What did you learn this year?

 

A year to remember, they say. They are right. This has been a year like none before.

While 2020 may have adjusted our lifestyle, think of all the things we’ve learned?  

 

Words

‘Pandemic’, ‘systemic’, ‘covid-19’, ‘QAnon’, ‘quarantine’, ‘N95 mask’, ‘virtual school’, ‘zoom meetings’, ‘PPE’, ‘ventilators’ are all words now used commonly in speech.

“How are you?” takes a whole new meaning. The focus of what was on television or the results of the game turns to who is left alive and is there any toilet paper? There are plenty of other words that have become more familiar in the language, but this is a family network.

 

Friends

With so little physical contact and more Internet postings, social distancing has revealed some interesting (and perhaps disturbing) aspects of those we called “friends”.

Excuse it on the politics or the stress or the weather, but many reveled their emotions and positions with such fervor unexpected in a face-to-face conversation. Rather than logical debates, this year has turned into accusations and dismissals. What would have been a ‘slap in the face’ has turned into a ‘delete’.

Lessons learned this year.

 

Self

That you would ‘delete’ ones who used to be called ‘friends’? That you learned to adjust and adapt or find fear? That you could sit in front of a blue glowing screen for hours in your pajamas? That your kids will never leave the house? That your spouse never dresses up or tempts you to go out for an evening? That showing appreciation is a chore soon forgotten? Has forgotten not only personal hygiene but also empathy for others? Without outside distractions, there is more time for self-evaluation.

The conclusion may not be pleasant to realize.

 

Life

 A year where the world turned upside down was learned.

Where people marched the streets to point out again what was always there but ignored. Where what we watch on screen is as scary as any horror movie. Where rationality has faded to blatant ignorance. Where what you hear and what you see should be some sort of sit-com but the actors are governmental officials.

Where confusion is the answer.

So many now cannot rely on someone else to come in and fix it. Isolation means self-dependence. When the dust bowl arrives is there a sunny California to migrate to?

 

Everyday teaches us something new, if we just listen and learn.

The question is if there is anyone who can be taught?