To start out, a few of the 2020 memes that have circulated this year:
My husband and I were laughing about these the other day. He voiced the sentiment most of these memes share in our current mask-wearing, politically polarized, fear-driven culture. He said, “I know we’re not supposed to wish our lives away, but I’d really be good with just skipping the next three months.”
I pointed out that we wouldn’t just be skipping the bad. We’d miss out on the good, as well. Then I pulled out the cliche, “We grow the most as individuals during challenging times, not when everything’s easy,” (to which I received a partial eye roll and head shake.)
But the fact is, anything could happen the next few months. Yes, unemployment has skyrocketed and may continue to do so. Covid cases may rise, or they may stabilize and start to decrease. The election will, in the very least, cause contention on both sides of the political spectrum, and in many areas, the violence will continue.
But what about the good? What about the changes people are making amidst the chaos?
There are people out there making a difference. They’re picking up groceries for the elderly. They’re speaking truth on a media platform riddled with lies. They’re breathing stale air beneath their mask for 12-hour shifts while caring for patients.
What if we skipped the next three months? Let’s pull an It’s a Wonderful Life comparison here and I’ll tell you exactly what would happen. The elderly woman would go hungry. Because you didn’t pick up her groceries. The patient would receive rushed, second-rate care. Because you didn’t show. The discouraged teenager couldn’t dissect his way through all the lies on social media. Because you never shared the truth. Thanks, Mr. Bailey.
It’s the positive we should focus on in the coming months, the changes we can make from wherever we are in the moment.
And the truth is, as a self-professed pessimist, I’m writing this as much for myself as I am for others.
As the leaves fall and the holidays come and go, let’s take the changes, whether good or bad, as they come and make the most of everything we’ve been given in a world filled with change and uncertainty.
What do you hope to see change in the the coming months to close out the strange year of 2020? What will you do to help bring about these changes? Drop it in the comments below because I’d love to hear.
This is beautifully written and very thought provoking. Thank you, Audra. You asked what I hope to see change in the coming months. Only a change in myself… that I would focus only on the positive. Such as being able to see a little more clearly with my new contacts, taking a drive in the country to enjoy the beauty of the colorful leaves, and not to miss a single day of watching my two amazing grandkids learn and grow. Nope, I wouldn’t want to skip the next three months for anything! Thanks for the reminder to not miss out on the good!
Thank you! It’s always good to have this reminder.