2020... What a year! Some reflections on the highs and the lows.

2020 ended with us curled up at home (where else?) like most of the year.  It was never going to be a "normal" festive period, although I wasn't expecting to be right in the middle of our second peak.  Thankfully, our local community cafe is amazing, and it provided an Indian vegan, gluten-free meal as a take-away that was as delicious as any Indian food I have ever eaten.  I had forgotten how exciting it is to eat food that I haven't actually cooked at home.  Up until recently, I have taken great pride in cooking endless tasty meals since the pandemic started.  I still take delight in making some gluten-free bread and a batch of hummus and salad for lunch.  But I am also tired, tired, tired of cooking and any delicious home-cooked take-aways are welcome!

It is traditional here in my seaside town for brave fellows to have a New Year's Day dip in the sea.  Prior to the pandemic, I would not have considered this to be a sane thing to do!  But this year, despite the freezing, northerly wind and the sea being only 3 ℃, I was determined to join the tradition.  It was unbelievably cold out there, but it made me feel more alive and less stuck at home for ten minutes.  This year there was no sign of a community "event" where you swim, hug then drink hot chocolate together.  It was me, the seagulls plus a neighbour (the most incredible winter swimmer) visible far out in the distance to wave to.

If life was normal, I would have gone away on a rather lovely yoga retreat for New Year to do what nourishes me and provides a pause at the end of the year.  Normally there would be some kind of reflection about the year ending and a wish for the coming year.  I often inwardly groan, as I can find this overwhelming, depending on the year that I've just had.  Yet, just a few sentences can often surprisingly get to the heart of the matter.  And if it helps to begin to digest the epic year of 2020 it is worth a go...

1) What three things have you missed the most during 2020?  

Yoga classes/retreats in person, normality in day to day interactions (popping to the shops to get something without worry, a relaxing hot chocolate at my local cafe, meeting a friend indoors for a catch up...) and travel.

2)  Give five words to describe 2020.  

Challenging, relentless, emotional roller-coaster, exhausting, chaotic.

3)  List the three things that have given you the most support during 2020?  

Being able to still do yoga and courses on Zoom, getting outdoors every day and connecting with nature and my local community.

4) What are you most grateful for during 2020?  

Staying healthy, my father remaining well in his care home, living somewhere so special by the sea and being able to have my basic needs met (food, warm house, company).

5) If you could name your greatest struggle of 2020, what would it be?   

Difficult to choose just one - dealing with uncertainty when things change rapidly with little notice.

6) If there was a silver lining to this pandemic so far, what would it be?  

Getting to write regularly in this blog and actually sharing my writing. And swimming in the sea even in autumn/winter.

7)  If there was a mantra, phrase or verse from a sacred text that has helped you through 2020, what was it?  

"No matter how long your journey appears to be, there is never more than this: one step, one breath, one moment... Now."    Eckhart Tolle.

8) What was the best and the worst of 2020?  

Other than the pandemic, the best moment was Joe Biden winning the US elections.  The worst was completely leaving the EU on 31 Dec 2020 (who thought this was a good idea?).

9) Name a quality that you would like to take with you into 2021? 

Self-compassion when things aren't always easy.

10) What is one wish you have for 2021?  

For the pandemic to slowly recede into the background, so that we can take tentative, kind steps back out into the world again.  Remembering at the same time, what really matters to us such as our health, our community and the planet we are part of.  

11) And lastly, any words you would like to say to 2021?

Please could you be a kind of healing balm, a soothing year to help slowly recover from the immense challenges of 2020?  I know you can't work magic, or give quick fixes, of course there will be a journey ahead.  But if you can, help us to all find a brighter year, with a few more hugs perhaps? 

Comments

  1. Sue WalkerJanuary 7, 2021 at 1:23 PM

    T wrote "A very warm Happy New Year to you!
    Your last blog was fantastic and I enjoyed very much reading it!

    I have loved reading your blog throughout 2020"

    ReplyDelete

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