In 2021, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the world appeared upside down. Uncertainty prevailed, sparking an idea. A friend and I thought: what if young Chicagoans could document their experiences for posterity? Thus, we launched a citywide effort inviting youth to share letters, artworks, photos, and reflections. This initiative blossomed into Living Record, the organization I now lead.
Five years on, the time capsules are being opened. Chicagoans of all ages explore contributions from a once-overwhelming era. For 2021’s children, the pandemic rewrote life. Fundamental joys were missing, and return seemed uncertain. Capsules reveal their longing for friends, routines, and celebrations.
Interestingly, today’s young people view those writings differently. Many express surprise at 2021’s sadness. Comments such as “I wasn’t that sad” are common. They contrast their experiences, recalling family moments and school breaks from social pressures. The loneliness of capsule letters feels distant.
This perspective shift is striking. Kids from 2021 didn’t foresee the eventual passing of difficulties or the arrival of new opportunities. Time alters not only situations but perceptions. This isn’t unique to the pandemic.
Recent concerns, including political division and economic doubt, foster a sense of pessimism about the present and future. Gallup reports record-low optimism. Yet, revisiting pandemic capsules reveals today’s challenges may not endure forever.
Our curiosity about the future inspires Living Record’s collaboration with the Chicago Public Library at the Obama Presidential Center. We encourage visitors to reflect on current and future aspirations, preserving these thoughts in a new time capsule. It will open in five years, offering future perspectives.
Ultimately, we can’t predict thoughts or views in five years. What will seem resolved, persistent, or newly arisen remains unknown. However, the individuals reopening the capsule then will have one advantage: knowledge of what unfolds.
Stacey Gillett is the co-founder and executive director of Living Record, a Chicago nonprofit fostering connections between the past, present, and future through art, storytelling, and time capsules. Submit a letter, up to 400 words, to the editor here or email [email protected].
Leave a Reply