It’s a familiar, albeit clichéd phrase, especially when talking about impatient, bored children. “Are we there yet? Are we there yet?”
No, seriously. “ARE WE THERE YET?”
Virtual show of hands if you are not a child, but ready to be done with this unbelievably frightful year. Raise them high if at any point in the last 10-ish months you’ve looked at anything with the number “2020” on it and wanted to simultaneously burn and hurl it into the sea.
One of my favourite things to do as a year draws to a close is peruse countdowns — top 10 news stories, top 10 songs, top whatever trends, [insert year] A–Z. While I’m still hoping to do just that, my fear this year is twofold: 1) Will every list simply say “COVID”, and 2) Will I even remember anything that sneaks through that’s not pandemic related? These reasons are why this post exists. I wanted to make sure I took a moment to create a list that looked back on some things that really defined the year for me. If you’re so inclined, I invite you to do the same!
Like most (all?) of you, I am ready to kick 2020 to the curb. I am no health and wellness expert, nor is my brain filled with life-changing advice and insights for the masses, but I am a human who did her best to survive this year with as much grace and honesty as possible. With that in mind, here’s my countdown of some of the things I took away from this year:
5) This Zoom thing is pretty neat
I’d used this and other video call platforms pre-2020, but this year they were a lifeline between me and family, friends, and colleagues. While Zoom and its friends brought both frustration and laughs, I can’t help but wonder what the 2020 experience would have been like if we only had the technology available to us 20 years ago. Or none at all. The privilege of having the ability and means to use the tools we’re fortunate enough to have at our disposal is definitely not lost on me. I am grateful for what I’ve had the opportunity to utilize.
4) It’s OK not to be thankful 24/7
There is no shame in feeling let down by this year and the things we’ve missed out on. Trips, birthday parties, conferences, concerts, weekly fitness classes … for me, even though I know some of these things may be frivolous in the grand scheme of life, I’ve realized the reason they’re so missed is because they aren’t just part of my entertainment or social calendar, but because they’re part of how I relate to myself and others. They’re part of how I move through the world and care for myself. It’s OK to miss those things.
3) There are a whole lot of people who fight hard every single day to make this world better
Who are these people? Doctors, nurses, teachers, scientists, researchers of all disciplines, social justice advocates, writers, artists … too plentiful to name, not enough time in the day to possibly thank them the way they deserve. Whenever the chance does come, we should thank them. Often.
2) Massive wake up calls
If this year hasn’t taught us that there is nothing without health, we haven’t been paying attention. Full stop. If it also hasn’t taught us that inequalities in social structures deeply persist in forms both great and small, we’re being willfully ignorant. Time to change that.
1) Point. Pause. Proceed.
It’s a phrase we picked up on to teach our children how to safely cross the street but it turns out it applies to everything. I’ve learned this year to reconnect to nature by simply going outside for a walk. I’m trying to remember to breathe, sleep, and eat (sounds like a given, but very easy to neglect, especially when under stress). I’m trying to listen more. And I’m learning that every social media rabbit hole does have an escape. Eventually.
We don’t yet know what 2021 holds, but I wish you all moments where you can point, pause, and proceed. May we all be ready for another countdown this time next year.
Take good care, everyone. See you when the calendar changes to 2021.