My 20 Takeaways From 2020
Thanks to everyone who encouraged me to share my 20 takeaways from 2020--here they are! The whole list ended up being much longer than 20 items, I guess understandably because a lot happened this year. These are the takeaways I’m choosing to share (in no particular order).
I thought hard about keeping my list just for me because I’m aware not everyone will agree with what I have to say, or maybe my takeaways are news to no one. But I do think it’s important for people to feel comfortable telling their stories and speaking their truths, however they choose to do so. I suppose this is my way of speaking mine! If even one resonates, then great :)
Good health and a fully functioning body are the most valuable commodity, not ever to be taken for granted.
Time and energy are both close runner-ups.
And so it isn’t necessary to expend valuable time and energy staying in unconstructive conversations, especially ones that deny my experiences.
If something requires little energy to do, or is otherwise a mild inconvenience (i.e. holding the door open, wearing a mask) but is considerate of others, it’s best to just do it.
I can’t control a lot of what happens to me, but what I can control is my mindset and my reaction--these two things I absolutely can control.
I definitely can’t control another person’s opinion of me. Someone or another will always have an opinion, whether they express it outwardly or not. External opinions have nothing to do with me and everything to do with the person expressing them. Similarly, my own opinions and feelings towards others (negative or positive) have everything to do with me and nothing to do with whomever or whatever I’m projecting on.
Practicing gratitude everyday does help to put things into perspective and does help to develop a “glass half full” outlook on life.
Being real on social media is better than being “perfect” on social media. Perfect is subjective, and a universal idea of perfect doesn’t exist. I can (and should) use socials to embrace and love my entirety.
Good news does not always have to be shared on socials. Sometimes, my wins, successes, and positive news can be just for me.
I should constantly be making an effort to diversify my following in all of the online spaces I am part of. This is an easy way to gain exposure to people who are different from me with lived experiences unlike my own. This year I started following so many BIPOC yoga teachers, lawyers, businesses, and content creators. I feel lucky to see them, listen to them, and witness their stories online. BIPOC lives matter.
On that note, I shouldn’t be so shy about telling my own story. “Even if you think your life is normal, I guarantee there are parts of your life that no one else has experienced before, and that people would be interested in learning about” -- Alka Joshi said this during a virtual book club discussion about her novel The Henna Artist, and I think about this quote often.
When the excess is taken away, simple sources of joy become more apparent. Entire cities shut down because of the pandemic, and almost overnight, most of us were left without our usual routines, vices, and escapes from reality. Pre-pandemic, so much of my life was moving fluidly from one scheduled distraction to the next, until suddenly it was the end of the day. The lockdown took the distractions away, and I was obligated to slow down and appreciate “everyday little things” -- these became so much clearer and obvious. For example, I never realized before how much I love my messy and random collection of coffee mugs. And because working from home meant I had to make my own coffee every morning, I got to enjoy coffee in each one. This surprisingly made me so happy, when before I never really noticed the feeling my random mugs gave me.
Diet is not limited to food. It's also who I spend my time with, what I read/watch/listen to, and who I engage with online. Even though on most days, the internet and media contribute to information overload, I do have some power (more power than I think) to control what and who I have access to, and who has access to me.
There are a number of ways a person can stand up for a cause they believe in and people do, in fact, advocate in different ways. As long as a person has their heart in the right place when advocating, who am I to judge how they choose to do it. Advocacy is personal and a lot of it happens behind the scenes.
Using the word “healthy” invariably and universally is outdated. Actually, “health and wellness” are such subjective terms, and if something is healthy for me, it doesn’t mean it will also be healthy for you and vice versa. Healthy doesn’t have to mean restricting, monitoring or controlling. Healthy can mean different things for different people.
It’s important to reflect, constantly, on what I see and hear on the news because so much of it is negative. Continuously being exposed to negative information at a rapid-fire rate can desensitize a person. I should often be asking myself what the news means, who it might be affecting, and how it might be affecting them.
It’s important to critically think about all the information I obtain from the news, media, and socials, especially in areas that are outside of my expertise. I don’t know everything. If someone were to post something about a legal case or new legislation, of course I would research the source. So why act differently with information outside of my arena?
As important as it is to converse with people who share my politics, it is also important to converse with people who don’t. Respectful conversation and open lines of communication lead to less polarization between people and serve as important learning opportunities.
Silence and observation are underrated practices that contribute fundamentally to good communication. Not every conversation warrants my “two cents.” Observing in silence allows me to really listen and contribute something of value to a discussion. Tone in communication is also underrated and should constantly be checked.
I’m not perfect, I will never be perfect, and I’m not meant to be perfect. All I can do is my best, and that’s perfectly OK!