The year started off with all the hope we could muster, but quickly dissipated in the reality of more discord and the continued rise of COVID. But hope is never lost just altered. If we turn off the news for a bit, we can open our eyes to see that there is much beauty, possibility in inspiration. You can start with this list.
- Self-exploration. 2020 was the year that shocked us into life’s ephemerality, a word I read in the Tale of Genji and thought I’d never actually use in a sentence. But there you have it. With a year of resilience on our back, we now know what to prepare for and have the resources to work on ourselves. Another year of staying indoors? No problem. I’m packing Masters class, 12×12 and a dozen or more writing classes.
- Getting healthy. I used to rely on physical therapy, massage and yoga classes. I realize now that I can take matters into my own hands by doing these exercises throughout the day at home to prevent chronic pain from badly positioned computers or incorrect posture. Why I didn’t realize this before, I’ll never know. I can also skip the holiday 10 that came from a constant parade of parties and the guilty pleasures from holiday drinks that always got to me. I can make my own smoothie or a healthy version of Peppermint mocha instead.
- New books. Books have been a friend throughout my life. And now more than ever, they take me on trips to faraway places and push me to grow beyond the confines of my mind. I’ve found the best books in 2020 and still discovering more. Right now, I’m loving Scott Barry Kaufman, Ph.D.’s Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization, a book that expands our previously narrowed view of Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
- Gratitude for the little things. This year for Christmas my sons were ecstatic over every gift they received. “Lego and books? Perfect!” is how my son described his gift from grandma this year. There were many reasons why they were more grateful for gifts and why a trip to the playground is a reason to celebrate. Mostly loss brings gratitude for the little unexpected joys in our lives.
- More opportunities for BIPOC. 2020 has brought light to the inequalities we’ve been accepting quietly for years. As a result, the publishing industry as well as other organizations are realizing that to level the playing field we need to give and share opportunities with those who are less privileged. If you are a person of color like myself, this might take a slow realization that you deserve to receive help and that there is no shame in accepting it.
- A shift in priorities. Prior to 2020, we were mindlessly bumbling around busy humans with no conscious awareness of what we were so busy doing. I think COVID has limited what we can do and this in return has made us conscious about the choices we do have. Our priorities are likely going to shift as a result.
- Creative ways we’ll connect. For most of 2020, we hunkered down in our homes. But in 2021 we’re craving connection and I’m betting tech companies will find new safe ways to do so.
- Greater compassion. You can say what you want about politics, but everyone experienced the impact of a pandemic. Everyone knows what it’s like to have to wear a mask. We can’t escape 2020 without more compassion.
- Our air and nature will heal. For a large part of 2020, I could breathe. And a lot of people who struggle with asthma and lung disease could as well. As our new President and VP gets settled in, I’m hoping new policies will change so that all of us and our children will have a cleaner safer world to grow up in.
- Drive-ins will be cool again. This is already happening, but it was the first thing I predicted when everything shut down. Since watching a movie in theatres will be precarious for a while, having the option of going out to see a movie safely will be the cool new old thing at least for a little while.
- We’ll be more resilient. I’ve learned how to cut my hair and my kids’ hair. I’m now their teacher. If there’s anything 2020 taught us is that we can do more on our own than we thought we could. That doesn’t mean we won’t want someone to take the reins, but that when put to the test, we are more than capable.