Simply Misunderstood XO

^{Photo Credit: Michael A. McCoy for The New York Times}

As we start to settle into the new year and get comfy with looking forward to the future, I can’t help but notice how much hatred people have expressed toward 2020.

It may have been the year of a global pandemic, political uproar, racial injustice, and economic turmoil, however, I truly believe these negative people are all missing something.

With those struggles came opportunity.

An opportunity to grow.
An opportunity to reflect.
An opportunity to learn.
An opportunity to help.
An opportunity to educate.
An opportunity to understand.
An opportunity to change the world.

Yes, loved ones may have contracted the COVID-19 virus. And as truly unfortunate as that is, what did that do to you? 

It WOKE YOU UP! It taught you to APPRECIATE what you have while you have it. To be THANKFUL for those who are healthy. To take it easy on yourself and don’t sweat the small stuff.

Yes, Americans became even more divided than they have been probably since the Civil War. No matter what side you were on, did you notice what happened?

It WOKE YOU UP! It made you take a stance on the issues. It made you pay attention. It made you realize just how important it is to have the right people in power. Keep doing your research, fact checking, but most importantly, LISTEN to what people have to say. Even though your first instinct may be to argue everything, it may be in your best interest to sit back and listen. We HAVE to find compromise.

Yes, social injustice came to the forefront because of the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and so many more. How did that make you feel?

It WOKE YOU UP! It caused you to raise your voice and PROTEST. It forced you to get educated and actually recognize what was going on. It caused an uproar and gave momentum to a movement that needs to be heard. Not just in 2020, but well into 2021 and beyond. Change takes time; it takes longer when you forget and stop caring.

Yes, there was a recession and people lost their jobs, businesses, and financial stability. And my heart aches for those people; I can’t even imagine. But, do you know what that did?

It WOKE YOU UP! It taught you nothing is certain. How important it is to SAVE. You learned how to pivot, whether that be in a career path, business strategy, or outlook on the future. Life is unpredictable so you have to do your best to be prepared. And learn to open your heart and help others who aren’t as fortunate to still have what you do.

So, as much as everyone is excited to see the year gone, we shouldn’t be trashing it completely. If you forget all that 2020 brought, you’ll live life at a complete LOSS. And I mean more of a loss than all of 2020 brought the world itself.

With that being said, I ask that you take a look again and please reconsider your attitude toward 2020. There’s a lot to learn and a lot of lessons we can take away from all of this.

After all, when it’s written in the history books how do you want it to be known to future generations? That all of that happened and the world is still just as awful? OR that because we went through all of that the world turns out to a better place? Think about it.