BY TARA MYSHRALL
As 2020 comes to an end, many people are simply ready to move on. Without a doubt, 2020 has been a year of great intensity that has been felt by everyone around the world. We’ve all had our own unique experiences with COVID and the way that it affects us personally and professionally, locally and globally. Dealing with uncertainty has been a daily habit that we continue to practice, whether in lockdown or not.
Many people have struggled throughout this year. Yet, many people have equally demonstrated unprecedented resilience. I’ve read mixed reviews about looking back on this year, some people taking the time to examine what they have learned, where others are insistent that looking forward is more important, that we must just keep going and somehow return to life as we know it. The promise of a vaccine is providing many with hope, but the reality of the rollout still has much uncertainty.
I think that as 2020 comes to a close, it is important to take some time to reflect on the year, on your life and of course, on 2021. Taking time to examine both the shadows and the light, makes us better people, more equipped to understand the totality of life. Looking at the range of emotions and experiences that 2020 presented us with as humanity reveals our resilience, but equally so, the plethora of areas where we still need to grow, to develop, to change and to work together. From racial injustice, to income inequality, to global warming, the pandemic has revealed the cracks in our society.
Additionally, it’s important to take time to look at the impact of 2020, not just on a global level, but on a personal level as well. I find that it’s easy to resist this, it’s easy to overlook the small accomplishments and the large victories that actually did take place in my own life. When I stopped to pause, to think back, and to invest some time in acknowledging where I’ve been, what I’ve accomplished and how I showed up in the world, I realize that I’ve done so much more than I initially anticipated. I bet that it is the same for you. So often, we rush on, moving so quickly, we forget to take the time to acknowledge ourselves, to feel the wins, to grieve the sorrows, to look into the face of uncertainty, with a belief in ourselves and our ability to navigate difficult circumstances. We are much stronger than we think.
This season encourages us to take some time to slow down. The days are getting shorter, the temperatures are dropping and the desire to curl up and spend quality time with our loved ones, both in person or virtually, is getting louder and louder. As I surrender to the longing of this season, it is only natural to reflect. It is also natural, that in this time of winter, this new year, to start planning for 2021. To me, the two go hand in hand, you can’t create the new, without first acknowledging where you have been. You can’t blindly plow forward, without softly surrendering to the reality of now. And, by taking the time to reflect on the past, you start to see the patterns emerge, the victories reveal themselves, the areas calling out for attention also appear. This knowledge informs your vision for 2021, it guides you to the future, it gives you the opportunity to examine the life you want to create.
When I actually took the time to look at this year, I realized that I’m extremely proud of myself. And I bet that the same is true for you. I encourage you to take some time to reflect on your life, to acknowledge your wins, to acknowledge the areas that you grew, to recognize your contributions, your healed relationships, your ability to persevere, to keep going, to put one foot in front of the other. Your ability to see the big picture and the details at the same time. I wish all of you an incredible new year, filled with strength, resilience and purpose.
