A year and more of a world pandemic, many lockdowns and a lot of losses. What could we possibly be grateful for in the year that was 2020? Here is a little list of 6 positive things to take from 2020, that may help you feel differently.
1 It’s okay to not be perfect at everything
With everybody committing last March to learning a new skill, there was a certain pressure to feel you were using lockdown to achieve something. As time went on and there were more lockdowns, I think many of us came to realise, that it was okay to have not mastered everything from a 6 pack tummy thanks to daily workouts, to Ritz afternoon tea worthy banana bread. For both Damian and I, we had a lot of work on that meant we didn’t have days of learning Spanish, or completing art courses.
I did however reach the conclusion that I can cook, but I am not a keen baker, or cake maker at all. I find it stressful and in a whole year, very rarely got a sourdough, or banana loaf to work to perfection. And do you know what … a year on, I am content with that. I enjoy cooking, but for cakes and breads, I have no shame in heading to one of our many local artisans to buy these goodies.
2 Nomads & Settlers can both be happy
I would guess the world was split 50/50 in the year of 2020 in that for every person that wanted to travel and explore, there was a person that was happy to settle in their own local surroundings. I am of course, very much in the travel team.
Back when time began, humans were Nomads who moved around and lived off the land and moved again to avoid using all the earth’s resources in that location. It was when the aspect of farming came in to play, that groups started to settle in one place. I think the last year has probably shown you if you are naturally a Nomad, or a Settler. Did you feel content being in your part of the world and have a new respect for staying local?
I have always known I am a Nomad. I have weirdly no loyalty to a place, house, or location. I know for many of you, this sounds really harsh and cold, but I feel that the people and things that are important to be in my life will stay in it, no matter where I am. I moved away from my home town at 18 really. I went on sabbatical for 4 months. I have no issues moving house, or jobs for that matter. So yes a year at home has given me the excitement of getting out there again with a fresh perspective for how fortunate I will be to do just that.
3 You have found the things you value most in life
When things are taken away, you realise what is important. When people travel around the world, there are often things they come to value and we are not just talking about Yorkshire Tea here. Many people came to value the NHS, their family and friends and teachers. For those of you who lost a loved one, you will have no doubt found value in the fact that they were in your life and you are treasuring the memories. What did you realise were the things that add more value to your everyday life? What do you not want to be without again and will you make a note of it, to not take it for granted when things open up and get busy again?
Top of my list was my health of course. Looking after my wellbeing and happiness is more important than being on top of every new social media option, or having the latest trend that a fashion blogger tells me I absolutely need to have to transition from lockdown to Spring in the park. I have to say though, I never spent a single day in PJs in the last year – I just can’t do it … I have to get dressed!
4 Change is a constant you have coped with
Change is a fear for so many, but just look how much change every single one of us has battled through during the pandemic. You are braver than you think! There is always change in life and hopefully this past year has taught you some strategies to cope with it.
I love a bit of change and don’t underestimate how lucky I am to feel like that. I see change as an opportunity to learn, develop, grieve, focus, move on, push a comfort zone, smash a tired, long held belief that may not be serving you well and explore new things.
5 There is joy to be had in the little things
This old cliche came to the forefront when we were forced to stop, pause, reflect and just look around us. Did you take any photos of the small things that kept you going? Watching nature, listening to your kids on zoom lessons, or that new local walk you had previously never bothered to go on.
My little things of joy have been turning the zoom camera towards the dog so my mum can see her. I mean it is not like the dog is going to chat to her, but we both find it funny to do this. Technology that meant we could watch the theatre on our TV. Having time to chat to neighbours as we pass by walking our dogs, because we were not rushing off to drive to a meeting. A phone that has meant I could document all the weirdness of our pandemic year. A moment in history.
6 You have discovered you do have an inner creative
Hands up if you have ever said, “Oh I’m not creative.” I think the modern academic school system beats the creativity out of us and stops us believing we have any artistic ability whats-so-ever. Yet how many of you made a dinner out of cupboard leftovers and peas from the freezer – it’s always peas left in the freezer isn’t it?! Who helped the kids make something either for a project, or to keep them busy for 5 minutes? Did you master that TikTok dance with your teenager? Give yourself a gold star if you created a night out, but in – it means you were using your imagination and creativity. You don’t have to be able to paint a copy of the Mona Lisa to be creative. You simply have to use that part of your brain that you have told yourself is not there.
I finally made my wire fairy from a kit bought in Trentham Gardens years ago. We created a few date nights ranging from going to the theatre in our studio, to having a campfire meal made on our fire pit. We have decorated rooms and are constantly designing a future garden over lots of sketches and scraps of paper. We might actually get around to doing the work on it at some point. Watch this space.
What are your positives of the last year? I hope you can find them and see there is light out there.
