Lessons From 2020

 

“Historically, pandemics have forced humans to break with the past and imagine their world anew. This one is no different. It is a portal, a gateway between one world and the next.

We can choose to walk through it, dragging the carcasses of our prejudice and hatred, our avarice, our data banks and dead ideas, our dead rivers and smoky skies behind us. Or we can walk through lightly, with little luggage, ready to imagine another world. And ready to fight for it.”

-Arundhati Roy   

                                                                                                                                         

Whoever would have thought that the year 2020 would arrive with a pandemic of such a catastrophic scale devastation. One that would make the so called mighty kneel and bring the world to a grinding halt

The Coronavirus came to teach us many life lessons. To never take Mother Nature for granted, to restore our faith in humanity, to break away from our prejudices and hatred, to respect and not demolish what has been served to us on a platter, by the Earth that only knows how to give.

The azure day skies and the star studded night skies, the fresh, crispy air, the crystal clear rivers, the bustling wildlife; on Day 14 of an all-India lockdown, were all a testimonials to the fact that nature  knows how to renew itself seamlessly, but only if given a chance to.

I wrote the above lines for our 2nd quarter newsletter at Pugdundee Safaris. 

2020 and Moi

 

2020 has given me ample time to pause, reflects and walk on an inward journey. It taught me the benefits of introspection while spending time with myself, which was quite a revelation

 

Here are the 5 Lessons 2020 Has Taught Me

 

1. Self Love:

I was gifted enough time to introspect and go inwards in 2020. This in turn helped me discover, undiscovered parts of myself, taught me to acknowledge and love myself with all my goodness and flaws.

Though I didn’t manage to write my WOTY (Word of the Year) for 2020, but my chosen word was Self-Love. And I worked with it closely. It taught me that I could love others with all the compassion and grace in my heart, only if I loved myself enough.

Self love may sound like a cliche′. But believe you me it is not. It is also not about being selfish and narcissistic, but learning to love oneself unconditionally, in the past and present form. Practising my WOTY taught me to let go of my “flawed” parts and the thoughts and actions which were serving me no higher purpose.

Last month as many of you may know, I was laid up at home with Covid, quarantining alone and of course didn’t have the luxury to hug my dear ones. Each morning upon waking up, I would look into the mirror and give myself a big, warm hug and say, “I love you”.

Learning to love myself has been a revelation. It has filled my heart with more love and compassion for others, and even those who may challenge me. It has helped me drop any form of judgement completely. 

When you love yourself unconditionally, you love and accept others minus any judgements. Share on X

 

  2. Gratitude:

I have always valued the attitude of gratitude, but not the way I do now.

The year 2020 and the pandemic has actually opened my eyes and made me experience the power of gratitude consciously and unconsciously, every other moment of my day. It has made me aware of the smallest of blessings that surround us all the time.

I now start my day with gratitude. When I pray and meditate gratitude occupies a major part of my practise. During the course of my day, I remember to give gratitude to say; the chair I sit and work, my blanket, my pillow, the trees outside and inside my home, the water and food I consume, the people who work behind the scenes to make life easier and comfortable for us, and so much more. The list is endless if we were to try and create one!

This year has taught me to acknowledge how blessed I am to have friends and family, a roof above our head, and healthy, hot meals on our table, every day, unfailingly. I am grateful that my loved ones and I are safe and alive amidst this devastation. It has helped me realise how precious the gift of life is, despite the unending challenges, which are small compared to the treasures and lessons of life. 

2020 has taught me to appreciate the little pleasures of being outdoors when we couldn’t. I’m also grateful to this virus for giving us a break from our busy, stressful lives, and allowing us time to pause, reflect and travel inwards, and enjoy the bliss of being homebound. 

Thus gratitude has become my mantra for joy. 

 

3. Silence

2020 has given me the gift of silence. It has taught me to value silence. 

I wrote some time back, “In my silence, I found my stillness.”

And my silence as Lao Tzu would say, “has become my source of great strength.”

It has opened my world, and has helped me find bliss and peace.

 

4. Sustainable and Healthy Living:

I have been a sustainability warrior for a while now. But 2020 has made me put into practise my vow for sustainability with renewed determination. It really helps to have a 22 year-old older child, who is so conscious of protecting and healing this planet with her vegan choices, and everyday sustainable practises. She even runs an online sustainable fashion/thrift store community called The Golden Fleas.

The pandemic and 2020 reminded us how important it is to protect and heal the planet. And never to take nature for granted. And constantly strive to help it heal and grow. Especially since this planet is an inheritance we are to pass our future generation. 

This year also reminded all of us that our good health was a non-negotiable gift that we all have received from the universe, and to never take it for granted. I have always believed in a healthy life-style, but this year I worked twice as hard to incorporate healthy living practises in my life. This included regular yoga, meditation, eating clean, home cooked meals mostly and, cutting back on a non-vegetarian diet. 

 

5. Throw Kindness like Confetti:

The world is in dire need of love and compassion. One person’s kindness can be the source of another person’s joy. 

Every person or being (flora and fauna included) we come across deserves love and kindness. Every living being is constantly challenging something or the other.

Our little gift of kindness in the form of a compliment, a small deed of love, a prayer, a good wish, a caring word of endearment or motivation, a hug (not so feasible given the current times) or a virtual hug, a little act of compassion to make a small difference; can go a long way in cheering up someone, or turning around their day. 

So, let’s not always wait for the festive season to sprinkle kindness around us. Let’s try and practise throwing the confetti of kindness all through the year and for years to come. After all each one of us are connected intrinsically, energetically and divinely so. 

One person's kindness can be the source of another person's joy. Share on X

 

2020, I’m bidding you adieu with gratitude and this post, which is probably the longest one I’ve written this year. (My #WordlessWednesday post is on next week and in all possibility the WOTY 2021 post too. If not sooner later indeed)

2020, the lessons you have taught me can’t be summed up in mere words. It’s the after-effects that count.

Dear friends in blogosphere,

Here’s wishing you and yours a Happy Yule, and a very precious New Year that brings with it unlimited reasons for your bliss and growth. <3 <3

Signing off with a poem I wrote early this year. 

Whoever said 2020 should be cancelled?

 

2020 is meant to be.
A year so daunting and tragic,
Jolting us out of our ignorant slumber,
Like a raging cyclone.
Pulling us out of our comfort zone.

2020 is meant to be.
A year that’s an eye-opener
A year we come to terms with change.
Accept change. Embrace change.
And
Be the change.

2020 is the year to stand by each other.
Payback our dues to the precious planet,
And allow it to heal.

2020 isn’t going to be cancelled,
It’s a year to grow and evolve.
A year to just be.

 

Over to 2021 now! Be kind to us. 🙂

 

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I’m linking up with Corinne for her prompt: “What 2020 has Taught Me”

And Trent’s Weekly Smiles.