2020 was a trying year for all of us. The uncertainty from month to month was draining. Some of us faced uncertain financial times, through job loss and business closures, others were forced to completely change their lives from their normal workday to juggling homeschooling and trying to work from home. The negative effects of 2020 may linger, but as we get further into 2021 we want to focus on finding the positives in every day.
Although 2020 took a lot from us it has provided some positives.
- While many of us have been forced to spend a lot more time at home than we are accustomed to, lockdown gave us the opportunity to spend more quality time with our family. Sure sometimes they might drive us crazy, but this extra family time gave us the chance to reconnect on a deeper level and become even closer as a unit.
- When our families were driving us crazy and we had watched everything on Netflix, this time at home gave us a chance to rediscover once lost hobbies, or even take up new ones. When we’re busy juggling work life with kids’ schedules, we might find it hard to carve out time for things we once loved, but this extra time at home gave us that opportunity.
- While we received ample time with our immediate family, many of us lost the opportunity to see our extended families and most importantly older family members. As difficult as this may have been, it served as a reminder of the importance of family in our lives. Although we may not be able to visit everyone we want in person, we can find the time to call or video chat more often than we may have before.
- Last year was hard — but the positive is that it brought mental health to the forefront. It’s made the importance of taking care of each other and ourselves even more evident. 2020 has made the idea of asking “how are you doing” to those around us so much more than small talk. Taking care of ourselves and our wellness as a whole can be overlooked when life is busy, but this year has given all of us new perspective on the importance.
- In a year where so many things were taken away from us; travel, social gatherings, extracurricular activities, and more. The loss of these simple freedoms has made us appreciate everything we have and given us a new appreciation for life moving forward.
Let’s work together to make 2021 a positive year filled with appreciation and better health and wellness for all.