2021 is Here
Early January is here and with it comes a time to reflect on the past year. It was a different year than we expected, and it was full of new challenges and new norms. At times we felt things could not get worse but, as always, we found a way to get to the end. As we begin 2021 we must consider what the past year has taught us and we must look toward the future to create new opportunities to put these life lessons to practice. We shape our future, and we must continue to fight for our society.
Learning to Make Safer World
COVID-19 brought about a new way of doing business and protecting ourselves. Never in our lifetimes has such an emphasis been put on cleanliness and never have we tried so hard to isolate ourselves from each other. The country shut down for several weeks, people lost their jobs, and we did not really know what to do. As the year progressed, we learned the value of cleaning surfaces, of wearing masks, and keeping social distance. Even though we did not achieve the results we wanted, we learned a lot along the way. In order to move forward as a society, we must evaluate what happened and identify where mistakes were made. That being said, we must do this in a way where we do not dwell on blame. Mistakes were made, they always are, but if we learn together, we can help prevent a future outbreak.
Caring for Each Other
The news is full of stories about corruption and crime. We spend a lot of time thinking about the bad things that happened in our neighborhoods, but we often overlook the good. Yes, thousands of people have died and thousands more have lost their jobs. This is a known fact, but we often neglected the millions of acts of kindness. There are long lines at food banks as families struggles, but there are also countless numbers of people who have contributed to the food bank. Volunteer networks have arranged for larger food pick up programs and have found new ways to safely staff and support these efforts. As a society, we have banded together to try to help those around us. Many local communities started programs to help small restaurants survive. We have made efforts to shop local and to be thoughtful about the needs of those around us. We must not dwell on the people who do not want to do their part. The “Ken’s and Karen’s” of the world make a small precent of the population and we must remember that the acts of good and kindness have far outweighed the acts of evil.
Looking Forward
We must remember to leave the past behind us and to look toward the future. Many of us experienced hardship in 2020. This could be from the loss of a loved one, this could be from a loss of employment, or this can be from any number of other things that did not go our way. As the New Year begins, take a few minutes to focus on the future. What do we want to achieve and how will we get it done? Some people make New Years resolutions while others make personal commitments. It does not matter what you call it but make a change for good. Try to better yourself through setting goals and planning to achieve them. Make plans and follow through with them. This can be personal or professional. Sit back and consider what is best for your future and the future of your family and take a step toward this goal. Remember that Rome was not built in a night. Progress takes time and effort so do not lose focus early and stay committed to whatever you decide to do.
Stay Yourself and Be Kind
Part of what got us through a tough 2020 as a society was staying true to who we are and through acts of kindness. Americans are good and faithful people, and we all have morals we try to live by. Stay true to yourself and do not wavier in your convictions. Additionally, we showed an enormous capacity for generosity in 2020. It is through individual acts of kindness that we move forward together. So do not let a bad day or a bad choice ruin your good spirits. Stay positive, look toward the future, and strive for greatness. If everyone does these few things, 2021 will be remembered for being a great year.
Happy New Year to everyone and together let’s make 2021 great.