I know this is late, but I have been really swamped with so many things in my life as of late, that I have finally been able to sit down and collect my thoughts about what truly stood out in 2020 for me, the very things that made it worthwhile, and the moments that truly changed me forever.
We all have suffered so many things since the beginning of 2020. This worldwide pandemic really turned 2020 into one of the most horrible years on record, at least in my lifetime. My heart has bled for all those we've lost, the suffering that so many of our fellow human beings have gone through this past year and even now as we enter into the third month of 2021. So many challenges to overcome. Moments of sheer depression, anxiety, fear, pessimism, the list goes on and on.
For me personally, isolation really did me in this past year. It was one of the hardest things I have ever experienced. And I know I'm not alone, not by a long shot! I get cabin fever so easily. And on top of that, adjusting from going to an office, to work from home, which really threw me for a loop and took quite some time to adjust to. I lost my job, temporarily for 3 months, which thank goodness for savings and tax refunds and the stimulus and the love of good friends and family. Eventually, I got used to being at home, I adjusted, I took time for myself more, learned to relish in the small moments of joy and wonder that exist each and every day. I got a renewed sense of the wonder of nature as well. But the two important things that got me through, were friends and social media, including Facetime, Zoom, and Skype.
Now, I know there is so much negativity surrounding social media, so many people hate it, and all they can do is criticize it. I chose to focus on the incredibly positive things associated with it, including when the most maligned, Tik-Tok came onto the scene. When I first heard of it, I had no interest. But through a very dear friend of mine, I was introduced to it. I started observing and indeed saw a lot of negativity, but, one day, I started skipping over those negative posts, and started focusing on the positive ones, and rediscovered that there are so many really good people out there, despite the pandemic and the past and current political environment. I saw the power behind this particular type of social media and the power it had to instantly let people who are suffering, feeling unworthy of friendship and love, and sometimes just needing a boost, help to realize that they are not alone and there are people out there ready to accept them no matter what.
So I began to duet a couple of videos I liked, and then braved out into humorous, and yes, sometimes naughty videos, and also sharing and dueting positive reinforcement posts, and all of a sudden I met total strangers who now have become really good friends of mine. It is amazing the positive power that social media has, if you look for it and focus on that, not the negativity. The world is so full of that crap, why add to it!
I have also experienced the love and support of many of my long-time friends here locally and elsewhere. Some of these friendships have been renewed, made stronger, and it reminded me of how much I have to be grateful for. This was truly one of my top 10 events of 2020, the discovery of the positives of social media as well as the power of strong friendships. As well, the inspiration behind watching others struggle, just like I do, and how they overcame those struggles, and sometimes, still trying to overcome them. We can all inspire each other if we let it happen more often!
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