Dear Family, by Rachel Steinman

December 15, 2020 What 2020 Taught Us- And 18 Lessons to Bring Into 2021

Last year, as we celebrated not just a new year but a new decade, we never could have predicted just how tumultuous and life-changing 2020 would be. We never could have conceived or truly understood what we were about to be in for:

A once in a century black swan event in the form of an airborne novel Coronavirus that would put us all on lockdown and change life as we knew it as it crossed every continent and affected every single human being on this planet.

2020 has taken a lot out of us. It will undoubtedly go down in the history books as a year full of unprecedented unpredictability and uncertainty, a year that felt more like a decade.

As we look forward to 2021 with the promise of effective vaccines to eradicate Covid-19, we can acknowledge all we have lost while also appreciating what we gained. Instead of seeing 2020 as the worst year ever, what if we choose to see it as a true reset, a time not wasted but rather gained? What if we come out of 2020 all the wiser with priceless insight to bring into not just the new year but over our lifetime?

I took an informal poll with dear family and friends to get multiple perspectives on whether 2020 felt like it was all but a waste. I asked the same three questions I'd been reflecting on:

What was the hardest part of 2020? What were the silver linings? And What is the biggest lesson learned this year to bring with or leave behind in 2021?

18 Life Lessons Learned from 2020 that are Worth Bringing into 2021 (Listen to hear why.)

Don't take anything for granted, count your blessings, and be content with what we already have.
We need so much less than we thought.
Our mental health is just as important as our physical health.
Essential workers are true heroes.
Freedom is not free and social justice reform and equality are still necessary to fight for.
Many appreciated the time gained from not having to commute but it was hard to balance work-life separation and balance.
Nature is healing and with the decrease in air and car travel, mother nature had a chance to heal and breathe.
The importance of being flexible and letting go.
The forced slow down is a better change of pace than being on a frenetic hamster wheel.
Self-care should be a priority and it's not selfish.
There is a pandemic of loneliness but social distance doesn't mean social isolation and alone doesn't have to mean lonely.
The importance of hygiene, which begs the question- what were people doing before Covid-19?
Hug your children tight and let them know how much you love them. When we finally get to hug our family and friends, keep expressing your love.
Home can and should be a refuge. Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home.
We've been able to connect through technology like never before, creating many new traditions, like Zoom holidays and "Girls Night In/Cocktail Hours."
We need to be kinder and more patient and see everyone as a unique person living in a unique time and space and honor that.
The acceleration of income inequality is something to note and work towards changing.
This pandemic has taught us how interconnected we all are.

It's always darkest before dawn. In the spring of 2021, when the days become longer, flower buds begin to sprout, and the vaccines are rolled out to a wider population, I have to believe our gratitude will amplify the sweetness of the light until we reach the day when the threat of the pandemic is in the past. Until then, let's consider another cliche that takes on new meaning. Hindsight is 2020 becomes a reflection on what is most important in life, something that only a massive, once-in-a-lifetime collective lived-experience that shifted all of our perspectives could teach us.

Wishing you love, happiness, good mental health, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year. May 2021 bring you all your heart desires.

SHOW NOTE LINKS:

Corresponding Article- What 2020 Taught Us by Rachel with Fabulous Images

Cover by Artist, Paula Noah- Self-Portrait, 2020

Dr. David Steinman on the Dear Family, Podcast- Just Relax

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