Real 2020 Vision - Clearing the Rubble and Rebuilding from the 2020 Wrecking Ball
Back in December, bloggers, writers and social media content creators sat at their keyboards, penning narratives with respect to the impending new year, as they always do. They did so, with hope for a better, brighter year than the previous; regardless of whether or not 2019 had been kind to them. Whether or not they’d had a year of abundance, love and happiness. I, myself, did the same thing; in my post titled, “2020 Vision”. Each new year, was still supposed to be a fresh start; a way in which to better ourselves and our lives, with each new beginning. As they sat there, with hope in their heart and inspiration flowing from their fingertips, they wrote things like, “no matter what comes, I’ll make the best of it”, and, “each new experience is a new opportunity for growth”. Or, the most popular cliché that I have to admit to having used myself, in the past, “New year, new me”; suggesting that the coming year would see them grow, evolve and become a better human being than they were the previous year, simply because the clock changed. No matter what, they were going to be better than they were the year before and some, even make other’s lives better, in the process. Coaches, mentors, writers, bloggers and influencers, alike. All, penning their hopes and dreams, attempting to spread inspiration for the same hope and potential human growth. Penning these inspirations, with the expectation that this new year would bring the same prosaic opportunities for this change, that they may or may not take. Personal growth that they may or may not embrace. But, all within their grasp if they should choose to take hold of these opportunities.
This year, most of us used the term, “2020 Vision”, suggesting that because hindsight is 2020; an adage used to express that, like 2020 vision, we have perfect vision in hindsight. That, we can see things more clearly once they’ve passed, or once the fog has cleared. And, that just like we could now see the past year with more clarity, we could use the following year better. We could use this perfect vision, as a way of better understanding and viewing all of the things that had gone wrong, or areas in which we grew the previous year, and apply these lessons to the coming year; 2020. 2020, the perfect year for writing fodder within all of our penned narratives, to illustrate how we could seize the opportunities of each new year; this year, in particular. But, somehow, still with the expectation that the year would bring the ‘normal’ opportunities that allowed us to do just that.
But as they say, hindsight is 2020; none of us could have seen, with any vision let alone perfect vision what was coming for us in 2020. None of us could have forecast what was about to happen. And, it’s only now, with a little bit of hindsight, that we can begin to see things as they are; our ‘new normal’, as most narratives have aptly named the 2020 phenomenon.
Unlike most new years that; creep in quietly and softly for some, and more harshly for others, 2020 came in like a wrecking ball; globally. A universal wrecking ball. And, as Miley Cyrus sings, in her song titled the same, “We clawed, we chained our hearts in vain. We jumped…”, as though that wrecking ball was tearing our house down with us still in it. Because that is how 2020 has felt thus far. Like a wrecking ball hitting a building, and demolishing its structure; tearing down its walls, and shattering its foundation, 2020 has demolished the status quo of the world around us. It’s found some of us clinging to the ball as it hits our structures, while others, have already moved and started building new structures to shelter them in the storm 2020 has brought with it. Others, like me now, have done all three and are just now shedding that protective structure, and learning not only to brave the elements, but to dance in the rain.
2020 has been hard on all of us; a global pandemic, failures in leadership, racial tension and division. Other than the threat of the virus, divisiveness being the worst hit we’ve taken so far. I don’t know if we were already this divided, and that this was highlighted because of the global crises, or if we had some sense of unity before all of this. And, that unity was hit with the same wrecking ball at the beginning of all of this? I know there is a lot of fear; and when fear drives us, common sense often takes the passenger seat, or exits the vehicle, altogether. So, does compassion and humanity. And, that is precisely what I’ve seen happen this year; especially in North America.
So much fear. So much hate. So much division. It’s like watching humanity erode, right before my eyes. And I know some of the fear has a real basis; the virus, whether you believe it to be true or not, does pose a real and credible threat to many. And, because of this real and credible threat, some people may justify their fears, and ensuing negative behaviours. Some might say, that there is a real chance of loss of life, and lifestyle; of livelihood and meaning and purpose, etc. And, I would agree that there is a real threat to all of that. And, I would also say that I understand the basis of these fears because of it. I’ve lost people, I’ve lost jobs, I’ve lived in poverty and I’ve lived in a variety of circumstances throughout my life, as well.
I’ve experienced grief, loss, poverty, abundance, joy, love, fear, faith; all of these things. But throughout all of these experiences, I’ve learned to be content in all circumstances. I’ve learned to battle the darkness and find light and beauty in everything and every situation. And, I’ve learned to embrace the wrecking ball and rebuild my own foundation, in the way it’s meant to be built. I’ve also, learned to live while I still have the chance and time to do so. Loss; especially of this proportion, has taught me just how precious and fragile human life truly is. Most importantly, going through these trials myself, and helping others through theirs, as well, has taught me how to keep my humanity while doing so.
2020 has tested everyone. It’s still testing us. It’s testing; our resolve, our patience, our faith, and our humanity. And, a lot of us are failing miserably. We need to look at this year, and all of its trials with the appropriate ‘2020 vision’, instead of in the way that everyone did at the beginning of the new year, or the end of the previous year. The new, ‘2020 vision’ is going to become all about how we survive and/or thrive, and how and what we learn throughout all of this adversity. To not only survive, but the thrive as well; and how to do so without selfishness. With humanity; to help others do the same, as well.
As I said, 2020 is testing us; globally. Testing us like we’ve never been tested before, on a global level. We need to understand that we can either rise to the occasion, and find ways of thriving; embrace the change that this wrecking ball has forced upon us. Allow, accept and embrace the change and ensuing, ‘new normal’, and rebuild. Or, we can take a nose dive. We can let our humanity erode, our faith erode, our resolve erode and let it all slip away with the storm. Or, we can rise up, rebuild and build a stronger and better foundation upon which to live, rightly once again. To live as we were intended; loving, serving both God and our brothers and sisters. Whatever that looks like, doing it with all of your heart.
As I mentioned earlier, I, myself penned a narrative for the new year; aptly titled, “2020 Vision”. In it, I mentioned the famous Robbie Burns poem, that is the basis for, “Auld Lang Syne”, that we all sing at the ringing in of each new year. And, like most other bloggers and writers penning their new year narratives, I talked about how each new year provides an opportunity for starting over. I did this, by examining Scotsman, Burns’ poem, “I think it’s about an exercise in starting over; about letting go of the things that no longer fit you and opening up to the concept of change. About allowing yourself, like a tree in autumn, to let go of the old to make room for the new. In this poem Burns writes, ‘we’ve wandered many a weary foot’, and ‘there’s a hand my trusty friend. And give me a hand o’thine’; which to me, suggests that he is saying, we’ve been through a lot and it’s been hard but we’ve got each other and we’ll be okay. Here’s a hand for you and give me yours in return. Let’s let go of the past, start anew and, while attempting to do so, let’s have each other’s back. Basically, my whole life’s mantra summed up in a poem written centuries ago by a fellow Scot”.
The key point here, being that, regardless of the vehicle or method of change; whether it’s a smooth sailing ship on which you navigate a new course, or a wrecking ball that demolishes the structures that we’ve built our lives on, the change, itself doesn’t have to be all bad. That, even when the change is unwelcome, it doesn’t mean you can’t invite it in. And, regardless of what changes occur in our lives, we should not and cannot forsake one another in the process. We cannot lose our humanity because of it.
Later in my new year’s narrative, I further discussed Burns’ poem, “It talks about having knowledge of what we need to survive; letting go of what no longer suits our lives and ourselves, and holding onto what matters. Keeping what we need; friendship and love. In true Scottish form, Burns’ poem illustrates what 2020 vision really looks like; how we learn from our experiences and grow stronger, wiser and more compassionate, as a result”.
As I said; both in this narrative and the earlier one, similarly titled, it is often said, that hindsight is 2020. Like 2020 vision, perfect and clear. My vision has become the same this year. The 2020 wrecking ball has demolished my old structures and is allowing me to build a better foundation. One that includes; love, peace, compassion, forgiveness, understanding, empathy and adaptability. Real adaptability. The kind that not only says that I can embrace change and weather the storms without losing my humanity, but also proves it. One where, no matter how hard life gets, I keep fighting with, through and for love. For myself, and for others. A solid foundation built upon the proper rock, with the cornerstone being faith, hope and love. One that, even if hit with a wrecking ball again, will never crumble again because it’s built properly this time.
We all need to evaluate our own 2020 vision. We all need to rebuild our structures on a better, more solid foundation; one like I mentioned, where faith, hope and love are at the cornerstone. And, one where our humanity; the love for, and service to others is our top priority. And, one that doesn’t crumble at the first winds of change within a storm, or the smell of fire.