Finding the Good in 2020
So for obvious reasons, 2020 will not make the short list for the best year of my life.
I had my high school graduation in a parking lot, spent all of April re-watching the Jonas Brothers tv shows, and I haven’t seen most of my friends in almost a year now.
But I also started college at a fantastic university, read over 20 books, got out of an unhealthy relationship, and made some incredible friends.
I also apparently discovered 472 artists on Spotify, and listened to “New Romantics” by Taylor Swift 34 times.
This new year, don’t dwell on everything that was missed. Think about all the opportunities that were given because of the circumstances.
Everyone is going through similar tragedies, and 2021 will not be too much easier for the time being. Nothing makes sense but to look back on the good that was accomplished in 2020.
If it weren’t for lockdown, Taylor Swift would have never come out with two albums in one year: Folklore AND Evermore (if you can’t tell, I’m a Swifty). I would have never finished writing a TV pilot script and a play script like I’ve been wanting to since I was nine years old. I also would have never had time to watch “Sherlock,” “The West Wing”, “The Sopranos”, or “Parks and Recreation.”
2020 also brought out my goofy side as I reunited with my love for puppeteering, made a stop motion short film with Funko POPs, and parodied Joe Iconis’ “Michael in the Bathroom” with “Emily in Quarantine.”
This year, I also took a lot of quiet walks through my hometown, having a chance to revisit, and say goodbye to a lot of old and damaging memories.
And if it weren’t for missing my real prom, Billie Eilish wouldn’t have shown up on zoom with John Krasinski and performed at my virtual one.
That will be one to tell the kids someday.
I also would not have started a discord with a bunch of random school friends. Instead of ditching each other after graduation as I imagined we would, we got to know each other well, and now talk to each other daily. We send each other memes, debate about politics, and answer silly and deep philosophical questions, while supporting each other’s online college experiences.
And hey- if it weren’t for classes being on Zoom, I would have been late far more often.
Those are just a few small highlights of my year, but I guarantee there have been achievements big and small throughout yours as well.
Remember? Even the world saw its good days when WHO announced Africa free of polio, drive-in cinemas made a comeback, tons of TV show casts reunited over Zoom for charity funds, and bluer skies became a regular due to less air traffic.
In 2019, taking walks downtown or watching movies would’ve felt like a waste of time, procrastination, or like mundane everyday activities.
But living in a pandemic where tragedies occur every minute has taught me to cherish the little things, because tomorrow is never certain.
For the first time in 10 years, I won’t be celebrating New Year’s with my long time family friends, but I do so in hopes that next year I will get to party harder than ever. Next New Year’s we will hug and rejoice louder than ever.
Because we’ve come to an understanding that every moment we get to breathe, smile, and exist among other humans on this earth is a blessing.
I understand that it has not been easy finding good in 2020, but if you have had the privilege to self-quarantine, lucky enough to keep your loved ones close, to test negative, or to create a new normal at work or school, that should be enough to celebrate.
And for those that have been deeply affected by this virus, my love and thoughts go out to you.
Be kind to yourself this New Year. You deserve it.
