Recall where you were in March 2020? When did you come to terms with the realization that Covid would upend life as you knew it? My experience was a bit different; I was in Joshua Tree, lost in the spectacular serenity of the desert, feeling uncertain about returning to New York. Every update on The Times’s coverage made it clearer that going back meant facing an indefinite period indoors.

Despite the uncertainty, I returned and soon found a new role at The Times, starting from the comfort of my own living room. This led to the creation of a newsletter named At Home, which aimed to enrich lives from within the confines of home. The goal was to offer distraction, comfort, and a sense of community during an era marked by immense uncertainty. It covered a variety of topics from entertainment to literature, recipes, and even virtual social events that brought people together in a grid of faces, all at once intimate and distant.

The pandemic forced us to explore creative avenues of coping. Amid the dread and confusion, there was a surge of inventive endeavors: from sourdough baking to outdoor dining setups, to community dance troupes performing for local audiences. Some adopted unconventional lifestyles, like my friend who turned her SUV into a traveling bedroom. I also rekindled connections with old friends we hadn’t spoken to in years, discovering the ease of modern technology that had been there all along.

Reflecting five years later feels premature for Drawing true lessons, yet it’s a moment for looking back. Have we honored our promises to change how we live once “normalcy” returned? I, for instance, vowed for more vibrant social interactions and adventure, but has much aside from intentions changed? The romanticization of freedom and exploration during lockdowns often didn’t translate into action, as the pull of comfort and routine can be strong.