Alan, Barcelona

Què has descobert durant el confinament? La confirmació que necessitem els altres, fins i tot per morir.

Què te’n quedaries? Els terrats plens de sol i el silenci de 24 hores.

En què penses quan no penses? Donaria un milió, si el tingués, per saber-ho.

Anna, La Garriga

Què has descobert durant el confinament? Que necessito veure i trepitjar camps i boscos molt més del que em sabia. I que és ben veritat que les persones som tacte.

Què te’n quedaries? Algunes converses on s’obre més espai per la claredat i la proximitat, per fer-se costat sense més. Algunes lectures concentrades i més aprofitades que amb el tragí diari.

En què penses quan no penses? Em ve una imatge, la de Núria nevat, al Ripollès. L’estampa que s’obre del santuari, el llac i les muntanyes a quarts de vuit del matí d’un dia entre setmana, pujant-hi amb el primer cremallera. Hi vaig anar sola abans no esclatés tot i el món quedés congelat.

Graciela, Nueva York

¿Qué has descubierto durante el confinamiento? Que no hacía falta gastar tanto dinero en peluquería.

¿Con qué te quedarías? Con trabajar desde casa.

¿En qué piensas cuando no piensas? En viajar. En estar en la naturaleza.

Gabriel (marido de Graciela), Nueva York

¿Qué has descubierto durante el confinamiento? Que es la vida "normal", sin pandemia, la que me causa horror.

¿Con qué te quedarías? Tener a mi hijo todos los días conmigo... aunque no creo que sea tan bueno para él.

¿En qué piensas cuando no piensas? En el remoto pasado.

Gina, La Garrotxa

What have you discovered during the lockdown? Vulnerability. It exposes insecurities, mood swings, longing, tenderness, love, camaraderie and naivety. It’s unnerving but also intensely beautiful. The dark and dystopian side of vulnerability: a lot can be introduced in an emergency and heralded as progress at the expense of the universal human rights and human dignity. It’s important not to become intimidated or complacent.

What would you hold onto? The timelessness of now, the beauty and heightened senses as I work or move outside. My slow discovery of this exuberant environment, how we fit together and not to be careless about it.

What do you think about when you’re not thinking? I might be rewilding or maybe just rummaging in the labyrinth of my mind.

Marcelo, São Paulo

O que você descobriu durante o confinamento? Descobri que o tempo pode ser o outro nome do medo. E que o medo pode ser tudo. É que a minha angústia, finalmente, não é apenas minha. E que a vida é uma bobagem, mas, apesar disso, os livros de poemas seguem intactos, em altas temperaturas, nas mesmas capas, e há versos neles que nunca foram lidos. Descobri que saudade é desespero, desespero e desespero.

O que gostaria que permaneça? Que fique essa sensação de exceção, esse espanto no ar, para que tenhamos a ilusão da amizade, do amor, para que busquemos com rigor a poesia, por instinto de sobrevivência.

Em que você pensa quando não pensa? Penso em tudo. Não estar é estar por inteiro, abraçado em mim mesmo, com compaixão pelos pobres objetos que definem minha pequenina existência.

Margalida, Les Guilleries

Què has descobert durant aquest confinament? Com gaudir de tenir el món fora de casa meva.

Què te’n quedaries? Temps per a mi.

En què penses quan no penses? Els sentits se’m desperten i sento més enllà del que veig.

Roger (company de la Margalida), les Guilleries

Què has descobert durant el confinament? Que tot es pot capgirar d’un moment a l’altre. Algú es pot treure unes normes noves de la màniga en qualsevol moment.

Què te’n quedaries? La sensació de no saber si és dilluns o dissabte.

En què penses quan no penses? Que tant de bo ens deixés algun pòsit de desacceleració tot plegat, però no hi confio.

Danny, London

What have you discovered during the lockdown? I have many good friends. We have many bad politicians...

What would you hold onto? The slowness of time.

What do you think about when you’re not thinking? Unfortunately, still too much.

Vivi, Santiago de Chile

¿Qué has descubierto durante el confinamiento? La conciencia de la pequeñez del ser humano. Se hizo latente la fragilidad de la vida y la eminente presencia de la muerte. Con fuerza e intensidad se develaron los afectos hacia mis seres amados: a los de aquí y a los de allá, diseminados en los diferentes continentes. Me sumí en la nostalgia y en la imposibilidad del reencuentro por la distancia sideral que nos separa. Sentí alivio por mis queridos ausentes. Descubrí y reafirmé mi admiración por la sabiduría ancestral de los pueblos originarios, por su cosmovisión del todo, en la que el ser humano es uno con la naturaleza y el universo. Para finalizar, tomo la palabra de Neruda Confieso que he vivido, para declarar que mi vida ha sido intensa, plena, y si es el momento de morir lo asumo a plenitud.

¿Con qué te quedarías? versos. Me quedo con la humildad, la ternura, con lo esencial de la vida, con esas pequeñas “grandes” cosas significativas de lo cotidiano. Me quedo con la firme convicción que es posible vivirse la vida austera y amablemente. Me quedo con el amor fraterno, la solidaridad sin fronteras, la naturaleza, la belleza y el arte. Me emociona y sorprende la capacidad de artistas de todo el mundo que han creado maravillas para ofrecerlas con generosidad en estos tiempos adversos. Gracias totales. Me quedo con la esperanza del tiempo de los abrazos.

¿En qué piensas cuando no piensas? En los momentos iniciales con la declaración mundial de la pandemia, se detuvo mi pensamiento: el miedo, la incertidumbre paralizaron mi mente y quedé en el vacío existencial. Hoy, cuando no pienso, vivo ensimismada con la grandeza de la naturaleza: la infinitud y el fuerte oleaje del mar, con los bosques frondosos que se mecen con el viento, la lluvia que lo renueva todo y nacen florecillas pequeñas de todos colores, agradecida del sol luminoso que acaricia mi cuerpo y mi corazón.

Helen, Melbourne

What have you discovered during the lockdown? I discovered that I needed structure, or I got lost.

What would you hold onto? I would like to preserve the lack of cars on the roads, wonderful, easy walking, clean air.

What do you think about when you’re not thinking? Food - what to make for dinner, the big event.

Arnau, Sant Petersburg

Què has descobert durant el confinament? Que sé viure tancat a casa.

Què te’n quedaries? El ritme.

En què penses quan no penses? Em vénen records.

Guido, Los Angeles

Was hast du während des Lockdowns für dich entdeckt? Dass mir diese Entschleunigung gefällt. Nach einem schweren Unfall vor drei Jahren kam mein Leben ebenfalls mehrere Monate zu Halt. Ohne Arbeit, kaum aus dem Haus (oder Krankenhaus) rauskommen, unendlich viel Zeit zum Nachdenken. Zum ersten Mal lernte ich ein Mantra: Bewegung – öffnet – Leben(squalität). Mit der Zeit habe ich es mit mehr Bedeutung gefüllt, vom Atmen übers Denken bis zu den Bewegungen dieser Worte auf dem Bildschirm, usw. In dieser Zeit des Stillstands finde ich immer mehr Interpretationen.

Was würdest du gerne bewahren? Kürzlich stieß ich auf das Konzept der Donut-Ökonomie. Die Idee ist, dass ökonomisches Wachstum ein ökologisches Dach haben sollte (der Rand des Donuts) und gleichzeitig wird verhindert, dass jemand sozial abfällt (das Loch im Donut).

Woran denkst du, wenn du nicht denkst? Woran genau weiß ich nicht, aber ich weiß, wer jeden Tag bei mir ist: Christine starb im Mai letzten Jahres. Da sie an Lungenversagen starb bringen die Corona-Bilder von Krankenhäusern, Beatmungsgeräten und Monitoren mit Sauerstoffkurven schwere Wochen zurück, gerade jetzt wo sich der Jahrestag nähert. Aber jenseits der Trauer und des Schmerzes heiße ich alle überraschenden Erinnerungen willkommen, in denen sich Nähe, Gelächter und Liebe in ein Gefühl verwandeln, dass ich für immer bewahren möchte.

Nico, Barcelona

Què has descobert durant el confinament? He descobert que m’agraden les aquarel·les.

Què te’n quedaries? Que no vaig al col·le.

En què penses quan no penses? Jugar i avorrir-me més.

Sílvia (mare d'en Nico), Barcelona

Què has descobert durant el confinament? La necessitat de parar. No m’agrada el ritme de la vida actual o pre-Covid, córrer sense sentit, sense direcció i sense veure-hi.

Què te’n quedaries? La intensitat dels moments i els lligams. Poder viure’ls i valorar, encara que alguns siguin a distància.

En què penses quan no penses? La meva ment deu estar taral·lejant alguna cançó.

Georgina (germana de la Sílvia), París

Què has descobert durant el confinament? Que fa anys que duc un règim de mil vides en un any i que aquesta ha estat una més, però m’ha sorprès que tanta gent t’hi acompanyi… I que s’enyoren mentre es viuen però que després s’obliden o s’odien, directament.

Què te’n quedaries? Veure canviar l’estació i, si vols, tenir tot el sant dia per veure-ho. I que no vulguis, perquè la curiositat es mou com un escurçó.

En què penses quan no penses? Penso en el cor de la peça que obre Samson et Dalila de Camille Saint-Saëns (i en una barreja de L’éducation sentimentale i Balzac).

Maggi, Munic

Was hast du während des Lockdowns für dich entdeckt? Wie man zu viert in einer Raumstation überlebt.

Was würdest du gerne bewahren? Die Ruhe und das Gefühl, dass ich nichts leisten muss, weil alles stillsteht.

Woran denkst du, wenn du nicht denkst? An meinen Schrebergarten.

Wolf, Schiedam

What have you discovered during the lockdown? At first, I didn’t notice any difference to my daily routine, then I noticed a pleasant silence that I came to love.

What would you hold onto? The silence and slow pace of life.

What do you think about when you’re not thinking? The same as when I breathe without thinking, a general feeling of comfort.

Ester, La Bisbal del Penedès

Què has descobert durant el confinament? Alguna nova recepta de cuina; que potser els nens han sabut adaptar-se millor que els adults a la situació, i que el teletreball ha fet que treballem igual o més que abans. Però davant de tot, el confinament ha estat una oportunitat perquè tothom, sense filtres, pugui fer una revisió de què és realment important a la seva vida.

Què te’n quedaries? El valor de la llibertat i les passejades per camins redescoberts en les primeres etapes del desconfinament.

En què penses quan no penses? Els núvols corren i passen, i el cel es torna meravellosament blau.

Lina, São Paulo

O que você descobriu durante o confinamento? Descobri que certas indagações importantes, como essa, talvez precisem de um tempo mais longo para ser respondidas. Sabemos tão pouco. E mesmo o que sabíamos antes muitas vezes não serve mais, especialmente sob essa nova ótica mundial. Mas não nos apressemos. De imediato, posso dizer que descobri que sou capaz de viver sozinha, desde que em comunhão com gente envolvida com a arte e o conhecimento. E que, ao mesmo tempo, não posso viver junto de pessoas com aspirações e ideais muito contrários aos meus. Eu me separei neste período da quarentena, voltei a morar sozinha depois de alguns anos dividindo a mesma casa. Mas o isolamento não se potencializou por isso. A aproximação com amigos importantes e mesmo o reconhecimento da necessidade de reinventar um antigo amor desgastado, quem sabe mesmo recuperá-lo, me nutriram neste momento. Me sinto em uma fase de grande conexão espiritual e curiosidade com os meus semelhantes. Por eles me sinto ajudada e a eles desejo ajudar.

O que gostaria que permaneça? A rotina de estudos que venho mantendo em casa, combinada com os cuidados físicos ligados à uma área nova do conhecimento que venho me dedicando. Sou jornalista há décadas, mas estou fazendo uma segunda formação, no segundo ano da faculdade de Fisioterapia. Mantive o ritmo das aulas pelo zoom, o que me levou a aprimorar uma certa disciplina que perdi ao longo do exercício da minha profissão de jornalista e escritora. O corpo tem urgências que não podem ser adiadas, ao contrário das palavras que sofrem de procrastinação diante do papel ou, mais ainda no meu caso, da tela de um computador.

Em que você pensa quando não pensa? Na conexão com sentimentos grandes e profundos. Neste momento, sem pensar, respondo prontamente que gostaria de encontrar um ser extraterrestre e passar dias fazendo sexo com ele, me apaixonar perdidamente, para depois descobrir que ele é daqui mesmo, meu vizinho.

Agyedo, Nairobi

What have you discovered during the lockdown? That humanity can be held hostage to its own greed.

What would you hold onto? I would love to preserve the slowing of time, which has left many to reflect upon what we rarely reflect upon. It has given us the space to explore the mundane things in our lives that we normally can’t articulate in words because we live such fast paced lives in a social media era!

What do you think about when you’re not thinking? lol my mind is always on overdrive, constantly overthinking, my ADD does not allow my mind to rest however when it does I think of laying naked in a secluded beach by myself listening to the ocean waves.

Julie, Barcelona

What have you discovered during the lockdown? Time and space changed. Before, time was cut up into agenda slots but space was free. Now space is restricted but time is free. The effect is unsettling.

What would you hold onto? Some of the freedom of time mixed with the regained freedom of space.

What do you think about when you’re not thinking? The physical sensation of love in a voice on the phone.

Rezene (the voice on Julie’s phone), Dallas

What have you discovered during the lockdown? Time has helped many to hear lost voices and to do what you have to do.

What would you hold onto? Readiness for the inevitable at a very large scale and the choices society has to make.

What do you think about when you’re not thinking? Resumption of a voice that helped restore self-confidence and learn more about oneself.

Susie, Edinburg

What have you discovered during the lockdown? That I am used to solitude / isolation; and that I am not scared about being dead, if it happens. I wouldn’t like to die of this disease (and I wonder if I have had it, in mild form? who knows…) but the idea of death is something I think about a lot anyway. It’s part of the things about life that interest me. This is time spent not so very differently from usual, except that I can’t go to the library, or visit anyone, or receive hugs. One of the useful things I am learning is how to listen to myself better, how to find out what I need and feel, and that there is no guilt and anxiety (currently) about what I should be doing. Nobody can find me. Nobody knows. It’s a freedom. I hope I will re-establish patterns of creativity, small projects which, from fatigue and poor health, I have felt too exhausted to undertake, and felt guilt at not completing. I have learned (I learn this repeatedly because I forget it again and again) that if a thing is ‘fun’ —or can be coded as ‘fun’— I will be more ready to play. Without play the animal me is not happy. I can play alone. I am re-learning a lot.

What would you hold onto? The quietness of the city, the cleaner air, the signs of plants and birds and insects using spaces normally stuffed with humans. There is more courtesy noticeable in transactions (not with everyone; some are fearful and some won’t make eye contact). That communal experience is of great value, even as we are separated into our own little bubbles. I would like to preserve the respect some of the wealthy are now learning to have (or to speak about, anyway) for those who do vital jobs for pitiful wages, and for that to translate into better equality, better social structures, integration. I’d like the world to stop rushing about and making so much noise, as a result of contemplation achieved during this period.

What do you think about when you’re not thinking? Characters I have invented and whose lives I am still discovering, even if I am not writing about them; characters in stories by others, who live in my head; characters in films; and a lot of the time I am attempting to not-think, to let my mind just wander about without noticing. This goes back to the answers to question 1 —I am happier when more animal, less ‘brain on a stick’. So, when I go out for exercise (it sounds like something alien to me, exercise) if I can touch plants or trees or textures it takes me away from the busy brain and into some kind of semi-meditative state which is like medicine. But somewhere, even the animal me, is always not-thinking about ‘what am I going to eat next’, too. Survival.

Lluís, Pla de l'Estany

Què has descobert durant el confinament? Potser he descobert el buit del que no es té en confinament: el buit de pacients, el buit de paisatges urbans vius, el buit de la proximitat amb els amics, que és inquietant, fins que es refà i es reactiva íntimament.

Què te’n quedaries? El temps que pots perdre amb tonteries.

En què penses quan no penses? Penso en la Viky, una amiga que està en una UCI des de fa 45 dies i potser no se’n sortirà.

Lynn Jenner, Aotearoa Nova Zelanda

What have you discovered during the lockdown? That I am old enough to be described as ‘vulnerable’. I am 65. That my partner and I can help each other solve problems. I knew this but it was nice to be reminded. That Facebook, which I normally try to ignore, turned out to be very useful to keep abreast of what was happening locally, like where you could buy vegetables during lockdown etc. That neighbours are really important. The neighbours we knew have been friendly and some we didn’t know have offered help with shopping, which has been lovely.

What would you hold onto? The synagogue I belong to has been having services by Zoom. I am about to move, next week, several hundred km to a small town with no Jewish community, and I would love to be able to keep attending services and being part of this community even though I will be far away physically.

What do you think about when you’re not thinking? Sometimes I am thinking in the background about what supplies of food and medicine we need. Sometimes I am not really thinking anything but have a sort of dull hum of anxiety in my body and mind.

Claire, Paris

¿Qué has descubierto durante el confinamiento? El significado de los dos primeros versos de la oda de Fray Luis León: ¡Qué descansada vida la del que huye del mundanal ruido!

¿Con qué te quedarías? El sentimiento de una deuda, ese “Gracias a la vida” que cantaba Violeta Parra.

¿En qué piensas cuando no piensas? En nada. El privilegio de pensar en nada.

Sam, Tivoli NY

What have you discovered during the lockdown? I have lived in my town for over ten years and thought I had fully explored the land preserve nearby. With social distancing requirements, I went looking for new paths, less travelled ways through the preserve and found a section of trails and woods I’d never seen, far larger than the part I already knew. Everywhere was red trillium and marsh marigold. It feels as if a secret world has been revealed on these paths. Though they have always been here, I never saw them before. I never went far enough into the woods before, or I only wanted to walk the paths I was familiar with— in the 90s, a deeply horrifying crime was committed in this preserve and so, many people here have a complicated relationship with these woods. It’s interesting to suddenly feel a new safety in this forest, safety because in an area so large my family can roam without fear of spreading or contracting the virus.

What would you hold onto? The tremendous gratitude I feel for having a home, enough food, farms nearby, a village where I know most of my neighbors and where people take care of one another. I would also like to remember to do nothing, to resist constant motion, and, I suppose, I will now acknowledge that technology isn’t all bad.

What do you think about when you’re not thinking? The background anxiety is constant. I worry about my mom. I worry about my daughters. I am fairly certain that my family had or has the virus despite a negative test result. I worry and wonder if we passed it on to anyone. Also, thinking a lot about those family members who are long dead: my father, grandmothers, uncles and aunts and the books I still have that once belonged to these people.

Jordi, Barcelona

Què has descobert durant aquest confinament? La pausa. El luxe de relaxar els horaris i trobar temps. Els contes de Mercè Rodoreda. Aprendre a fer Nutella. Però també la por inexplicable, la incompetència dels governants, l'insomni desconcertant.

Què te’n quedaries? La capacitat de somiar despert, que m'ha retornat després d'uns quants anys poc activa. Mirar el sostre estirat al llit, o el cel des d'una butaca, i deixar que la ment divagui i es perdi en pensaments que no porten enlloc, que van i tornen a l'atzar, sense la pressió ni el nervi d'haver de fer res.

En què penses quan no penses? Aquest no pensar és una lleugeresa de la vida en el present, sobretot, del qui deixa anar llast. I aleshores a la ment en blanc, com un núvol que es va formant a poc a poc, sovint se m'imposa alguna imatge de Nova York, dels carrers i els edificis.

Miranda, Nova York

What have you discovered during the lockdown? This city where I live has always been one of the loves of my life: the home of dreams, fantasies, great accomplishments and failures and above all, the tremendous energy and cacophony of its people. Well, there has been little evidence of that energy these weeks as we’ve all shut ourselves away. But I’ve found the physical beauty of New York. During long early-morning walks when there’s no one else on the streets, I’ve been able to see parts of the city I never used to go to because of the crowds: the downtown financial center with its soaring transportation hub, the Oculus; the Louise Nevelson and Louise Bourgeois sculptures tucked into shadowed corners ; the wooden bar stools built alongside the East River, perfect for admiring the seemingly endless stream of empty ferries shuttling between Manhattan and Brooklyn.

What would you hold onto? All of these things will still be here (ojalá) come the time of our release but the opportunity of seeing them again like this will likely be rare —but a wonderful bright memory in the middle of this catastrophe. Another positive outcome has been all the Zooming and FaceTime sessions we’ve had with family and friends. Some innocuous and some meaningful but virtually all re-establishing our love and connection with each other. Relationships, especially with family members that have become taken for granted, have gained new footing that will hopefully continue.

What do you think about when you’re not thinking? When my mind blanks, I am suffused with gratitude for the life I’ve had and continue to enjoy, my precious family and friends, and deep appreciation of all its precariousness.

Erika, Núcleo Rural Capoeira do Balsamo, Brasília

O que você descobriu durante o confinamento? Que posso viver com bem menos, que olhar pro céu e observar as plantas é de uma grande riqueza.

O que gostaria que permaneça? Esse estado de alma que tenho adquirido, de cuidar de mim, daqueles que estão próximos, comer com calma, sentir a vida presente em tudo e me preocupar com o sofrimento dos que não estão bem.

Em que você pensa quando não pensa? No vazio, no mundo engolido por um vírus tão pequeno.

Sian, Margate

What have you discovered during the lockdown? I was surprised how stubborn I am and how I don’t like to ask anyone to help me. I like to be self-sufficient and this resulted in me breaking my arm badly then having to learn to ask for help. I am also interested in the fact that I have limited choices now I am only really working with one hand (not my strongest!). This has meant making art much easier. I am not faced with an insurmountable array of possibilities, directions, and outcomes. I am not able to be so ambitious and am returning to previous ambitious works to mine them for more simple solutions. This is very satisfying.

What would you hold onto? I would preserve the simplicity of life. Going to the studio, making work, eating, walking the dog on the beach, reading novels for the first time in a long time instead of theoretical texts (Wolf Hall, Bring up the Bodies and The Mirror and the Light-Hilary Mantel) and relishing the wonderfully rich time-travel that this has allowed me to experience. Limited driving! I normally drive 700 mile a week, now I am driven 10 miles a week!

What do you think about when you’re not thinking? I am subconsciously surveying my mental health, also how does my body feel. After my accident I became acutely aware of new pains, what it their significance in the healing process (am I moving in the wrong way, am I doing more damage?). I also have disturbing flashbacks of falling of the ladder but these are gradually receding thankfully!

Carolin, Viena

Was hast du während des Lockdowns entdeckt? Mein fertig geschriebenes Buch nicht Verlagen zum Fraß oder nicht Fraß vorzuwerfen, sondern eine audio-visuelle Uraufführung im Internet zu gestalten und spontan 30 Schauspieler für ein "temporäres, virtuelles Ensemble" zu begeistern. Ich habe mein eigenes Buch ganz neu entdeckt und mir meine persönliche Bühne geschaffen, an der alle teilhaben können.

Was würdest du gerne bewahren? Bewahren werde ich aus der "Episode Covid 19" die Erkenntnis, dass Selbstheilung effektiver ist als Besuche oder Videotelefonate bei Medizinern, Medizinalräten oder anders Überforderten.

Woran denkst du, wenn du an nichts denkst? An Nichts denken ist eine besondere Kunst, die ich erst noch erlernen muss.

Amaranta, Torí

Què has descobert durant el confinament? Dins un piset fred i fosc sé ara que em puc imaginar oreneta tija alzina que, amb paciència, sota la llum del migdia a què no puc aspirar, a la primavera espera que torni l’estiu. Sóc la capçada verda que deixa que les fulles de les aspiracions s’espatllin a terra sense fragor. Entre baralles crits xifres morts sóc rams. Escorça que no s’engruna, malgrat els malsons que l’arpegen. Medul·la de memòria, que flueix lliure i amaga dolça les veus dels que no puc encontrar. Arrels, algunes sòlides i d’altres suaus encara, que poc, molt poc, necessiten per no perdre’s.

Què te’n quedaries? El silenci no humà l’empatia humana els rojos i els grocs, els amors les platges els cels només imaginats. La petita escama de l’esperança que tot es podrà re-descobrir i curar, i que es torni a re-avaluar un gest, un somriure, sense que res es doni per descomptat. La immensa i fugaç emoció d’una glicina al carrer, desconeguda, sola, jo sola.

En què penses quan no penses? En les abraçades que no he fet. En les llàgrimes que he vist i que no m’he permès.

Peter, Oxford

What have you discovered during the lockdown? That virtual contact with family and friends is no way like seeing them in the flesh, but virtual talks or workshops reach many more people. I work at home and go for a walk in the meadow at the back of our house in normal times and in lockdown. I miss family outings to restaurants, the cinema and shops. A lot.

What would you hold onto? The absence of the roar of traffic from a nearby motorway when the wind’s blowing in the wrong direction and I’m gardening or we’re having supper outdoors when it’s not raining or chilly.

What do you think about when you’re not thinking? That it’s an illusion that most of us aren’t locked down most of the time anyway and we’re generally resilient, if not relaxed about it. A smile, snatches of words from a page or screen, the sight and sound of a heron or swan in flight or a goose hissing recollected at the end of the day. Like the lark chirping on the ground only two feet away yesterday. I’ve never been so close. Like the Sunday morning walks around the lanes with my dad when I was a kid seventy years ago. Will the landlord renew our yearly contract?

Carolin, Munic-Pasing

Was hast du während des Lockdowns entdeckt? Ich habe meine Freude darüber entdeckt, nicht mehr vor der Entscheidung zu stehen, wen ich zur Begrüßung küsse.

Was würdest du gerne bewahren? Das würde ich gern bewahren.

Woran denkst du, wenn du an nichts denkst? Wenn ich an nichts denke, spüre ich Erleichterung.

Letícia, Salvador da Bahia

O que você descobriu durante o confinamento? Estamos em casa a todo momento, vivenciando tudo o que existe no mundo lá fora. O espaço para nos esconder foi marsupiado por uma condição à qual nos falta léxico. Eu morei em muitas casas; ou talvez, melhor dizendo, muitas casas estiveram em mim ao longo desses anos. Casas de Inglaterra, casas de Rio de janeiro, casas de casamento, casas de passagem. Casas que existem somente para perceber que ir é necessário para voltar, etc etc etc. Tenho saudade dos meus, que são, obviamente e tanto, a minha casa. Portanto, a descoberta vem de dentro: casa é a construção minha; a arquitetura sou eu.

O que gostaria que permaneça? Os poemas, que os poemas permaneçam.

Em que você pensa quando não pensa? Tenho escrito muito, tenho me forçado a escrever, tenho montado uma rotina de dedos. A escrita como o salto da sobrevivência, sem a obrigatoriedade da entrega. A entrega está posta sobre a mesa, almoçamos com ela, dormimos com ela, a escolhemos.

Lise, Copenhaguen-Frederiksberg

What have you discovered during the lockdown? I found out that I thrive very well when everything is a bit slower and I have more time for reflection and being close to my family and my friends – and doing all my small daily routines without always being in a hurry. Every day I have talked with my father. Every week I try to do something with my mother. Every day I am in contact with my friends via the social media or on the phone. Also, I started baking bread and cakes again, and I have more time for garden work and clearing out a lot of old things that just take up space in the house. It allowed me to focus on what is important for me without feeling pressure from the outside world.

What would you hold onto? I would like to preserve that I have more time for reflecting and using time on what makes me happy in my life. Not to be so hasty in everything.

What do you think about when you’re not thinking? That I have a good life and I am grateful.

Catherine, Meudon

Qu’avez-vous découvert pendant le confinement ? J'avais besoin de ce temps pour ralentir. J'aime vivre dans ma maison. J'ai aussi découvert que j'étais reliée à la nature dans une sorte de communion intense. Je n'aime pas les groupes whatsapp dans tous les sens et les gens qui donnent des leçons ou leur avis.

Qu’en garderiez-vous ? J'ai la chance d'habiter une maison avec un jardin et les bois de Meudon au bout du jardin. Je garde de ce moment une émotion intense en observant la nature, d'avoir une attention particulière pour chaque arbre qui s'éveille, chaque feuille et chaque fleur qui apparaît. Les marches jusqu'à l'Etang aux Ecrevisses chaque matin pour se réveiller, comme une méditation. L'arrivée des canetons, les nénuphars qui arrivent en surface. Un temps privilégié pour dire à nos proches qu'on les aime. Un sentiment d'ambivalence : vouloir être acteur du monde de demain (plus que jamais sois le changement que tu veux voir dans le monde!) et en même temps l'envie de vivre cachée, de me préserver.

À quoi pensez-vous quand vous ne pensez pas ? Que je suis heureuse.

Tonia, Menorca

Què has descobert durant el confinament? Que estic molt millor sense l'estrès de la feina, no la necessito tant com pensava.

Què te’n quedaries? La tranquil·litat i el silenci.

En què penses quan no penses? Que em molesten els meus pensaments.

Irene, Amsterdam

What have you discovered during the lockdown? Lockdown was not so different from my normal life. I always work at home and like being alone. Of course, things would be different if I lived alone. Fortunately, I live with my friend. I do miss going to galleries and museums, cinema and theatre. I found out how little I need: already sitting outside in the sun, with a coffee to go, makes me happy. I also found out I actually like video calls, suddenly friends abroad feel nearer, may be because we’re all in the same boat. I found out that people show solidarity with each other, especially people with local business, people with modest incomes, artists, writers, singers, actors that offer their work on the internet. I found out that I ‘m more in need of hugging people than I thought, more in need of social contact than I thought.

What would you hold onto? Most of all I’m more aware of the value of small things and of how incredible lucky I am. I would like to preserve that, trying to value things have instead of complaining about what I don’t have. I also want to value more the joy being with friends, take time for them instead of always work. We take so much for granted in life, maybe that’s what i learned, that nothing is for granted, that everything is special.

What do you think about when you’re not thinking? When I’m not thinking about something in particular, I’m overwhelmed by the thought that everything could be very different, that it’s just a great coincidence that I am where I am and who I am.

Max, Taunus

Was hast du während des Lockdowns für dich entdeckt? Wie sehr das Weltgeschehen mich trifft und betrifft.

Was würdest du gerne bewahren? Die Einsicht aller, dass Kultur lebensnotwendig ist. Sie hat uns im Stillstand so viel Bewegung und Trost geschenkt: Musik, Literatur, Film, die schönen Künste.

Woran denkst du, wenn du nicht denkst? An Alles – ein erfülltes Leben – und Nichts – einen angstfreien Tod.