The lessons 2020 taught me

2020 started like every other year, I wished my family and friends “Happy New Year” and wished them all the best for the year. And I started implementing some of the wonderful plans I had for year. One plan was to go on road trips to various touristic sites across Jamaica and another was to visit family in the United Kingdom. I wasted no time in executing my road trip plan. In January 2020, I enjoyed Rocky Point White Sands Beach in Clarendon and in February 2020, I visited Blue Lagoon and Boston Beach in Portland. And then it was March 2020 – I attended Day 2 of the Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum Festival and then my world (our world) was upended – the COVID-19 pandemic had arrived in Jamaica and with it arrival we had the imposition of nightly curfews, the closure of schools, implementation of work from home arrangements for “non-essential workers”, closure of Jamaica’s borders, directives to wear masks and wash our hands regularly, and a plethora of other measures and restrictions.

The impact of COVID-19 was both negative and positive. The daily news briefings were inundated with reports of increasing deaths worldwide, health care systems in some countries buckled under the pressure, and some people had panic attacks and other negative reactions as we all fought to come to terms with what was happening. On the positive side, the pandemic has showed us how to value our lives. It has taught us how important it was to spend quality time with the ones we love, take care of our mental health, count our blessings and don’t take anything or anyone for granted.

Looking back at 2020, here are some of the lessons I have learnt:

§ Taking care of myself is a priority. The restrictions that were imposed because of COVID-19 pandemic forced to me slow down and spend more time taking care of my physical and mental well-being. I have been exercising regularly (of course I knew about the importance of exercising and would talk about doing it but was never consistent) and being more intentional and careful about what I eat. I do not need to be productive all the time. Taking a break is not being idle, selfish or lazy; rather, it is a part of being productive.

§ I am capable of more things that I had thought. I discovered hidden talents (e.g. graphic designing) and unearthed hidden ones (e.g. writing poems and inspirational messages). This website/blog was created and launched in November 2020.

§ It’s the small things that matter. The little things that matter even more than ever because of the restrictions that have been imposed in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic have included a hug from a friend, sitting on the beach (enjoying the scenery or reading a book), socializing with friends at work and in social spaces, and regular face-to-face interactions with my friends and family members.

§ Life is precious and should not be wasted. I should make each moment count and be intentional about my actions. Because of this, I have been rewiring my mind with the recognition that time lost cannot be regained. Instead of thinking negatively about a task, I try to identify positive aspects of getting it done, and this gives me the motivation to get it done. Prior to re-organizing my closet, I thought of how much easier it would be to find the things I needed. I eventually organized it and I am thrilled with the result – the closet looks neater and it has been much easier to find what I need to wear.

§ Accept the things that I cannot change. This has meant letting go of things that are outside of my control. It has also meant not getting all bent out of shape about unimportant matters, and that silence is sometimes the best response. Instead of being anxious and full of fear about being infected by the virus, I have been taking the necessary precautions when I leave my home and I am in public places – I wear a mask; I sanitize my hands; I minimize touching surfaces; I avoid crowded places as best as possible; and I maintain as much distance from others as I can.

§ Release that which does not serve me. Releasing that which does not serve me has meant that I have been letting go of the thoughts and emotions that are interfering with my happiness and peace I have been learning from others and I have adapted that which will work for me.

§ Gratitude is a must. There is so much for which I am grateful. I am grateful I made it through 2020. I am happy I have good health, a job, a place to live and food to eat. I am also grateful that I have wonderful people in my life who constantly show me how much they love and care.

§ Financial security is important. I have been re-examining my relationship with money and I have been making wiser spending decisions. I have also come to realize that I need to create additional sources of income so I will have enough money not only for my future (when I am retired) or to withstand shocks such as the current pandemic. Thankfully, I still have a job and there have been no negative impacts on my salary as a result of the pandemic. I know also that this has not been the case for many persons across the world.

§ Working from home is my preferred option. Working from home has been characterised by me being more focused and productive and less stressed. I am happy I do not have to engage in commuting to work, and I have been able to get more sleep in the mornings (I don’t like waking up early). I do however miss the energy of the office, having lunch with my co-workers and engaging in exciting face-to-face conversations.

What lessons did you learn in 2020?

Love, laughter and light!