2020 will go down in history as the most vilified year, the year that impacted all lives in one way or another. The year that made us realize how fleeting and ephemeral life is.
As we welcome 2021 with hope and excitement, let’s not forget the real lessons that 2020 taught us.
2020 was a very tough year for many. Lives were impacted physically, mentally, socially and financially. Many could not travel to be with their loved ones during their most vulnerable time. Many families were torn apart due to various restrictions and people. celebrated and mourned in isolation.
Many suffered and are still suffering major financial distress.
The fear and uncertainty of the future is causing serious. mental distress, the effects of which will linger for some time.
One cannot deny the pain that many are going through but let’s not ignore all the good that came out!
Many parents got a chance to spend quality time with their children. Work from home and study from home, despite its challenges brought families together. I met a few parents who attended their children’s birthdays for the first time. No gift can compensate for a parents absence and many saw that joy on the faces of their children.
Unnecessary travel and purchases took a back seat.
Carbon foot print world wide reduced by 7 %. The biggest drop ever.
The air cleaned up. The world saw the most gorgeous sun rise and sunsets.
Whataspp messages were full of people sharing beautiful pictures from nature.
Many of us realized and understood the difference between want and need and realized that human connection is the most important aspect of being human.
Our planet needed this time to heal.
We were leading such fast and furious lives that we hardly stopped to think if there was a different way.
2020 made us aware of our shortcomings and how our incessant desire for more experiences and stuff was just a way. to keep ourselves distracted.
Our souls bear many scars and instead of healing those scars we distract ourselves. We remain constantly engaged in the world that allures us through its various temptations. We move from place to place, from person to person in search of fulfillment, not realizing that what we seek lies within. This slow down and the silence gave us an opportunity to reconnect and listen to our soul. The world slowed down so that we could hear our inner calling. Many did. Many went back to basics, took up hobbies that they had given up. Many reconnected online with friends and families that they had lost touch with. Many realized that buying stuff is not the answer to fulfillment.
Home cooking came back and many learnt the difference between a home and a house ..
The ubiquitous mask polarized many but also made us realize that we cannot take our health for granted. Health workers and not the film stars or sports personalities are the true hero’s that deserve our respect and adulation.
Let’s not hate 2020 but look beyond the facade and see what it really wanted to show us. 2020 was a mirror that showed us the ugly side of our ways and gave us a chance to rectify our ways.
2021 won’t be any different unless we change our ways. Every thought, word and action creates our world. 2020 was a wake up call. We need to wake up. No snooze buttons now. It’s time to WAKE UP.