The Good Things to Come Out of 2020

It would be a massive understatement to say that 2020 has been a very difficult year for most people. Some might say that is has been the most challenging in their lifetime, even individuals who have been on the planet for several decades.But even with all the struggle and anxiety, there have actually been some good things to come out of this year. No, you did not read that wrong. As the old statement suggests, "every cloud has a silver lining." This one is no different, it's just a matter of finding it.

Deeper Relationships

When families and households have been forced to come together, we have gained the chance to reconnect with the people we see on a regular basis but do not fully communicate with on a meaningful level. Families are talking to each other again. People are connecting over video chat more often. One of the most profound and surprising things is that it seems to have helped couples as that the divorce rate is actually down.

Sense of Community

From small towns to large cities, people are helping each other to cope. One of the most notable examples I can remember was actually started by a group based in New Jersey. The movement has spread across the country. A group called the Front Line Appreciation Group (FLAG) raised money to purchase meals from local restaurants to feed healthcare workers. This provides a needed boost for struggling eateries and necessary food for those working in the field.

Innovation/Creativity

When the American people, and the world as a whole, are challenged with a strain on resources and the ability to access them, we as a species have always been able to do one thing - innovate. We adapt the the circumstances and push forward. Beer Distilleries have modified their equipment to make hand sanitizer. Clothing companies are pumping out masks. We have provided ways for performing artists to do concerts online. Zoom and other tools have become commonplace. We find a way.

Appreciation of Freedom

As the song "Big Yellow Taxi" implies "you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone," we have a newfound value for the ideal of freedom. Since this novel pathogen hit us like a ton of bricks, we have been experiencing lockdowns and restrictions on virtually everything we do. While some are for safety and others may be for a bit more for less compassionate purposes, either way, we now understand just how fragile freedom to do even the simplest activities is in our world.

Reevaluating Priorities

Before the Coronavirus, you probably remember a time when something simple bothered you. For example, traffic heading to work was backed up. Well now, you may appreciate having a job to commute to. Or maybe your favorite brand of paper towels was out of stock. Now, you might be glad that there are so many choices of different brands to choose from. This has given us the chance to reevaluate what is truly important and to understand how completely petty some of the things that used to annoy us really are in the grand scheme of things.

Our Capacity For Good

I truly believe that people are generally good, even if it takes getting deep down into their very being to find it. In 2020, we have seen a lot of good when it comes to charity in our actions and compassion toward our fellow human beings. Landlord have stepped up to discount or even forgive rent. Restaurants have provided free lunches for school children who are normally helped under state food programs. People are making masks at home and donating them to local healthcare facilities. The kind and good acts are as plentiful as they are impactful.

Lessons Learned

Of course, with all the good, there has been some really negative response too. But, we can learn from it. We can learn that some people in power will use tough times to increase it. We can learn that we take some things for granted when it comes to where we can go and what we can do. We can learn that some in our communities have seemingly ordinary work but that they are in fact essential to our daily activity. The main thing is that we use what we learn and don't forget it.