Summary

The year 2020 is retrospectively viewed as a period of personal growth, resilience, and introspection, marked by lessons in self-awareness, family connection, letting go, friendship, self-improvement, and embracing solitude amidst the challenges of a global pandemic.

Abstract

The author reflects on the year 2020 as a transformative period that brought about unexpected personal development. Despite the hardships of the pandemic, the year offered an opportunity to reconnect with family on a deeper level and engage in more meaningful conversations. It also taught the art of letting go of transient attachments, fostering stronger friendships through virtual connections, and honing culinary skills. The pandemic-induced pause allowed for a reset in life priorities, the development of new, healthier habits, and a reevaluation of what truly matters. The author also emphasizes the importance of self-expression through writing, the benefits of unplugging from social media, and the value of embracing alone time for personal growth. The essay concludes with an encouragement to take charge of one's life, pursue happiness, and maintain resilience in the face of adversity.

Opinions

The pandemic provided a unique chance to deepen family bonds and have more significant conversations beyond the superficial.
Letting go of the need for material things like professional grooming or the latest gadgets led to a greater appreciation for the present and the people in one's life.
The isolation experienced during the pandemic highlighted the importance of friendships and the need to maintain and cherish them, even virtually.
The lockdown period was an opportune time to improve cooking skills and explore different cuisines.
Taking a pause from the pre-pandemic hustle allowed for a much-needed reset, enabling individuals to reassess their priorities and focus on what is genuinely important.
Developing good habits, such as gardening, learning new languages, or regular exercise, became more feasible with the extra time available.
Writing and publishing personal blogs became a therapeutic outlet and a means to enhance self-awareness.
Deactivating social media accounts significantly reduced stress and anxiety, leading to more meaningful in-person interactions and increased productivity.
Alone time became more valued, as it provided space for reading, listening to podcasts, and personal reflection without societal pressure.
The author encourages readers to take responsibility for their happiness and to persevere, emphasizing that the beauty of life lies in its unpredictability and the strength one gains from overcoming challenges.

Lessons I Learned in the Year 2020

You will make it through this and become stronger

Image Source: Elisabeth Wales on Unsplash

The year 2020 ended and now we have time for ourselves to reflect on the past year. Amidst a pandemic, the year 2020 was challenging, with lots of unusual changes.

As I am reflecting on the past year and thinking, I am surprised to have learned many unexpected things and discovered more about myself. If not the pandemic, I would have never realized my potential and done things that I did with minimal or no help.

I have become more self-aware and developed self-compassion to achieve my goals professionally and personally. This year allowed us to look inwards and retrospect things we are usually doing the same way every year.

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These are my things that I learned in the year of 2020. Which of these lessons did you learn last year?

Reconnecting with family on a deeper level and with more meaningful conversations — Yeah, it’s true. As I had free time on my hands, my conversations automatically became more than they used to be. We moved beyond monotonous talks. It made me realize how much warmth and love I’ve cultivated throughout the years, and how strong they are.

If you still have not reconnected with your loved one, I suggest you take a step ahead and revive your relationship.

Image Source: Photo by Elisabeth Wales on Unsplash

Learning the art of letting go — Nothing lasts forever. Forever is a lie, everything is transitory.

I’ve learned how to be happy with myself, and I don’t need a three-color hair processing or a professional manicure. I don’t need to own the latest, fastest laptop or smartphone. I am releasing old habits and gaining wisdom. I have gratitude for what I have and who I am. What I do need is my family and friends to be safe and well.

If you are still holding back, it is time to let it go and reassess your life routines and accommodate more healthy and sustainable habits. It’s never too late to reinvent yourself and time is now.

Connecting with friends and acquaintances — In all other things, I really got to know who my closest friends are. I connected with neighbors and strangers during my runs in my community. I have felt isolated and alone when pandemic hit last year, but chatting over Zoom video calls and Face time to friends made me realize the power of friendship. I am going to cherish these moments all my life.

This is the time to prioritize your connections and make more meaningful and deeper connections with your friends. It’s all about finding people who value you the same way you value yourself.

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Learned to be a better cook— It’s true. Staying at home definitely made me a better cook as well. I tried many cuisines and now I am pleased with the outcome (wink!).

If you are still living on frozen, packaged and processed food, it’s better to invest some time and learn to cook. Once you get used to it, you are absolutely going to enjoy it.

Start with simple and easy recipes and go from there.

Pressing Reset — Before the pandemic, we were all hustling from one thing to another and really had any time to restart or look back, consumed with lots of information and things that we usually do everyday without even realizing it.

I learned to pause and restart when I am ready. I took plenty of mental rest days and allowed myself to be present in the moment. I began scheduling time to do my real job — to authentically connect, process, and create. That’s the work that matters.

If in this new year you want to change anything, I would recommend you to press reset for a moment and reflect on your priorities, goals, and look for the things that matters the most.

Developing good habits — Life is all about learning, unlearning, and relearning. This pandemic really taught us to be more resilient. As work shifted to home, I learned to manage work and home at the same time.

With free time in hand, you can pick a new hobby. Like gardening, learning a new language, reading books or starting a 30-minute fitness routine. It’s all about caring for yourself so that you can care for your family and people around you.

Reflecting on my writing— I have been writing blogs for about 5–6 years now but hardly had any guts to publish them. In this pandemic, I overcame people’s judgement. It made me a better writer and more self aware.

So if you like writing, why not start with a journal or start your own blog. You can pick any topic you may feel passionate about.

Unplug from the internet — What I learned to be most beneficial during 2020 was the power of shutting down my social media accounts. I deleted a few of my social media accounts, and it reduced my stress and anxiety instantly.

I have good, meaningful conversations with people that choose to talk to me, and I find I am more productive without the distractions of my feeds.

If any of your social media profiles bringing you anxiety, depression or you’re in FOMO, it’s better to deactivate your accounts for a while and think what is more important to you.

Image Source: https://unsplash.com/@elventhorncreations

Learning and embracing alone time — I have always enjoyed being alone. Alone with my small circle. But I often felt guilt and pressure because of this preference.

During 2020, I have learned and can embrace the choices I make about how I spend my time. About how many books I read, podcasts I listen to and meals I make. The weight feels lighter and the explanations are unnecessary.

The increase in alone time during the pandemic has taught me how important it is to recharge, carve out time in my day for less stimulation, and simply enjoy a moment alone.

Tbh, you are not alone in this pandemic. Many of us felt clueless, depressed and thinking about what is going to happen next. However, this new year, take charge of your actions and take more responsibility for yourself and who you want to be.

It’s never too late to re-start, look for things that make you happy and content. You have one life to live, — make most of it and the best you can. Things may knock you down, but it’s your strength that builds you back up. Never give up and never give up on your life. It is beautiful.

Be Bold

Be Courageous

Be Your Best