If You Take Anything Away From 2020, Take This

It’s evident our lives have flipped upside down in 2020. We are in a global pandemic, something many of us never imagined we’d say in our lifetimes. We are facing adversity, not only as individual nations, but worldwide. Some have mourned over the loss of loved ones, and some mourn over the loss of what life was like before—a sense of normality. The truth is, life has changed drastically in just a couple short months.

Amidst all this massive change and chaos, what can we learn? What can we take from all this? It may seem difficult to see light while we are still amongst darkness, but 2020 can’t just be a year of endless negativity.

Maybe what we are experiencing is a massive shift. Maybe we haven’t seen this year as anything less than pleasant, but I believe there is always an opportunity for growth. I believe the times that feel the heaviest often present us with the most impactful lessons.

So if you take anything away from 2020, I hope you stop taking time for granted. We saw first hand how quickly our lives can change and that time will continue to tick away, despite the ever-changing nature of the world. So we must choose wisely whom we spend our time with and how we spend each 24 hours. Because you can’t store time and save it for later. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. We must be grateful for each day that we’re able to wake up, take a breath of air, and not take our time on this planet for granted.

If you take anything away from 2020, I hope you remember we are stronger together. While this year has put a new meaning on togetherness, we have learned we don’t have to face all our battles alone. It is okay to lean on each other. It is okay to ask for help. It doesn’t make you weaker, but in many ways, stronger. We become more compassionate and live with extra love in our hearts when we support one another. At the end of the day, we are all just humans doing our best to get by. And the beautiful part is that by getting by together, we can undertake so much.

If you take anything away from 2020, I hope you focus on what truly makes you happy in life. Without the comfort of our day-to-day norms that filled up our lives before, it forces us to reflect on what really matters. Whether it’s your career, your relationships, your environment, or how you treat your body and mind, you must spend more of life doing what brings you joy. Think to yourself, What will help me create a fulfilling life? In 10 years, what kind of life and what kind of person do I want to be?What makes me excited and feel full? Focus on that.

If you take anything away from 2020, I hope you acknowledge how strong you are. Mentally, many of us have never dealt with so many unknown changes. Social distancing. Limited human contact. Medical worries. Regardless of how strong we were before this year, this year is proving just how much we are capable of. Because we are capable of so much. It doesn’t mean you haven’t felt loneliness, sadness, anxiety, heartache, and whatever else this year has laid on your plate. But it means despite the hardships, you’ll come out stronger. Whatever life hands you, whatever is on your path ahead and as painful as it may seem, you will find the courage to continue and face each day.

Life is unfair. Life is unpredictable, but it’s also undeniably magical. Although we are being shaded with what seems like a never-ending rain cloud, it doesn’t mean it will last forever. It doesn’t mean we have to live out the rest of the year or the rest of our days, completely crushed by what the past has presented. 2020 hasn’t been traditionally great, but in the end, it’s what you make of it and how you decide to show up for yourself and for others each and every day.