The biggest lessons of 2020

This year will always go down as a wild year. I look back at us welcoming in 2020 with such excitement and anticipation. Little did we know this year would disappear in a blink of an eye where it feels almost as though we were robbed of a whole year of our lives.

It really does feel like that at times when restrictions are tightened again and the news feels overwhelming. I don’t know about you but I have to limit my interactions with the news. I wasn’t one to read a paper or peruse the BBC but even just the snippets of news on the radio are a struggle right now.

I can’t talk for the collective when it comes to lessons learnt from this year. But obvs…as per usual…I will share my own. Maybe some will resonate. Perhaps you have others you would like to share in the chat below. I’d love to hear.

As we hop over the halfway mark of December it really feels like 2021 is nearing. I write this letter to you after the evening of the new moon. It still feels dark and as though I am depleted in much energy. You may feel the same. A dark new moon = the need for rest.

So when we write lessons learnt it really depends on the frame of mind we are in right? So let’s see where my stream of consciousness writing takes me today.

• 2020 has been a challenging year when it comes to people. Looking at those who truly, deeply bring love and joy to our lives. We have had to look at these relationships in ways we haven’t before by picking those in our bubbles, choosing households to mix with and what it means to only meet with 6 outdoors.
• The UK seems to think they are their own little island and nout can upset their delicate British balance and yet here we are in the middle of a pandemic with a leader who is really pretty poor at his job, Brexit with the biggest potential for there to be no deal and a constant stream of racism through real life examples and keyboard warriors. So when the UK stands-up and starts spouting how we ain’t as bad as what goes on in America. Think 2020 has proved that is very incorrect.
• Simple things can always and will always be taken for granted. The chance to go to the library for a new library book smelling novel. The simple option to meet a friend in a cafe. The joy it brings to take small children to the parks.
• Slowing down on a more regular basis is absolutely OK. In fact, the sheer panic of FOMO is lost when you realise that if everyone slowed down as a collective and were forced to; it would bring positives to lives, nature and our country as a whole.

• Corporates have monopoly and small businesses continue to need supporting and sharing. Now more than ever. In fact, let’s look at our towns and cities. The real dream is for more independents and yet this year has ripped businesses away more than any other. The government don’t seem to care for the small people so we need to.
• You will never understand the behaviours and actions of others. All we can do is focus inwards on ourselves to work through our light and our dark. Others won’t be ready to do this and maybe never will. As long as you can heal yourself you can also heal for the collective. For those who aren’t ready.
• Reading, writing, amplifying black voices isn’t enough. We must ensure we actually stand-up and sacrifice our white privileges for there to be real changes made.
• When you strip it back completely you can find yourself again pre-conditioning and realise that though you feel you have made mistakes along the way. This was your path. You must take leaps because without leaps you won’t move forward. No longer do we need to hide in our own shadows but explore them and use them for the greater good.
• Trying to do it all is literally impossible. We cannot be working, running a house, keeping up with day to day stresses and in some peoples’ cases then be super parents where their children don’t get a little bit bored. If we try to do it all then we burn out and get ill. Surrendering to the fact that perfectionism in all things can’t be strived for- hell not even mediocre in some cases. Wait- who even sets these goals? The knowledge that we need to ask for help is a necessity to survive.
• The media is an awful place to submerge yourself in when it comes to news articles. They are all controlled and it is carefully curated to brainwash us in ways I had not noticed pre 2020. Though one didn’t fully believe every word written I wonder if I was ever careful enough to see how they can force a certain story on the nation to create lies and prejudice.
• You have to use our common sense in times of crisis. Following the flock is not necessarily the right thing to do for you as an individual or for your family. There will always be others also looking outside of the usual places for validation and understanding. Though we need to be stretching our friendship groups and follows on social media. You must be brave and look outside the norm to ensure we have a rounded picture.
• You can still reach goals and dreams when you find clarity in what it is you really want and heal the wounds binding us.
• There’s a strong chance that the 2020 excuse for ‘sorry loves- covid’ will continue until at least 2035.

Naomi x