For now, have a cup of coffee and calm down.
Looking at posts on social media, there are many people expressing anger and sorrow in strong tones. There are also photos of people forcing people to refrain from activities that have little to do with the spread of infection, and signs complaining about stores that are still open, creating a hellish scene. In some cases, people's sense of justice has gone so far that it has become a crime.
My gut feeling is that the outpouring of goodwill in support of those affected by COVID-19 has passed its peak and is starting to calm down. I wonder if many people are reaching their mental limits.
Even if the speed of infection slows down, the risk will never become zero, so regardless of whether the state of emergency declaration is extended, I think that from around the end of the holidays, an atmosphere of maintaining a balance and keeping the economy running will begin to develop.
There will likely be some industries that are difficult to recover from, such as tourism, accommodation, and entertainment, and even in the food and beverage industry, it will be difficult for establishments that involve a lot of contact and long stays, such as book cafes, cat cafes, and alley izakayas, to reopen in their original state. However, I believe that businesses that can easily deal with infections will begin to open more and more.
I think we will have to adapt to the coronavirus by acquiring new values and lifestyles from now on.
I can't solve your anxiety, but I think I can ease it a little.
Every day I see dark news and posts.
Personally, I'm the type of person who focuses on the here and now, so I don't like vague words of encouragement like "There is no night that doesn't end" or "There is no tunnel that doesn't have an exit" (though of course there are people who are saved by those words). After all, a crisis is nothing more than a crisis, so it feels like I'm calmly facing the situation that is happening now.
I feel that our customers who come to take out and purchase beans online are all feeling anxious and stressed, all the while struggling to make ends meet with an uncertain future.
Of course, I have no intention of offering such people unfounded words of encouragement like "It's okay" or "It will get better in time," and even if I could help them, it would be very little, but I thought I could at least say, "For now, take a deep breath, have a cup of coffee, and try to calm down." Perhaps that is the role of a business that deals in coffee.
An article written about three years ago.
Our shop is positioned as a kind of "lukewarm water staff."
I think it's a place where you can ease the stuffiness you feel on a daily basis, and take a breather and get your mind in order. It's not something that will cheer you up, but I want it to be a place that eases your pain. A place where you won't be rejected even if you have some flaws. This applies not only to brick-and-mortar stores, but also to takeout and online services.
Recently, I've been writing "Take a Break" on my lattes and cups more often.
Well, it's a common phrase, but I think it's a necessary phrase at a time when many people are gradually feeling fatigued from the coronavirus and are in a tight spot.
Of course, there are times when we ourselves feel weak and our customers who come to our store feel concerned about us.
Even if the format of the store changes, I hope we can continue to be aware of our role and continue to provide customers with a moment to take a breather and relax.
