Let’s be honest with each other, this year was tough. It started with the U.S. drone strike on Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. With the Australian fires, 500 million animals were killed. California was in flames with the largest wildfire season in the state’s recorded history. Across the globe you may have forgotten the locust’s swarm, one of the largest in decades destroying crops in East Africa. There was the impeachment, the UK withdrawing from the European Union and the DOW plunging its largest drop in history, more than 2000 points. There were deaths, with names of people not recognized in mainstream media and there were the ones recognized like Kobe Bryant and Chadwick Boseman. The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, the cases passed 1 million, the POTUS administration suspended funding to W.H.O and then the cases passed 2 million. Then 4m worldwide. In the midst of all of this, police brutality waved its dark sword. George Floyd was killed. Hundreds of cities in the US and across the world protested.  An earthquake shook the coast of Oaxaca, Mexico killing four. An earthquake in Turkey ended 39 lives. 15 million cases of COVID-19 were confirmed worldwide. Then 47 million. 700,000 people died from it. Then 1.72 million.

In the midst of all of these macro moments, micro-ones were taking place and affecting people majorly. Jobs were lost, mortgages went unpaid. Businesses shut down. A global recession in numerous countries began. People missed their families, their friends, their hobbies. We all wore masks because it was the right thing to do but we hoped for a day soon when we wouldn’t have to.

It’s not the goal with bringing these events up to damper your mood but to paint part of the picture of 2020.

Now as the year ends the tradition of making New Years Resolution’s begin. The truth is, we’ve had a tough year.

We’ve persevered when there was no promise.

We’ve accepted and adapted what no one could foresee.

We’ve mourned moments and people.

Collectively, we got our butts kicked.

Typically, New Year’s Resolutions provide a time for people to consider what they would like to be better about themselves. What they can fix, improve or accomplish. While it’s a great time to provide hope for the future and a future you. It’s also a great time to look at what we’ve all been through. To remember that our systems were tested this year, that we were tested as mankind. The encouragement is when making your “New Year, New Me” list be kind to yourself.

Do what 2020 may have failed at, stay positive.
Give yourself grace.
Give yourself appreciation.

Making it through 2020 has already made you stronger. More Resilient. Faith Bearing. Caring. More controlled.  Remember that you have already demonstrated attributes that many people aspire to be.

If you are a New Year’s Resolution maker, by all means goal away but do so with kindness.

Because 2020, the world, and you, could use a little more if it.