Did You Outwit Life During the 2020 Pandemic?

If there ever was a time to learn how to successfully outwit life, this was the year. Did you outwit life during the 2020 pandemic?

Too many bad things happened during the pandemic of 2020, yet so many good lessons have been learned. I believe the pandemic brought out the good in people.

I really am torn between hating this year and loving (okay, maybe liking) it. Was 2020 a good year for you?

Most people that I have spoken with lean towards this being a horrible year. Yes, we have certainly endured some terrible events.

The Pandemic’s Impact

• Experiencing a full-blown pandemic that we’d previously only read about in history books.
• Living in fear of contracting a deadly disease.
• Contracting Covid and having to deal with its side-effects.
• Saying goodbye to friends and family due to Covid.
• Experiencing a public health crisis and an economic health crisis. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_States
• Families struggling to keep food on the table.
• Our education system having to be re-worked.
• Adapting to remote learning and remote working.
• Graduations, Proms, Sporting Events, Concerts, Theatre, and Non-essential businesses shutting down.
• Quarantining in place.

I could continue to list more terrible things we’ve endured; however, I believe these ten points sufficiently outline how challenging life has been for us in 2020. It really has not been enjoyable.

“For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.”

Sir Isaac Newton

Actions have consequences as Sir Isaac Newton is so famous for pointing out to us in his Third Law of Motion. Have you thought about what the consequences have been for you in 2020? I think if you truly take the time to explore this, you might find some positivity buried in with the doom and gloom.

For instance, when the “shut down” was in full effect, families were confined to their homes. That meant that teenagers were forced to interact with their parents! Family dinners became a daily event.

I washed my hands more frequently, I used hand sanitizer, and I wore masks in public. I never had my typical winter strep throat or sinus infection. I was staying healthy by practicing the recommended Covid prevention techniques.

I became engaged in various group text chats that regularly kept me in touch with friends and family. I reached out more frequently to people that lived alone to make sure they were okay. I was able to catch up on all of the friendships that have meant so much to me but had waned due to life being too busy. Suddenly, busy wasn’t a priority.

I learned to appreciate our front-line workers. Each day they put themselves in harm’s way to serve the rest of us. If you were afraid of contracting Covid, think how scared doctors and nurses, and EMTs were as they interacted daily with those infected!

I prayed – A LOT! I got closer to my faith. I loved being able to pull up a mass on YouTube at any time during the day and find some serenity.

Admittedly, I was distraught that my daughter and son didn’t experience the typical senior year of college and high-school. There are no prom pictures for Michael and no graduation ceremony pictures for Erin.

However, this regret becomes very petty when I think of my two girlfriends who lost their spouses to Covid or my children’s friends that lost grandparents. The fact that they were not able to hold typical wakes for them is far more tragic.

The pandemic has severely impacted the New York education system. Online learning quickly became a “thing,” and both teachers and students alike had to become familiar with new technology. This experience has led to the exploration of on-line programs that could positively impact our education system when we get past the pandemic.

Commuting no longer impacted business professionals, as many companies were forced into having employees work from home. Parents immediately had more time each day to spend with their families.

Overnight Zoom became the software of choice for team meetings, company announcements, and client presentations. Travel was no longer necessary, and, again, parents had more time with their families.

Zoom was also instrumental in allowing families to check-in on loved ones. Siblings were able to “see” each other as often as they would like. It allowed us new ways of connecting. My book club participated in a Zoom treasure hunt, and it was hilarious!

Side-hustles became more prominent when folks were furloughed. Delivery companies and take-out drivers offered a different form of income for those that needed it. Who knew their love for shopping could actually earn them a few bucks?

The pandemic has affected all of us in different ways. I, personally, struggled with depression and lingering side-effects from chemo. I had to figure out how to live frugally and be creative with our finances. 2020 was definitely not an easy year for my family or me.

But, it was a year of growth. I had a lot of time to look inward and reflect on the path my life has taken. I believe I have found acceptance. Sometimes, things are completely out of your control. Imagine that?

Have you acquired any new skills in 2020? Was your family dynamic impacted positively? Are there any good “takeaways” you can point to from this year?

Were you witness to neighbors supporting neighbors? Did you buy from small businesses and donate to charities that brought Christmas to families in 2020?

The pandemic brought out the good in many people. The Hance Family Foundation (a favorite charity) boasted their largest toy drive in 10 years! You can read about all the good they do here: https://www.hancefamilyfoundation.org/

Was 2020 challenging? Heck, yes! Am I happy to see it go? Double heck, yes! That doesn’t mean I am not grateful for the lessons it taught me. How do you feel about this past year? Please let me know in the comment section below.