Ten Reasons Why 2020 Wasn’t (All) Bad
OK, 2020. What the HECK WAS THAT!?
As we near the end of this year, many of us are engaging in self-reflection. First of all, obviously 2020 gets a “would not recommend” rating. It been the strangest year I’ve experienced thus far, and I’m sure many of you are in that boat with me. The pandemic wreaked havoc on everything we thought we knew about life, leaving many of us simply wishing for a return to the “good ole days”. You know – vacations, standing shoulder to shoulder with screaming fans at a concert, showing off embarrassingly bad dance moves at a club, not wearing a mask unless it’s Halloween or a masquerade ball, no defined concept of social distancing, all the hugs for everyone, and on and on (and on).
Many of us have lost so much during this time (loved ones, jobs, homes, etc.) and I want you to know I feel for you and I’m hoping things turn around for each of you really soon. I’m not minimizing the trauma and trials so many have been (and continue) to face through this. However, there has been an influx of negativity in what came to be known as a normative “cancel culture”. Ongoing negativity isn’t doing any favors to our health.
For a moment, I’d like to shift gears to the positive side of the past year for a bit as we remember that not everything is cancelled, and certainly not forever. It was a weird year, but it wasn’t all bad. Some good things came out of it too. I compiled a short list of ten reasons why.
Finally, some good things
1. We learned more about ourselves through self-reflection. Willingly or forced by circumstance, this was a year many of us discovered a wide variety about our inner workings, aspirations, fears, unresolved issues, passions, dreams. By understanding ourselves, there is a more realistic possibility for each of us to become the best versions of our unique selves. No one is all good, no one is all bad, but what is important is trying to be a bit better today than we were yesterday, and a bit better tomorrow than we are today.
2. We found hobbies we didn’t even know we had. Quarantine 2020 brought a resurgence of interest into the hobbyist world. Chess (thank you, Queens Gambit!), gardening, playing an instrument, reading books, gaming, needlepoint, baking, drawing, watercolor painting – you get my point, a quick Google search will equip you with endless possibilities. For example, Shutterfly compiled a useful list of suggestions. Try something new, if you don’t like it, move on and try something else. Like many things in life, you won’t know if you don’t try.
3. We spent less money recklessly. As a caveat, I know finances are a super sensitive subject and even more so this year with the far-reaching impacts from the pandemic. Thinking about this in another light, this year kept many of us home much more and thinking about what we are spending our hard-earned money on. I’ll always be a huge proponent of enjoying life, traveling, going out to eat, etc. However, the uncontrollable factors brought on this year by all the quarantining brought a bright side to many of us of spending less and being more money-conscious.
4. We figured out creative solutions to everyday matters. Companies discovered that many more jobs can be work-from-home than otherwise thought, a positive effect that will likely continue on past the pandemic. People learned how to deal with quarantine life: how to get a haircut when salons are closed, what to do when you can’t find toilet paper anywhere, how to keep the kids entertained without the parents overdosing on wine (seriously, though!). Check in with your friends with kids – from what I’ve heard from many of mine, they are not ok.
5. We learned who the true heroes are in this story. No, it’s not the celebrities. A few examples:
It’s the brave medical professionals literally risking their lives every day to keep us alive.
It’s the dedicated teachers that keep our kids learning.
It’s the delivery men and women who bring us all the necessities we order when it’s not safe or conducive to go to stores and get them.
It’s the retail workers (i.e. Target, HyVee, Home Depot) giving long hours on the front lines for those that do go to stores for necessities.
and so many more!
In short, it’s all those keeping us alive, healthy, and sane. For that and more – WE THANK YOU!
6. We learned the importance of the mute button. This was discovered via Zoom, FaceTime, and any virtual means of meeting with people for work, school, and socially. Perhaps as a society we can learn to employ the mute button a bit better for in-person interactions as well. Yes? Please? Come on, you know I had to try… ha-ha.
7. We realized it can happen to us. I knew of the risks of a pandemic and had heard about the warnings for years, so I wasn’t particularly shocked that this occurred, in theory. But I wasn’t mentally or emotionally prepared for the scale or magnitude of this in reality. However, sometimes as humans we think we’re resilient and can weather any storm. While many of us are still going, there are far too many we have lost due to this. It’s utterly heartbreaking. Let’s take a moment to honor and remember each of those souls now.
8. We were forced to slow the heck down. In a society of busy/busy/busy and push/push/push, everything came to a screeching halt for a bit. Take a breath and savor it.
9. We realized it actually is the little, simple things that matter. A warm home, good food on the table, and a close group of family and friends to share it all with. That’s really all that matters.
10. We discovered life really is all about quality over quantity. No, it’s not about popularity or social status. As gatherings became limited, it became essential for us to dig into our most valued relationships with our closest family and friends. Quality over quantity, always and forever.
Blink and You’ll Miss It
Perhaps when life adapts into a more tolerable version of a new normal, we won’t take it for granted this time around? I didn’t realize how much the simple things meant to me but now that I know, I don’t intend to forget. In the blink of an eye, everything can change. I’ve always known that to be true (to be honest, I’ve experienced it more times than I care to count), but for some reason this year, for many of us it seemed to sink in more.
To some of us, 2020 might have felt like the beginning of the end of the world. It is certain times are crazy and life is uncertain, but the world’s still spinning. As Robert Breault said, “Each morning I gaze at the eastern horizon, and if the sun keeps its promise, I keep mine.” Friends, we’re still here and at this moment, we’re still breathing. Keep living. Here is my challenge to 2021, to you, and to me: let’s be better.
Questions, comments, or just need to chat? Send me a direct message via LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram.
Cheers until next time,
Crystal
