By Jeffrey D. Jones
Over the past several decades, the world has changed at an amazing pace. But nothing has been as revolutionary as the transformation brought on by the pandemic. The way we work, play and interact with one another will never be the same. The technological developments of the recent two years and those on the horizon will continue to demand that we modify our approach to education, business, social interaction and how we manage and plan our social and financial security.
Our basic human values of integrity, friendship, caring and love will not change, but how we express and communicate these values will. How we find satisfaction and fulfillment will be challenged by technological changes in the most simplest of daily activities, such as in driving a car, meeting a friend or going to the doctor.
Recognizing and accepting such changes are not easy and can create uncertainty and anxiety. We all long for habits in our lives and we feel comfortable doing things as we have done in the past. These habits are like a warm blanket and provide a sense of security. Perhaps more than anything else, the discomfort and anxiety we have all experienced these past two years during the pandemic are no doubt reactions to the fact that our habits and way of life have changed. It is difficult today to plan a vacation, travel to an overseas destination or create an event involving more than just a few people.
There seem to be two fundamental reactions to the disruptions that have occurred since the onset of the pandemic. One has been to do nothing or cancel any plans; the other has been to find creative solutions to achieve the same or similar results. Those who have been able to find creative solutions to achieve their desired outcomes have been wildly successful. Others have stood still, complaining about the restrictions on our lives and simply hoping for a return to the good old days.
We must recognize and accept the reality that the "good old days" will not be returning. Even if we are able to get the pandemic in check and eliminate the social distancing restrictions and quarantine measures, it is unlikely that we will be able to return to the way we did business, educated our children, traveled or even interacted with each other.
Technology has made and will continue to propel us to view the world in which we live quite differently as well as demand we react quite differently. It is now possible for us to move on to new and more efficient ways of interacting, finding ways to meet the needs of our daily lives, conducting our business and finding ways to fulfill our needs for entertainment. Such change requires that our institutions, our laws and our approach to life reflect the transformation. We need leaders in all our daily endeavors to understand this revolution that we are experiencing and help our institutions and systems prepare and accept the new reality.
Very recently, I saw a post with pictures of professions that once employed hundreds of thousands of individuals but that became obsolete because of technological developments. This type of disruption will continue at an even faster pace than we have ever experienced. For those who adjust, they will be the winners. Those who merely hold onto tradition and seek to maintain their vested economic interests of the past, will be displaced, resulting in conflict and anguish. This is an unfortunate and unavoidable reality.
We have lost much because of the pandemic. The cost of life and the separation from loved ones have been tragic. The economic losses to individuals, small businesses and government budgets have been staggering. The news reports are often depressing, if not sensational at times. We have all grown weary of social distancing, quarantines, travel bans and having cotton swabs shoved up our nasal passages.
But we have also learned much from the pandemic. We have gained new respect for the pharmaceutical companies who have worked tirelessly to develop vaccines and treatments for COVID-19 that have lessened the devastating impact of the virus in some ways and given us hope for more normal lives. We have learned to conduct business and the affairs of our lives in new and more efficient ways.
More importantly, however, the pandemic has taught us once again that the world is not static. Change and revolution are inevitable. We simply cannot avoid them. We must learn to accept the new, embrace the innovation that accompanies technological development and understand that there is no turning back. The challenges are great, but so are the excitement and opportunity.
The resiliency of humans is simply amazing. I do not long for the good old days. My simple hope is that I have the strength and wisdom to accept this revolution and help those around me to do the same.
Jeffrey D. Jones is a lawyer for Kim & Chang.
 |
Our basic human values of integrity, friendship, caring and love will not change, but how we express and communicate these values will. How we find satisfaction and fulfillment will be challenged by technological changes in the most simplest of daily activities, such as in driving a car, meeting a friend or going to the doctor.
Recognizing and accepting such changes are not easy and can create uncertainty and anxiety. We all long for habits in our lives and we feel comfortable doing things as we have done in the past. These habits are like a warm blanket and provide a sense of security. Perhaps more than anything else, the discomfort and anxiety we have all experienced these past two years during the pandemic are no doubt reactions to the fact that our habits and way of life have changed. It is difficult today to plan a vacation, travel to an overseas destination or create an event involving more than just a few people.
There seem to be two fundamental reactions to the disruptions that have occurred since the onset of the pandemic. One has been to do nothing or cancel any plans; the other has been to find creative solutions to achieve the same or similar results. Those who have been able to find creative solutions to achieve their desired outcomes have been wildly successful. Others have stood still, complaining about the restrictions on our lives and simply hoping for a return to the good old days.
We must recognize and accept the reality that the "good old days" will not be returning. Even if we are able to get the pandemic in check and eliminate the social distancing restrictions and quarantine measures, it is unlikely that we will be able to return to the way we did business, educated our children, traveled or even interacted with each other.
Technology has made and will continue to propel us to view the world in which we live quite differently as well as demand we react quite differently. It is now possible for us to move on to new and more efficient ways of interacting, finding ways to meet the needs of our daily lives, conducting our business and finding ways to fulfill our needs for entertainment. Such change requires that our institutions, our laws and our approach to life reflect the transformation. We need leaders in all our daily endeavors to understand this revolution that we are experiencing and help our institutions and systems prepare and accept the new reality.
Very recently, I saw a post with pictures of professions that once employed hundreds of thousands of individuals but that became obsolete because of technological developments. This type of disruption will continue at an even faster pace than we have ever experienced. For those who adjust, they will be the winners. Those who merely hold onto tradition and seek to maintain their vested economic interests of the past, will be displaced, resulting in conflict and anguish. This is an unfortunate and unavoidable reality.
We have lost much because of the pandemic. The cost of life and the separation from loved ones have been tragic. The economic losses to individuals, small businesses and government budgets have been staggering. The news reports are often depressing, if not sensational at times. We have all grown weary of social distancing, quarantines, travel bans and having cotton swabs shoved up our nasal passages.
But we have also learned much from the pandemic. We have gained new respect for the pharmaceutical companies who have worked tirelessly to develop vaccines and treatments for COVID-19 that have lessened the devastating impact of the virus in some ways and given us hope for more normal lives. We have learned to conduct business and the affairs of our lives in new and more efficient ways.
More importantly, however, the pandemic has taught us once again that the world is not static. Change and revolution are inevitable. We simply cannot avoid them. We must learn to accept the new, embrace the innovation that accompanies technological development and understand that there is no turning back. The challenges are great, but so are the excitement and opportunity.
The resiliency of humans is simply amazing. I do not long for the good old days. My simple hope is that I have the strength and wisdom to accept this revolution and help those around me to do the same.
Jeffrey D. Jones is a lawyer for Kim & Chang.
![[INTERVIEW] 'Growth slowdown can accelerate depletion of retirement pension fund'](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/1b8c230b7aa14896bf5b639acd01a9ee.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] Veteran US photographer gives environment 'visual voice' to chronicle climate change](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/9d491d25431d4e9b980fee78427589dc.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
