It was during the pandemic that I was first drawn to the idea of people and masks. Like most people, my life, the life of my family, friends, and neighbors was hugely impacted by the need for isolation and lockdown. Life slowed down, social interactions dwindled, and we spent a lot of time in our own worlds and sometimes too long in our own heads with our thoughts and concerns. I observed people's habits while mask-wearing, how some were negatively impacted, and how their fears and anxieties were very much in evidence despite being protected and hidden behind the mask. I become more appreciative of what I have, it encouraged me to reconsider my own values and to reprioritise what's important to me and my family.