As many of us head into our third month in self-isolation, we move further and further away from our previous pre-pandemic “normal” lives.
Well, there’s no time like being stuck indoors to reminisce about life pre-COVID-19, making for the perfect social media challenge – sharing photos alongside a hint of nostalgia. It’s the ultimate recipe for going viral.
Launched by the BBC when they asked readers to share their last “normal” photo of their phones, it prompted the hashtag #LastNormalPhoto to emerge.
From adventurous activities to parties with friends to travels, the challenge has erupted on social media, and has even had some famous faces join in. Celebrity hair stylist Jen Atkin shared a series of “the last normal pics” on her phone, some of which featured her A-list friends like Kendall Jenner, Kourtney Kardashian and Hailey Bieber.
Meanwhile others reflected on the simpler times when you didn’t have give it a second thought about touching an object.
Here’s what I think is my #lastnormalphoto, taken by my good friend @imy.
Gosh. Imagine voluntarily touching something, and putting your face on it, today?! pic.twitter.com/fW6WKAAgYj
— Alex Milsom (@alexmilsom) May 16, 2020
An air hostess for Virgin Atlatnic shared her #LastNormalPhoto was taken two and a half hours “before lockdown was announced, and our lives were turned upside down”. “I was heading off to Johannesburg, and by the time I got back lockdown was in full swing,” she explained in the caption of her photo.
Others shared photos of gatherings with family friends including author Steve Antony.
Wow! Was my niece’s baby shower, and the last family gathering. This makes me sad because we’ve all yet to see our newest family member (or anyone from the fam for 8 weeks!) but happy that my niece gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Jasper. pic.twitter.com/V1fymHC4BV
— Steve Antony (@MrSteveAntony) May 16, 2020
Many also shared memories of their time spent in Dubai prior to lockdown, whether they be residents or visitors.
#lastnormalphoto #Dubai #kitebeach pic.twitter.com/1087HIatVd
— Fiona Curtis (@fific25) May 16, 2020
#LastNormalPhoto #Dubai pic.twitter.com/UHgnigIQep
— Evakatrina (@evakatrina) May 16, 2020
While it may seem like a life time away, life will go back to normal in due course. In the mean time, there’s no harm in sharing a few old photos to remember the “good old days”.
