A Year We’ll Never Forget

2020 has had so much change and uncertainty. As we look back at this year, we see how our interactions, experiences, and the ways in which we’ve lived our lives have drastically changed. We’ve stayed home and social distanced, put many of our plans on hold, learned new ways of interacting with people, worked from home for longer than we ever expected, and managed online schooling all at the same time.

Some of us lost loved ones during this time and couldn’t even say goodbye. Some of us have been just plain lonely. At the opposite end of the spectrum, there are those of us who are more than ready to take a well-deserved break from our spouse or our kids. Parents – let’s face it. There’s no doubt we love our kids, but we can’t possibly spend every minute of every day with them and not need a break. No matter what we’ve been through, there’s not a single person who’s sailed through 2020 easily. The reality is we’ve all been on this long journey together. It’s a journey none of us ever imagined and we’ve all felt its impact.

We know change is on the horizon. The vaccine is near. The question is how will we remember this year once it’s gone? We can choose to remember 2020 as the year when everything was canceled. Weddings, graduations, field trips, in-person schooling, sporting events, vacations, holiday traditions, concerts, funerals, memorials, the list could go on and on.

On the other hand, we can choose to remember the positives. There is no doubt that we had extra time on our hands. How did we spend that time? Many of us spent it with our families, picked up new hobbies, read books, watched Netflix, played games, exercised, and prayed. Hopefully, no matter what we did, we learned to appreciate the small things. Those of us who kept our jobs were thankful to be employed. We realized how grateful we were for our delivery drivers, our teachers, our first responders, and certainly our health care workers. Many of us saved money on gas and commuting, and maybe we even helped the environment at the same time.

Yes – there’s been a lot of animosity this year. But regardless, I think we as a nation and a society have became more resilient than ever. I was amazed at the number of people who refrained from going to the hair salon and embraced their natural hair color. Some of us were able to virtually attend concerts or other events online. Many of us visited with our friends and family on Zoom or FaceTime. I know a lot of people who became quite creative with their fitness goals. I saw more people outside during this past year than I can ever remember. Some people were able to exercise online in groups, join virtual fitness challenges, or even (like myself) purchase a Peloton. I know people who dedicated their extra time at home to learning how to cook, paint, sew, or use their talents in other creative ways. I was amazed by how many people adopted a rescue pet. Certainly everyone found new and creative ways to celebrate birthdays and holidays. There were many opportunities for us to reach out to someone who was lonely or who we hadn‛t talked to in a long time. And then there were other opportunities to do some serious self-reflection, maybe even offer an apology or forgiveness. This year was a time when people realized that the things that hurt them in the past suddenly seemed so trivial.

As we focus on this upcoming year, let‛s stay strong. Use this remaining time that we have to continue helping one other, being patient, and being kind. Let’s look at the afterward. History tells us there is always an afterward. As we prepare to say goodbye to this historical time in our lives, let’s not forget our blessings. Let’s show this world that we are united now more than ever. Let’s rise up and prove that we have what it takes to make this world a better place.