst on a train I would reflect on the past few days and spot some other person deep in thought.

However, what I most often picked up on was smiles. Simple smiles. I have always been one of those people who smiles as I make eye contact with someone, be it someone I have seen before or not. Why one may ask? Why ?

The answer is just as simple as these smiles, smiling and laughing create a warm feeling of happiness and that is something which we can all do with. Unfortunately though, in times when something is most needed, is the very time this is suddenly not within reach. Can we not smile anymore?

I’ve thought about this a lot. We can definitely still smile, but something feels different. We’re connected virtually but it is not the same. Today my boyfriend and I went for a walk round the block to carry out our daily exercise and something did not sit well with me. Automatically, the current situation has made people scared and weary of one another. I no longer see people exchanging smiles, these have been replaced with apprehensive looks and gestures.

Above all, smiles are mostly hidden. The masks and other garments have now covered our smiles. I look at young children or any other person and try to hint a smile, but what child or person would find a face covered with material friendly? not many? surely not me. This is something which I am coming to terms with, the loss of connection which we gained from smiles and other emotions. The individualistic, rather cold and hostile new atmosphere which we are each experiencing, in order to be responsible, safe and healthy.

I do not know what is to come. Are hidden smiles something which we just have to accept? Are photos and videos the way we must communicate warmth on a larger scale? Is the expression of emotions and smiles something we will have to limit to the people we are isolating with? Who knows.

What I do know is that the world is ever-changing. Recently, we have had to let go of hugs, handshakes and certain emotions but I have faith in this generation of people. If there is one thing I know is that this generation is creative, loving and a generation of quick learners. How do I know this? Have you not seen the many people creating homemade patterned masks or garments?

Have you not seen the many children painting rainbows and sticking them in the windows?

Have you not seen the many people donating money or time like frontline or key workers?

Have you not seen the older generation mastering facebook, Skype and Whats app in order to communicate with family?

Have you not seen the young toddlers pick up languages and skills quicker than ever before? and how can I forget, have you not seen what is happening on Tik Tok?. All this makes me feel hopeful (maybe not the tik tok part). Hopeful of the fact that we will find a way to reach each other and feel connected again. The smiles may be hidden but not gone.

I am starting to see that what we lose is an opportunity to gain something new, something better. I am starting to find different ways to feel connected, replacement gestures for example, or simply making an effort to say good-morning if we come across someone even if we cannot quite see whether they are smiling is just as affective.

Therefore, our smiles might be hidden, but our ability to make each-other smile is very much there. We all can use our time and skills to create some sort of positive emotion in others and feel connected again. So send that letter to your loved ones, order that gift or shopping for that person who you know is feeling lonely, wave to people, say ‘good morning’ whilst walking, volunteer and find new ways to communicate, spread and express positive emotion as right now, we need to feel connected more than ever.

Erika Borg is a graduate in psychology