Goodbye to 2020- Hello 2021!
Goodbye to 2020
Goodbye to 2020, and not soon enough. It was a terrible year for me, my wife died, the pandemic struck, and I have been learning to live alone. But despite all the tragedy, we need to remember the good things that have happened:
We now have a vaccine and will soon have a second one approved.
My brother went into the hospital with the virus and came out ok.
Many could keep working from home.
The frontline medical staff in the hospitals around the country have put in heroic efforts.
The basic infrastructure to transport our food has worked, although there have been some shortages.
Democracy survived the election process.
But We are all wondering what is next.
What is coming, and how fast will it get here? 2021 will be the year of the vaccine. Some will get it. Others will delay or wait to see how everyone that gets it feels. I expect it to be a year of transformation. Several things will change.
Expectations- It won’t be what we think. Some believe in an instant return to where we were as a society. That won’t happen. It will be gradual.
Work- Work will never be the same as it was. 2020 has changed buying habits and the need for going into a place of work for many people. My sister-in-law has been working from home since March and her company has stated that they don’t expect to return to the way it was before the pandemic. Many businesses will reevaluate how their employees work.
Entertainment- It will take longer than 2021 before people will gather safely for large concerts, theater events, or sporting events. How quickly they return will depend on how quickly most of the population gets vaccinated.
Economic Recovery- This will take longer to bounce back than we expect. Small businesses were hit hard. Since Congress refuses to act, many small businesses will fail, and it will take time for new people to fill in the void.
Travel- I know there is a pent-up demand for travel, I have at least 5 trips I want to make, but people are going to start again cautiously. Countries will continue to impose restrictions for at least most of 2021 to protect against another outbreak of covid.
Restaurants and Bars- They have been the hardest hit, some will come back quickly but others are gone forever until new owners arise.
But 2021 is almost here
2021 will bring a return to a new normal. Many of us will continue to wear masks for most of the year because we won’t know who received the vaccine and who hasn’t.
Schools will be open, and the kids will work very hard to recover from the attempt to make remote learning work.
By mid-year, we have vaccinated many and some summer family trips and activities will resume.
Jobs will come back, although how the work is done may be different.
Many industries hardest hit by the pandemic will recover, although it will be 2022 before they are going strong again (especially travel and leisure.)
5 Ways to Make 2021 your Best year Yet
Start every day with gratitude- List the three things you thew most grateful for from the day before.
Identify what it will take to make today great/successful (no More than three items here.)
Do the hardest one first.
Build a morning and evening routine. Don’t get sidetracked by social media or the simple things to do.
Build relationships- relationships have been strained this year. Let 2021 be the year of rebuilding them.
Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin. Mother Teresa.
Every man’s life lies within the present; for the past is spent and done with, and the future is uncertain. Marcus Aurelius.
