Somehow, ending this past year felt a bit like passing a kidney stone.
Hindsight is 2020–what will this new year bring? Every year begins with high hopes. At this time last year we were hoping and expecting for 2020 to hold great promise.
The reality for 2020 fell short of expectations.
Only several months into 2020, we found ourselves in the midst of a global pandemic, and a resulting financial crisis that has affected millions. We’ve endured a contentious political and election cycle. In 2020 we had hurricanes on the east coast and Gulf states. Tornadoes in the midwest. The western states, including my home state of Oregon, experienced catastrophic fires and smoke.
The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed the lives of more than 300,000 Americans, and many more around the world, and has sickened millions. The virus affected our ability to enjoy sports, movies, restaurants, holidays. Millions of people missed out on special events such as weddings, graduations, travel, etc. Even the Olympics were postponed until 2021.
Many people found themselves quarantining or working at home for much of the year. Schools had to shift to online teaching.
On top of all of that, the year ended with a tragic Christmas Day bombing in the city of Nashville, TN. Thankfully, there were few injuries and no fatalities other than the bomber.
Yes, 2020 was not all we had hoped it would be at this point a year ago.
We’re hopeful that 2021 will be better.
Maybe with more cautious optimism than we had a year ago. And there is reason to think so, but no guarantees of it. There are never guarantees.
Many–most–of these major events are beyond our control. All we can control is how we respond to them. Difficult times, not easy ones, are typically what make us stronger.
While there is reason to think things may improve this year, we may need to adjust our expectations. Many of the crises of 2020 are still with us as we enter 2021. The virus is worse than ever, at least for now. Millions still suffer from the financial crisis. Political divisions are as contentious as ever.
Starting a new year doesn’t change everything all at once. A year is really only a way of marking time, but the turning of the calendar doesn’t by itself change events. Unlike a board game, it doesn’t all go back in the box at the end of the year, with everything starting over from zero on January 1. We don’t reshuffle and start with a brand new hand. Much of what has made 2020 so challenging will not just disappear. These things will continue to influence 2021.
That may not sound very rosy, but it is the way things work.
So, was 2020 a complete dumpster fire? Were there no good things, no benefits from what we’ve experienced?
Indeed, there are some positive aspects to the year just past, and similar benefits we may experience in the year ahead.
In the year 2020:
- We learned a great deal of innovation. Necessity really is the mother of invention. Innovative developments appeared in all kinds of industries and other aspects of our lives.
- People are learning new skills. Computer-related skills in particular, but people are also learning languages, cooking and baking playing instruments, getting degrees (online), etc.
- Scientists created coronavirus vaccines, within the space of months rather than years. These medical breakthroughs will have profound ripple effects throughout the scientific and healthcare fields. These scientific achievements will be celebrated in books and films in the years to come.
- A cleaner environment–due to more renewable energy technologies, and admittedly, virus-induced reduced commercial activity and travel.
- A record number of Americans voted in the recent election.
- Africa is now free of polio.
- We have all benefited from the selfless service of countless first responders and essential workers.
- People have used zoom and other video-calling tools to connect directly with family and friends in ways that they never did through social media.
- Family-owned drive-in movie theaters have made a comeback.
- A baby panda was born at the National Zoo!
So, maybe 2020 wasn’t all bad!
Furthermore, 2021 is still in front of us. While the challenges of 2020 haven’t somehow disappeared with the turn of the calendar, there is promise in the year ahead. Don’t wait for 2021 to “happen” to you. Take control of making this coming year what you want it to be.
Call to Action
There are many tips I could give you for thriving in this coming year. I will plan to do so in future messages, but for now I’m going to give you just one.
My suggestion is to think and plan in terms of the next 90 days, the next quarter, rather than thinking of the entire year at once.
Whatever personal goals or plans you may have, a year is just too big of a timeframe. Your goals get lost as the weeks and months go by.
But planning for a 90 day period is much more manageable.
The next step is to break that 90 day period into three one-month timeframes. Decide what you are going to do each week within each of the monthly periods. You can readjust before you start the next month, based on the progress you’ve made.
By setting goals within smaller time-frames, and only working 90 days out at a time, I believe you’ll be encouraged by the progress you make going into the next quarterly period.
This very simple approach to planning and structuring your time and goals will make a difference.
Here’s to thriving in your Life and Style for 2021!
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For more on life and style for men, see https://cliffordberger.com/about-me/
