Lessons learned in 2020

It seems like yesterday we were just saying “Merry Christmas” and that somehow tomorrow it will be Spring. That may be a slight exaggeration, but with every year the time seems to slip by faster, a breath exhaled so quickly you miss it if you are not paying attention. I am trying to pay attention and not let the lessons I have learned go unnoticed so I thought a post about what I learned in 2020 might be a celebration of paying attention, noticing the little things, and it might encourage you.

There is so much value in reflecting on the lessons we have learned, so here we go - what I learned in 2020:

“Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Everyone goes through different experiences.

I am constantly reminded of how unequal this pandemic has been. I am fortunate. I would say the pandemic has been an inconvenience to me, but I still have a home, a job, a healthy family, supportive friends, a wonderful community, and money in my pocket. That is not the experience of so many. I am reminded to be aware when having conversations or making decisions not to rely solely on what I see. Perspective is how an individual sees the world around them and defines what they see, feel, smell, hear and think. What affects how we perceive includes our environment and how we were raised, what our beliefs are, what our knowledge base is, and what we have experienced. We all perceive things differently because of our roots of perception. 2020 has reminded me to always listen and understand a person's experiences, so that we can have a more thoughtful conversation and better understand each other.

"Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” ― Helen Keller

We are resilient.

While no one would have chosen what happened over the course of last year, we might have been surprised to learn we were able to adapt when we were exposed to challenging experiences. Many individuals have lost jobs and have been forced to find creative ways to pay the bills. Many others began working from home. Schools turned online with virtual learning. Restaurants had to learn how to stay afloat and totally change their models to support take-out and outside dining. Prior to COVID-19, Healthcare struggled to adopt telehealth and telemedicine, but providers had to adapt and adopt it quickly to provide care and stay afloat. This pandemic has been a testament to just how resilient we are as humans and our ability to be flexible and creative in the face of uncertainty.

“Enjoy the little things in life, for one day, you’ll look back and realize they were the big things.” ― Anonymous

Life is precious and we should not take anything for granted.

With over 2 million deaths worldwide from COVID, this pandemic has made me rethink my priorities and remember how precious life is. It has been a reminder to appreciate the smaller things in life – the things I often take for granted. I am grateful for my family and friends, even if it means video calls and text messages while we cannot see each other in-person. With so many people falling ill, I am grateful for my health. With so many people losing jobs and becoming homeless, I am thankful for a place to call home and the food on my table. This pandemic has served as a reminder of how precious life is and how I need to need to show appreciation for the smallest things in life.

“There is within human nature an amazing potential for goodness.” Martin Luther King Jr.

People are generally good, and our communities can pull together.

At the start of the pandemic, there was a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) among hospitals and health care facilities, and many health care workers were reusing the same disposable mask for days or weeks at a time. I am in healthcare and I have a sister on the front lines, so I heard or saw most of it firsthand. Immediately, community members gathered to procure masks, print 3D face shields, and hand sew masks and scrub caps. Restaurants were donating food to hospital workers and first responders. Neighbors and communities were volunteering to bring groceries to the elderly. When we hear about bad things happening, especially when lives of many are lost or damaged at the hands of a few, we need to remind ourselves that people are generally good.

“Think back to the most important experiences of your life, the highest highs, the greatest victories, the most daunting obstacles overcome. How many happened to you alone? I bet there are very few. When you understand that being connected to others is one of life’s greatest joys, you realize that lives best comes when you initiate and invest in solid relationships.” -John C. Maxwell

We are social creatures, and we need interaction.

The pandemic has highlighted the importance of social interaction and human contact within almost every aspect of our lives, including education, employment, entertainment, and recreation. The efforts to reduce the spread of the virus, including physical distancing, quarantine, and stay-at-home orders, have prompted social isolation and loneliness. I am single, an extrovert, and fiercely independent. I have missed social interactions and things as simple as a hug or meeting up with friends at a pub. I cannot wait to have in-person plans again! I know I will be more likely to cherish the little things I once took for granted.

You have to tell the whole truth, the good and the bad, maybe some things that are uncomfortable for some people. - John Lewis

We need to be comfortable with being uncomfortable and willing to listen and learn.

The pandemic exposed many issues that had been buried in America. Racism and politics were often taboo and not something we generally talked about. I have always tried to make an effort to get to know and learn from everyone -- from my teammate to my competitor to the random person I meet when I am out and about - it is something I enjoy. But my conversations were often surface, and I did not dig deep. With all that have seen and heard in 2020 and the beginning of this year, I am making an effort to find time to have the hard conversations and listen to other perspectives and read history with open eyes. Although I have miles to go, I have already learned so much. I am going to keep talking, reading, and learning. I hope you will too.

“A quiet and modest life brings more joy than a pursuit of success bound with constant unrest.” –Albert Einstein

A slower pace of life is healthy.

This year was the first time many of us were forced to take a step back from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. Suddenly face-to-face social events and commutes were wiped from our schedules, giving us more time to do things we enjoy, or to simply relax and take it easy. There is no denying that lots of people will be taking this slower pace of life into 2021. And even as things start to pick back up again, we will be mindful that we can live without constantly being on-the-go.

We have had a lot of time to ourselves this year and had time to reflect. The result? Many of us have come to realize what makes us happy in life, in work, and what we want for our future. Some of those lessons are big life changes while others are small ones – like spending more time with loved ones or taking more time to look after ourselves.

“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.” ― Robert Frost

2020 was a year of reminders for many of us, including the fragility of humanity, the necessity of community, and the unpredictability of life. It was a hard year, no doubt - but the lessons we learned can make a difference so that hopefully 2021 and beyond have a much better outcome.

Until next time…. -Leigh