So long 2020... and good riddance

There are a number of ways that one could bid farewell to 2020.

“Thanks for the memories... let’s never do it again.”

“Run away and never come back.”

“Don’t let the door hit ya where the Good Lord split ya.”

And my personal favorite from Tombstone. “Well...bye.”

There are generations of people in our world’s existence that have faced monumental challenges and those challenges have then defined that generation.

Up until now, it had been 9/11 for me and a number of folks that are about my age.

But the Year of Our Lord 2020 has certainly nudged in front now. One could remove the challenges from the first global pandemic in 100 years and still have a bitter taste from the past 365 days - drought, wildfires, rising crime, civil and political unrest and intense paranoia. But the pandemic amplified those things and certainly pushed life over the edge.

We are all tired of COVID-19, its impacts and the restrictions that go with it. There is literally nothing it failed to touch. As a spoiled people, we didn’t know how to handle ourselves in a guarded world. There were things we did right and things we did wrong. Regrettably, we’re not done, but there is a definite light at the end of the tunnel. We will have to wait and see how history judges us all.

However, while there was plenty of awful or trying news, I think there is room to appreciate the efforts by so many to get us through. There has never been a more trying time to work in health care or senior care and I cannot begin to imagine the toll this has taken on some.

Also, we don’t have to agree with decisions our leaders have made and we can certainly criticize missteps along the way. But I think it takes some perspective of the impossible position that many of them have been put in. My pet phrase this year became, “There are no good decisions, only the one you think you can best live with.”

We have become conditioned, mostly through the echo chamber that is social media and cable news, that you can either agree with me or you can be wrong. But here’s a news flash for you: you do not have to have an opinion on everything. It’s alright to say, “You know what? I don’t know much about this so I’m going to observe and reserve judgment for now.”

Certain opinions have become trendy, so we in turn latch ourselves onto one - there’s usually two paths available- so we don’t get left behind. It’s like a cancer in the life that is problem solving. We’ve got plenty of problems right now, so perhaps we should stop making it harder to overcome them.

I’ll save the best for last. The year 2020 has reminded me of what I already knew, but sometimes take for granted. My family and I live in the best place on earth. Nothing brings together small communities like a challenge and while we can’t congregate or physically come together right now, it’s been the bright spot of my year to see our community rally around itself, whether it’s helping those in need, sacrificing for the greater good, supporting local businesses or using creativity to get through a difficult time.

It’s easy right now to look forward and say “ I am so glad this year is over,” but frankly, we don’t know what’s in store for 2021. Here’s to hoping next year’s year-end column is a little more upbeat and celebratory.

But whatever awaits us in 2021, I am confident we can handle it.

Here’s to a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!