A global lock-down. That was a plot twist. I read some about the 1918 flu and how it was battled shortly after the viral theory of disease was widely accepted. 100 years later we genome sequenced the thing before it left China and multiple global coordinated research initiatives raced to a vaccine in under 12 months! Although, the same strange war about wearing masks can be seen in b&w photos from 100 years ago, so you know, 2 steps forward, 1 step back, but still, way to go humanity! I grew a “pandemic beard”! Your contributions were also valuable, I’m sure.
I lost weight and got into shape, in the beginning, when the time to shower and go to work suddenly got to become exercise and meditation time, but that eventually became TV and eating time, so I’m finishing the year heavier than I’ve been in decades. We separate our recycling into 4 bins, and carrying the glass bin out one week I dug down and found a single pickle jar to put on top so the neighbours would see something other than wine bottles, then I came in and joked with my wife about our “bin of shame”, which was funny for awhile, but eventually you’re like, dude, we gotta get it together, it’s time to shut down the COVID party. But also, it’s a global pandemic, so if you’re not going to use your crutches now, then when!? It’s been an up and down year and if you find yourself suddenly struggling with unforeseen problems, I get you. Hang in there champ.
Our situation doesn’t change much with the new year. Pandemic is still here. I went into 2020 with grand plans that disappointed, but enter 2021 less burdened, forced to take it a day at a time with everyone else and see how it goes. Things will begin to come back, human contact and socializing among them. Won’t that be nice! No reason not to feel optimistic about the year, we’re on the up-swing.
A worldwide survey says that most people want to see significant changes to our pre-covid world. The question itself implies that a lot of us have realized that the world we build is a choice, and that the arguments for the status quo are fragile. Over-night we can change the world, or at least ourselves, because it turns out, there is no good reason you must do today what you did yesterday. This year has shown us we can just choose to do things differently. I think that’s exciting, and a decent message to take from 2020.
Jan 01