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The “talking heads” of our society like to say that we are ever changed by the pandemic — everything from working at home to picking up our groceries to drive-through eating versus dining in.

Starbucks, that secular pathfinder in society, plans to continue to improve its digitized and drive-through operations, but it is eager to re-launch the inside-the-cafe experience based on one premise, that there is a “fundamental need to be seen and experience a feeling of connection to others.”

To add to that Starbucks indoors experience, the company has partnered with Headspace, a leader in mindfulness and meditation, to offer customers a “curated series of bespoke meditations meant to create a more intentionally restorative coffee break.”

So now you can meet up with a friend and clear your head — what a combo!

With apologies to Zoom and Apple and Google and Microsoft and the technology “whomever’s”, it is absurd to trade the in-person world for the virtual world.

To quote Jerry Seinfeld, “not that there is anything wrong with it.” Indeed, we will continue to more and more live in a digitized world, a good idea in moderation. But, to quote the Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, “the best use of our time is being generous and really being present with others.”