It seems like a lifetime ago when I was making jokes about everything finally coming into focus and that everything would become clearer because we would all have "2020 vision". But what did we really end up with? Let's take a stroll down memory lane and revisit 2020 as I remember it-do you remember it the same way?
January- The year starts out with such promise. Everyone has big dreams and resolutions that will definitely stick this year. Weight loss, getting better at a hobby, a new career, etc. The world was waiting for us to achieve what we wanted from life...
February- First rumblings about a sickness that was quickly spreading from the continent of Asia into Europe and making its way to the states. Still, people were looking forward to what the year brought...
March-Things get serious. Mid month, Disneyland and Walt Disney World both shut down as news of a global pandemic starts to spread. More and more businesses shut down and the nation transitions into either a "stay at home" or "work-from home" model.
April- Panic sets in as shortages of toilet paper and other paper products, soap, bleach, and other cleaning supplies are reported. Stores modify hours, and offer dedicated shopping hours for those customers reported as high risk.
May-Things start getting creative. Restaurants start playing with the notion of out door seating and other modified seating accommodations inside as the general public starts to adhere to a six foot social distancing rule and mandatory facemasks while shopping.
June-Paid vacations are over! For a lot of people that were forced to stay home with pay, the work force is now being asked to come back to work or continue to work from home. This was a learning experience for me, being asked to take on the role of a customer service/call center rep while at home. Mental health came into the forefront of my life and I realized the importance of person to person contact and requested my time be cut short so I could go back to working with people face to face.
July- Mental health takes center stage for most of the country as the nation finds creative ways to relieve stress. Hiking trails become crowded and this pastime is re-discovered and enjoyed by thousands.
August- Fall rolls in, and restaurants work hand in hand with companies like GrubHub and DoorDash to stay in business and deliver food to paying customers. Some even start delivery services of their own and experiment with online ordering systems. It truly is a miracle how innovative some companies have become during this hard time. Black Lives Matter movements start gaining momentum.
September- It is during this time that I make my annual pilgrimage to Disney World. Florida is considered a "high-risk state" and the state of travel is unknown to a lot of people. Also the question of how Disney is handling the pandemic is still fresh on people's minds...Inquiring minds like mine want to know the answer to this- I venture down for the week, meeting with friends to get answers.
Disney does not disappoint! While the experience isn't like those in the past, it is still a welcome change from the doom and gloom that is presented day in and day out courtesy of the news. Barriers, social distancing markers, and constant sanitization of guest touch points are a few of the measures in place at Disney World. They know what it takes to preserve the magic and keep guests safe while on vacation. No regrets!
October- Halloween season! Few neighborhoods report trick or treating activities but for the most part, people celebrate within their own homes. Thanksgiving is right around the corner and there are talks of students of all grade levels switching to remote learning by Thanksgiving. Only time will tell.
November- WAKE UP! Spurts of people getting sick of the Covid restrictions inspire a few to start shopping without face masks, wearing face masks improperly, and ignoring social distance and directional markers at the store. Reports of gatherings start to become more frequent as are the reports of increased cases of Corona virus/Covid 19 cases across the nation. These spikes drive community schools and colleges to switch to remote learning...
It is around this time (Thanksgiving) that I receive word I'm no longer an only child...SAY WHAT?! It was at this time that an associate of mine decided to take it upon himself to paddle out to an island to recover a drone I had lost. It was during this month that I discovered I had a brother ( Hi David!!!) AND the power of friendship. I did not ask my friend to recover his drone-he did it because he wanted to, and that he considered us to be simply friends. (Video can be found here: https://youtu.be/rzKPKX8QAAE). This was truly the most magical month of the year and the most defining of my life.
December- Here we are-Christmas with the family. Reports of families hugging loved ones through plastic, especially those that are high risk individuals regarding the Coronavirus. Online shopping starts to become the preferred method of acquiring goods, as FedEx, UPS, and USPS deliveries increase. Amazon purchases also increase. The year is ending on a quiet yet hopeful note. People are becoming more and more optimistic and it can be felt in the air. (I realize there are a couple days left before 2021). New Years celebrations seem to have been limited as people cannot hang out in large groups anymore. Elbow taps and foot taps have replaced hi-fives and handshakes as symbols of congratulations. And those chance encounters under the mistletoe? At least those celebrations seem to be put on hold for the moment. Vaccines for Covid have started rolling out the end of the year...
So there it is, 2020 in a nutshell. How will I choose to remember it? It has given me a few months of solitude that I was able to just think about life, its meaning and discover what is important to me. I am thankful for the opportunity to do so, and for allowing me the ability to learn more about who I am and what I stand for. It also put into perspective who I valued as friends and what values I deem as important. (Remember kids, everyone that comes into your life is there to teach you a lesson!).
What I'm looking forward to in 2021 is to keep the momentum going! I've discovered the importance of being of service to others and the power of the network. I've met many new and interesting people, especially during the last few months and I appreciate every one of them. I look forward to meeting even more people going forward and establishing deep relationships. Here's looking to you, 2021, and what you have to offer. Come join the tribe-there's plenty of room for you and I'd love to have you! It's going to be one fun experience....guaranteed!
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