7 Valuable Lessons from 2020

I remember reading social media posts from NYE 2019 expressing excitement for what 2020 might hold and just knowing, undoubtedly, it would be better than 2019.  Well, we were all in for an awakening.  This year has been a rollercoaster of a ride.  And not like those sweet baby coaster rides that offer a few small bumps as you go around in a nice small circle.  This year is best described through the Steel Dragon 2000, which is the worlds longest roller coaster.  There is a slow climax in the beginning as it spreads the curiosity and concern through the riders while it climbs to the top, followed by a pause before dropping down 318 feet.  It is filled with with twists and turns, loops, pauses, more drops, dark tunnels, and more bumps in the track.  I can easily state that 2020 has been the most profound year in my 40+ years of being on this Earth.  From the start with the pandemic that led to the world literally standing still with shut downs, the addition of the word social distancing, one of the largest movements for Black Lives Matter, and to top it all off with the results of the election.  

Although 2020 may feel very heavy and tumultuous, I choose to focus on the learning opportunities that are presented within struggles.  We can feel the heaviness, grief, sadness, and anger, as well as create meaning out of these experiences and honor our resilience, lessons, and opportunities. 

Here is what 2020 taught me:

1. Every day is a gift. Never take tomorrow for granted.  None of us are promised one more day.  Logically, we all know this to be true, yet we continued to go on about our day without taking a moment to honor the day-to be able to take one more breath; to have another opportunity to make the most out of your life; to look at every day as a new day that is filled with endless possibilities; to let your spouse/significant other know how much you appreciate and love them; to kiss and hug your kids throughout the day.  These are all gifts from the Universe and our Spiritual Connection. Let's treat them that way!    
2. We are wired for connection.  Psychologist Dr. William Glasser explained one of our basic human needs as love and belonging.  We all need to love and to be loved.  We all yearn for a sense of belonging.  This human need explains the importance of relationships, social connections, the importance of giving and receiving affection, and to feel a part of a bigger group.  As mental health issues and addictions skyrocketed during the pandemic, it created even more clarity on the importance of connection. And although this year kept us physically away from the ones we love, it gave us the opportunity to reflect on the importance of these relationships, as well as problem solve with alternative ways to connect.  
3. We are pretty amazing at problem solving.  Many might disagree with this, but I am going to stand true in this belief.  Think about all of the changes we endured.  We had to adapt quickly in all areas of our life.  Teachers scrambled to figure out virtual learning. Parents rearranged their schedules to best accommodate online learning and the kids being home.  Bosses and companies tapped into their compassion and ability to accommodate workers who had to work from home.  Companies re-evaluated how to continue providing services and products to keep themselves and their employees in business.  We all figured out ways to connect with our families and friends in an alternative way.  My daily gratitudes now include modern technology and social media. Although there are many ways it can be used in a negative aspect, there are more ways it can be used for the good.  There are countless examples of problem solving around a situation that nobody was truly prepared for, and I believe it is important to recognize and celebrate this aspect!
4. Re-evaluate your life.  I think we can all agree that this year has given us ample time to evaluate the direction of our life. Since we didn't make time to do this ourselves, the Universe forced this time upon us.  It forced us to quietly reflect on our life.  While we stepped away from the fast pace of life, we were able to slow down to notice what is important in our life.  For many of us, we took for granted our family while we were caught up in the daily grind of work.  For many of us, this year has given us the  opportunity to make necessary shifts in our life to realign with our values.  For me, this turned out to be leaving my corporate job to be at home with my family and begin my business.  For some, it looked like making courageous decisions to be on the front line of saving lives.  Whatever that shift was for you, offer gratitude and celebrate these shifts!
5. Value our earth.  Do you remember seeing that video and images of Venice's canals after the shut down?  It is a clear indicator of the hurt we are causing to our beautiful and amazing planet.  It showed me the healing properties of what a few weeks of less pollution can do for our Earth.  Valuing our planet has been important to me since High School, where I was part of a student club focused on saving the environment.  Mother Earth offers abundance and life to us, it is time we treat her with the same respect and love. 
6. Take care of your body.  This circles right back to #1.  It is important to not take our body for granted.  What are we putting into our body.  How are we nourishing our body. Do we move our body every day?  It is important to recognize all of the gifts our body offers us on a daily basis.  The ability to walk, move, hug, laugh, keep our heart pumping, etc.  There are a million plus functions of our body that we take for grated every single day.  Take care of it, just as it takes care of us.  
7. Lean into uncertainty.  One thing is for sure: we will never have all of the answers. We spend so much of our physical and/or mental time trying to control everything and everyone around us...outcomes, others, situations, conversations.  This way of living has been proven to be a poor use of our time and energy.  From this year, we have all been forced to lean into the discomfort of uncertainty, which has offered us the gift of reconnecting, or deepening our connection, with our Spiritual Connection.  This experience has given us the opportunity to move through fear and lean into faith. 

So what lessons are you taking with you into 2021?!

Sending much love and light, LJ