The Year: 2020

Before we all collectively declare the year 2020 as "The Worst Year", let's take a moment to understand it.

The year started off with news about the Australian forest fires, the huge loss of habitat and many species becoming endangered, but amidst all this, COVID-19 would remain the news of 2020. A pandemic broke and affected thousands of people and causing the death of many. The virus outbreak took place in China and then spread throughout the globe before we realized.

I know there is nothing good about it, but it was 2020 the year we wanted but needed. The year brought a number of realizations to humans, one of which is you can't plan everything. 

We, as humans, state ourselves as the most intelligent beings and wouldn't hesitate to say that we rule the planet. But do we really?  It took a mere virus to tell us the things we knew but couldn't really accept. We call nature our mother, but we kept on degrading it, and dropping pollution levels during the lockdown was the absolute proof of it. We saw animals returning to where they belong when humans returned home. In a way, we were locked in our houses to let mother nature heal. I know it was all not good stuff. We saw the economy fall, Sensex dropping and loss of millions of rupees, but no one died because of it.

The lockdown taught us to stay at home, it taught us that house chores and cooking aren't only reserved for ladies. We saw the emerging cooking talents and a lot of old days hobbies coming to back to life. It taught us that family stands by you in the toughest times. Well, we were privileged enough to live the bright side of it, to be able to lift our spirits amidst the difficult times and couldn't be more thankful for the all mighty for it. But it taught us that nothing is permanent and no matter how much you plan things, it might not fall into place and it's okay.

Amidst the lockdown, many faced mental conditions such as depression and anxiety, and this time we were able to talk about our mental health in a more clear manner. The stigma around many issues raised, mental health, and racism is on the top of the list. 

The world saw the face of racism with the death of George Floyd in the USA. The movement grew and the #blacklivesmatter became trending. Many cared about the cause and some were just busy showing off their hypocrisy.

The year 2020 was welcomed with pompous and show, but it's going pass by and would leave all of us in a specific state of mind. We would be insecure and might live in constant fear of contacting the coronavirus. We won't trust easily and a new age of discrimination would come by. On what basis? Is one a carrier of the virus or not? No matter how much we tell people not to be biased to the patients, there would be a new social barrier.

No matter what 2020 has more for us, let's make a pact to ourselves, to be supportive to those who need us, mentally, emotionally, or financially. The tough times would pass, and there would a new beginning. Till then? Note down what you have learned in this difficult year and follow what your heart says.

Happy Reading.