I’m not usually one for New Year year-in-review posts, but 2020 has seen so much turmoil that I have to say “good riddance”.
In many ways, as a family we’ve been lucky. Home life has been relatively unchanged, other than not having friends around for meals. Everyone we know has escaped so far, though it’s been harder on some than on others. The biggest loss for us was having to abandon a trip to visit family in the UK this summer.
We are all still earning, with all of us in essential services of some sort (groceries, education, provincial government). Again, we’ve been lucky. Many businesses are struggling, although many have also adapted in various ways as our knowledge of the spread evolved: closing doors, partial reopening, new safety procedures, new ways of operating ...
The biggest stresses that I can see emerging are connected: weariness at the constant vigilance and observing of distancing rules, and the lack of social contact.
People tout social media and online meetings. Zoom and Teams work fine for business meetings, but they are no substitute for gathering around a table for a meal or a drink. People keep promoting virtual coffees, virtual dinner parties, virtual water cooler chats, and I’m getting weary of that too because for me they just don’t cut it. Worse, to me they actively emphasize what we can’t do.
Sometimes you just need human closeness. Sometimes you just need a hug. That is the ultimate cruelty of this pandemic – that it’s robbed us of the most fundamental support mechanisms we know.
But my hope for 2021 is that we can learn and adapt in more long-lasting ways. We’ve learned that we don’t need to all gather together in an office in order to work and collaborate. The environment (and our wallets) has benefited from less travel. We could be and should be living and working smarter in future, making use of what we’ve learned this year. We should be looking forward to a kinder and more sustainable world, and treasuring togetherness when we’re finally able to again.
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10 comments:
Hi Ian - so pleased to hear all is well ... so many are tired and exhausted, or bored ... 2020/21 isn't easy but it is on its way out ... stay safe and all the best for the coming year - Hilary
Thank you, Hilary. I hope you're managing to avoid that new variant in the UK, and now it's time to see whether or not the Brexit doomsayers were right.
I agree with your summary, Ian. Zoom and Microsoft Teams are getting old. I really miss the social interaction. I guess I'm fortunate (since no one has gotten sick) that I work in a lab that a friend works in too. Just the two of us most of the time. And we're aware that we depend on each other to practice safe living. I guess that's what you call it--safe living. I hope we get to the end of this tunnel soon. :-)
Happy New Year. :-)
Teresa, safe living is a good term. I think this will be with us far beyond COVID, because I suspect that this won't be the last time our lives will be threatened by the spread of novel diseases.
Happy 2021 Ian. I somehow feel this year will continue with its pandemic challenges! I hope life remains kind to you and yours!
Denise, sad to say it, but I think we've still got a long road ahead.
I do miss the hugs from friends and family.
2021 will be so much better.
Let's hope so, Lynda!
Let's hope we can all glean something useful from our 2020 struggles, like a better appreciation of the things... and the people... who mean the most to us. Not that 2021 is off to that great of a start, but I think I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. (Let's hope it isn't an oncoming train!)
Take care, dear sir, and be safe.
Happy to hear all is mostly well. 2020 was a challenging year to be sure. The new one hasn't improved a whole lot yet, but I'm attempting to be optimistic. I guess as long as we're all healthy, the bills are getting paid, and we're still writing, we'll call it a win.
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