Here's Looking To You 2021!

The purpose of tough situations is to learn and grow, even if we haven’t asked for that lesson. Everyday we come across challenges, obstacles, difficulties. Wouldn’t it be amazing to have one easy day? How we face those challenges or obstacles determine whether they will benefit us or not. We can’t always control our circumstances, but we can control how we respond.

That being said, 2020 was not the year everyone had hoped it would be on 1 January 2020. Today the world finds itself in a situation that people have created. I am not suggesting that Covid-19 was manufactured in a lab. What I am saying is we have lost our way. Whatever your beliefs and whatever power you believe in, we cannot think that Covid-19 is a punishment. If anything, it is a wake-up call to humanity. So looking back on the last year, and looking to the unknown year ahead, we know that things are not completely in our control. What lessons has 2020 taught us that we could put January 2021 on a better path? I have chosen four lessons, all of which go hand-in-hand:

1. Respect

As long as we think only about ourselves, we live in conflict. It is obviously important to think about yourself, but it is equally, if not more important, to think about others too. If the elderly can respect that youngsters wish to be out and live their lives, then the youth should respect their elders by living life responsibly. If people with lesser means should respect wealthier people getting through this pandemic with greater ease, because of privileges afforded them, then wealthier people should respect the fact that those less fortunate are doing what they can to survive – perhaps by choosing between going hungry over staying home to reduce the spread of covid-19. If more confident people are happy to risk moving about more freely in public, perhaps even without masks, they should respect the fact that there are those with comorbidities, fear or anxiety and who need masks to feel more secure. Respect is a massive lesson from 2020 that, if not learnt, will perpetuate intolerance, selfishness and anger. Let’s live our best lives, while respecting the boundaries of others. It’s not about you, it’s about all of us.

2. Empathy

Empathy is about emotionally placing yourself into the circumstances of others, to understand from their perspectives. I, for example, may not feel comfortable eating in a restaurant during a pandemic. I have to respect the fact that the restauranteur must make a living to feed himself and his family. There are people that are easily comfortable to go out to eat or see a movie during a pandemic. They might feel like they will go out of their minds if they sit at home. Despite, my concerns, these people should be free to do as they are legally allowed. I cannot enforce my own fears on others. It is important for me to empathise with their mental or emotional needs. However, that empathy should work both ways. They should understand that I am most comfortable and at ease away from the public and larger crowds. Empathy fosters the respect you wish to earn from others.

3. Tolerance

The world has gone through a year of hype, uncertainty and stress. We have been working with a new virus that has no history. We cannot determine patterns, we cannot predict things. There is a lot of guessing and assuming. Clearer answers will only emerge after more time. While we live with this uncertainty, we must be tolerant of people’s feelings, emotions and physical needs. We will not all agree all the time. If we agree to disagree, we should do so with respect and empathy. How do we know which of us is right? We may all be right to varying degrees. Tolerance allows us to focus on where we have common ground, not on our disagreements.

4. Health

Lastly, if anything, covid-19 has shown that it affects the elderly and those with comorbidities and inflammation most of all. Genetics and our immune responses, of course, play a role, but the healthier you are, the greater your chances of being less affected. We have control of this to some degree. The quality of food that passes our lips plays a massive role in our health. So too does our mental well-being, our level of exercise and even the amount of sunlight we receive. Studies have shown this to be the case. Basically, we can be the masters of our fate, if we make responsible choices. We must decide to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

Growing up, our parents and teachers tell us how important it is to be responsible and take responsibility. As parents, we tell children what responsibility is, but do we practice it ourselves? Let’s be responsible for others in 2021.Let’s live a little more selflessly, with a bit more empathy, a bit more tolerance and a bit more respect for others. Looking out for others will positively impact our quality of life. Let’s also take responsibility for our own health. These small changes can make massive differences across the globe. Let 2020 be a springboard for growth rather than a point of decline or sorrow, so that we can grow in 2021, take control of where we have found ourselves and reap rewards that come from responsible, respectful choices.