To be ashamed: from visit shame to walk shame and corona shame

Almost every day I take a walk around the neighborhood with the stroller. I have to, otherwise I'll go crazy at home. But I’m a bit ashamed of it.

Corona shame, visit shame, walk shame: these are new terms in our language, but you understand them right away. So I suffer from walk shame. I want to move a bit, get some fresh air, catch some sun, but yes, actually it’s not allowed. And so I quickly walk through the park, keep six meters away from every jogger I encounter, and hurry myself and my children back inside after a little while. I feel naughty and mischievous and half a criminal for something so ordinary. Strange but true.

The other person suffers from visit shame. That you secretly invite that one friend into your house and although you don’t hug and kiss each other, you still drink that glass of wine together at a distance. That you meet up with your sister. Have coffee with your parents. Actually… It’s not allowed. It’s not smart. You do it anyway and feel a bit ashamed: don’t think you’ll share a filtered Story about it on Instagram. No. Secretly, hurriedly, cautiously… In the greatest secrecy, you do see people, while you hear the voice of the Prime Minister in your head saying those wise words: stay. as. much. as. possible. at home.

Or what about corona shame? That you got it. You hardly dare to tell your best friends or date or mother because ewww, yuck, gross, scary… You infected? Then they definitely don’t want to see you until Christmas, kiss and hug.

Even more crazy things we are currently ashamed of: 

1. Home work shame: that you secretly quite enjoy working from home.
2. Quarantine shame: that you find it quite relaxing to have zero plans.
3. Shop shame: that you know you should start a buffer in these times but still buy a new Gucci sunglasses.
4. Cleaning shame: you now have time to clean everything yourself completely but you don’t do it.
5. Netflix shame: you have literally seen everything moving on Netflix and you are desperately starting on Videoland.
6. Puzzle shame: you discover a new favorite hobby.
7. Partner shame: you know your significant other’s face well enough now.
8. Zoom shame: you have no idea how everyone manages to do that trendy video calling with six screens at once.
9. Sport shame: You can do free online classes at home, you don’t know how to fill your day with misery anymore, but… No, thank you.
10. Wine shame: you find it a bit like Friday afternoon every day and every day you’ve earned a good glass of white, right?

I think it will all blow over by itself again, these awkward feelings about those oh so ordinary things. But it will take a while. ‘Back to normal is still far away,’ said Prime Minister Mark Rutte at a press conference. Unfortunately, that’s how it is. So keep it up with your puzzle and your clogged shower drains.