Deep in the midst of COVID-19 lockdown at the height of a raging global pandemic we are all more than happy to put this year behind and fast-forward through this long dark tunnel to the shining light ahead.
I took a silent moment today to sit down to reflect on the year and my mind and fingers just would NOT stop. And, I left feeling refreshed and ready to take on 2021.
The year was saturated with a rollercoaster of emotions for everyone: struggle, fear, worry, uncertainty, anxiety, panic, loneliness, doubt, devastation, judgement, while clenching onto hope, curiosity, appreciation, gratitude, and faith. Riding this wild rollercoaster together/apart we have all lost something, or even someone during what has felt like an eternal nightmare or a very long Twilight Zone episode. This year’s universal jolt forced us all to make large pivots with how our lives operate on a daily basis. It forced most of us to slow down and count our blessings. However, while reflecting today it is clear that 2020 was also sprinkled far and wide with gifts and lessons. After all, during the muck of COVID-19 the flowers still bloomed.
Podcast Therapy
During the many moments when I felt overwhelmed by emotions, I found my medicine. I experienced such relief by lacing up my shoes, going outside for a walk, or a run, and listening to two of my favourite podcast hosts: Rob Dial Jr’s Mindset Mentor, and Jay Shetty’s On Purpose. Each step, each breath, each heartbeat, has been a journey within myself where I come home refreshed and enlightened that this year is all part of life’s continual lesson and that life does not happen to me but life happens for me. I am meant to be here right now learning from this process, and 2020 (though it sure feels like it somedays) was not a mistake.
I am the furthest thing from perfect, and I am chalk-full of vulnerabilities, imperfections, but so is the world. With these faults and struggles bring the curiosity necessary for adaptation, growth and change.
Recently, this podcast inspired me to sit still and reflect on 20 things that I have learned in 2020. It was truly a healing process making this list!! I hope you enjoy and are inspired to make your own list.
20 Things I Have Learned From 2020
1) Do what you can’t
Take the word can’t out of my vocabulary. Two specific inspirations on this particular topic 1) excellent podcast episode with Matthew McConaughey, 2) Casey Neistat’s do what you can’t video. I love both!!
2) Be vulnerable
Be imperfect, express love, express weaknesses, express my true self, fail. It is okay to fail. Vulnerability can be my biggest strength. I am never broken, I am simply aware.
3) Life does not happen TO me, life happens FOR me
I am meant to be EXACTLY where I am…right here and right now and to learn from the process.
4) Let go. Just be
Be okay with who I am not what I do. I am a Human Being not a Human Doing. Stop worrying about what other people think. “I am not what I think I am, and I am not what you think I am. I am what I think you think I am” ~ Charles Horton. This can be SO true – how about…”It is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else’s life with perfection” ~ Bhagavad Gita 3.35
5) Always be open to learning more
Always be growing. I do not know what I do not know.
6) Be okay with uncertainty
The only thing I am certain about in life is that uncertainty exists.
7) Practice gratitude
Focus on gratitude for all I have, and appreciate all people who have impacted my life no matter how small or large those have been.
8) Be kind
Be kind and aware of others at all time. Just like an illness like COVID-19 can go viral, so can love. A smile is contagious. Every single person is fighting their own battle in life. Treat others as I wish to be treated.
9) Move
When feeling stagnant move and learn. Go for a walk, run or just simply move. Find a podcast or audiobook to listen to while moving, (even better add a cold shower before or after) it works every time.
10) Adapt to form resilience
What does not bend, breaks. Turn adversity into the opportunity to adapt and grow.
11) Embrace and adore human connection
If this pandemic has taught us all one thing, that is that we are all connected. I absolutely love the inherent human nature that arises when simply participating in a similar activity like walking connects me with a complete stranger. Smile at strangers. (funny…simply writing the word “stranger” brings me a negative feeling of disconnection). We are truly all connected.
12) Evaluate and reflect
Evaluate and reflect on what I want in my life and what I want to focus on. Like today, I strive to reflect each day.
Pain + reflection = progress.
Without reflection I am only left with pain.
Struggling through a problem fuels introspection and the curiosity and urgency necessary to source solutions.
13) Surround myself with happiness
Surround myself people and things that bring happiness and empower the good in me. This can be people or things. Here are a few happy way things that have got me through 2020
14) The world has goodness
Focus on what I love, not on what is wrong. Do what I love and love what I do. Focus on finding solutions not problems.
15) Avoid media
Source facts and form my own knowledge, not other’s. My go-to during the pandemic to help me understand has been sourcing through scientific journals and watching pretty much every one of Dr Roger Seheult’s MedCram Videos.
16) Creation is medicine
Personally this is a huge one for me. Whether it is art, photography, my website, videography, creation is such a healing vehicle for expression. Finishing a painting, writing, pressing publish or finishing a video edit brings me pure joy and satisfaction. I discovered the website Skillshare, and have gone through a ton of videography and photography courses recently.
17) Laughter is medicine
Be silly, enjoy, bring joy and positive energy whenever and wherever I can.
18) Find the beauty of my own backyard
After taking 30 flights in 2019, our travel like everyone’s took a solid stop in 2020. We were so fortunate to step up from tent camping and buy a pop-up trailer and explored so much beauty here in Ontario. I fell in love with my own province.
19) Don’t judge a book by its cover
Each one of us has a story and a lifetime of shaping into who we are today. There is no right or wrong, but simply. This (lengthy but so worth it) podcast truly enlightened me into reasoning behind how humans act and react.
20) Read more
This, I struggle with as I am not a “reader” per se as I usually fall asleep the second I open a book, but I cannot end this blog without a shout out for the BEST BOOK EVER. Jay Shetty’s Think like a Monk is a must read, and re-read full of lessons.
MUCH love and wishing everyone health and happiness in 2021!
