Every January, people around the world start declaring an intention or resolution for the year. I’ve never been one to participate in the New Year’s resolution tradition. Instead, I like to take the month of January to reflect on the past year, consider what I’ve learned, and think about how to apply that to the new year. Normally, it doesn’t take most of January to complete this exercise, but considering how unusual 2020 was, taking longer to sort through my thoughts seemed necessary. Obviously, 2020 was a hard year. No one will deny that. But despite all the hardships, the most important thing I learned last year was gratitude.
I realize that may sound unusual. Many might say there was nothing to be grateful for in a year that brought us so much pain and anxiety. While I certainly understand that perspective, I don’t agree with it. When it was so easy to feel alone and disconnected last year, I found that practicing gratitude helped ease anxiety, and there is more to be grateful for than you may think. When reviewing my year, I found three groups of people that were particularly helpful to me during the pandemic.
“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”
Marcel Proust
Thanks to the Writers
I lost track of how many books I read last year. While I’ve always loved reading, I’ve never been happier to escape into a different world, time, or plot line than during 2020. I’m so thankful for the authors who gave us opportunities to think about something other than the pandemic, if only for a few hours.
During the lockdown, I gained an even deeper appreciation for cookbook authors and food bloggers. It’s exciting to try new things, and cooking became more of a family project than ever before in my household. Having new recipes to try helped stave off the feeling of monotony when dinnertime rolled around. So, if you’re a recipe developer, please keep at it! We need you.
Even though many of us wanted to bury our heads in the sand for most of 2020, keeping up with the news was never more important. Love them or hate them, health alerts and election updates were a constant last year. I am grateful for the journalists who kept us informed, even when the information they provided was scary or disheartening.
Teacher Appreciation
Many of us became homeschool teachers in 2020 whether we were qualified for the job or not. Thank you to the homeschooling pros who shared advice on their blogs and social media for anyone new to the scene.
If you picked up a new hobby during the lockdown, you’re not alone. I’m incredibly grateful for the artists and crafting community that produced tutorials and how-to videos on everything from drawing your dog to knitting socks to landscape design. These creative folks helped us maintain our sanity and learn new skills at a time when that seemed impossible.
Librarians or Heroes?
The local library system in my community is amazing. Aside from waiving fines during quarantine (thank you!), our librarians held a virtual story hour for kids five days a week. Once curbside pick-up was in place, the library also had individual craft projects bagged up for kids when they came to pick up books. Even when we weren’t comfortable checking out physical materials, our librarians found ways to support the community. They introduced us to the magic of the Libby and Hoopla apps. They hosted online dance parties, author interviews, yoga classes, concert series, and book clubs. I’m so grateful for all the work they’ve done and the ways they’ve adapted to help us through the year.
2020 Wrap-Up
Last year was hard, but I’ve learned from it. While there isn’t much I want to take from 2020 into the new year, I will certainly carry on with practicing gratitude.
One of the best things about practicing gratitude is that it doesn’t have to be about big things. It’s a habit you can work on anywhere at any time. And like anything else, the more you practice, the easier it gets. If you haven’t tried practicing gratitude before, I encourage you to try it. See how it can create a positive change in your perspective.
“Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.”
A.A. Milne
As a small business owner, I’m particularly grateful for the clients, colleagues, and friends who supported BulletProof during the last year. Every inquiry, social media share, and contract is encouraging, and I appreciate you all.
Thank you,
Holly