Hindsight is 2020 but hopefully we have learned something
Tumultuous. Devastating. Rage-inducing. Despondent. Deadly.
The year 2020 has been nothing short of catastrophic for many as their worlds were decimated with major losses of loved ones, livelihoods, social lives and even friendships.
Besides the collateral damage that was all of these aspects of our daily lives, was most importantly, the damage to our peace of minds. For many, mental health took a severe battering as we saw nothing but negative. Why is this happening to me? Can I survive this incessant onslaught of misfortune.
A lot of it was completely out of the control of people’s hands. The whole year, the status quo constantly changed. Our brains could never get comfortable as people were boxed in with new rules for daily life. Possibilities of what may or may not happen. Concern about the future was on everyone’s lips. Attitudes were shifting as tempers were short, memories were long and many explosive emotions, especially anger, were deep.
So many questions: Does my child go to school? Does my family homeschool them? What days are they going to school? Will my business/place of employment survive? How am I going to buy food?
People were losing things and a way of life precious to them, not experienced or seen in recent generations. Effective finger pointing became an art form and to some a necessary social skill.
You may wonder? What is this editorial referring to, what are we talking about… Covid-19? Maybe.
Covid regulations: fight or flight. Should government rules be followed. The line was draw between the two side: those concerned about the spread of the virus and heeding government and medical advice; vs. personal freedom: “this is my life, I will do what I want, when I want.”
Maybe to someone else the tumultuous, devastating, rage-inducing… it has to do with the racial unrests which exploded in the United States which then was ignited and reignited in Canada.
To others, it had to do with the relationship between the Alberta provincial government and the civil service. Instead of upholding values, traditions and services which are needed like health and education, people were coldly and naively treated as just numbers on a spreadsheet. To others, we have too many people and could be run more efficiently.
No matter what your perspective is on all that happened in 2020, it all has a central basis: An individual’s mindset, attitude or feelings.
Sounds weak or simplistic but what our attitudes are and how we approach and handle life is how we survive.
There is no trust amongst anyone now. We think the worst. We don’t try to put ourselves in anyone else’s shoes and don’t try to understand the actions of others. When we are stressed, it is easy for our brains to jump to the simplest of conclusions. If our mindset is negative and we allow past insecurities and trauma to cloud our minds, thinking the worst about another person or group is simple.
It is all in the mindset. What will we dwell on Dec. 31? Will we repeat and relive every dark moment that we had in 2020? It will be easy to do that and in order to clear our minds we do have to deal with all the losses whether personal or material. But then we need to somehow let it go. Learn from it and do what you can to make 2021 better.
If you are here, reading this, have food to eat and a roof over your head, you are more blessed than many people in the world. If you have family and people who care about you, even more fortunate. If you are employed and can enjoy luxuries, like real luxuries, you are in elite status.
If 2020, for however it did, it rudely knocked most of us down.
Those who refused to give up, wouldn’t let anything stop them or hold them down can and will recover from some horrific situations.
Attitude and mindset is choice, no matter what it is you experience. Those who mock or are bewildered by people who are forever trying to be realistic if not positive, in the face of the highest of tragedies, says a lot more about the dour and sours, than it does those trying to diligently move on.
2020 will not be missed. But maybe it should be remembered because it is from here where we can all learn and improve. Maybe the government will take a look at the importance of having governmentcontrolled healthcare and education services and not try to privatize everything. Maybe those keyboard warriors who bully those going through a rough time may think twice before using profanity laced insults..
What individuals learn from this year will dictate what they will do in 2021. 2020 should be an opportunity to get better. Do we want to recover as a whole so everyone prospers and feels good about life or do we just want to take what we think is ours; “only the strong survive everyone else be damned”?
The choice is yours/ours. It’s all in the mindset.