I know. 2020 Sucks. For those of us who live in the States, s*** hits the fan every day. I am wondering all the time, can this year get any worse? It’s becoming more and more difficult to stay optimistic as the year goes on.
At this point, I am sure a lot of people have given up their new year resolutions, goals, and ambitions. Positive outlook. Gone. Optimistic energy. Gone. And I don’t blame you. 2020 is a year of massive disruptions that no one in a thousand years would ever have been able to predict.
I am sure I am not the only one who felt a literal shock in my body when I realized that July is here. That means half of the year is gone. On one hand, I gasped at how fast the six months have passed. On the other hand, I think the first six months was a transformative experience. The pre-pandemic era now feels like a past life to me.
Today is July 6, 2020. My team at Amazon was kind enough to give us an extra day off. I decided to spend today reflecting on what happened in the first half of 2020, and how has my life changed in positive ways during these unprecedented times.
Accomplishments (Moments of Appreciation)
1. First work trip to Munich, Germany in February 2020.
Probably my last trip in 2020, and I felt extremely lucky to do this right before the pandemic hit the EU and the US. I got to know my co-workers in Munich on a personal level (spent a night out at someone’s basement)! I learned that beer is truly the replacement for water (no one drinks water, literally), and German food is… well, a lot of meat. :)
2. Family Time. Lots of it.
At the start of the pandemic, Seattle was thought to be the epicenter of the US. The year 2020 completely changed for me when I traveled back to Colorado at the end of February. I am still here, at home, with my family. And honestly, I wish I could be here forever. As glamourous as Seattle city life is, I miss home. I miss my family. And every day I am thankful to be here, healthy and happy.
3. I fixed my broken metabolism.
In 2019, I went through a rollercoaster of emotional and physical breakdowns. My crazy training and dieting regimen ultimately broke my metabolism. While I was in quarantine, my circadian rhythm was back on track, with enough sleep, home cooking, and moderate exercise, I now feel healthier, stronger, and happier than ever.
4. I am still writing regularly on Medium.
This was one of my new year resolutions. I am really glad that I am still doing it at the half-year mark. While I am at home, I actually have more quiet time to think, reflect, and write. I think I’ll keep writing whether I have an audience or not.
5. I’ve been consistently learning new choreographies.
The pandemic has stripped away our abilities to attend dance classes. However, I haven’t stopped dancing. I’ve actually been practicing more at home. I tried new genres, learned new choreographies, and better yet, taught my first Zoom class! I still very much prefer in-person classes, but trying it out was a new experience I am glad to add to my book of life.
6. Work has been exciting.
I say this for two reasons:
- I’ve been working from home since February and serious am in love with it. I understand it may not work for everyone, but it’s the perfect format for someone like me who much prefers structured days with minimal interruptions.
- Because of this work arrangement, I’ve actually been able to achieve so much more at work comparing to last year. I now have much longer focused time to create. I code a lot, mostly making my own ideas into realities while learning new stuff every day. It’s the dream. I love the freedom I now have to organize my routine. Exercising and taking showers in the middle of the day is no longer an impossible mission. If I get worn out in the afternoon, I can take a break and hop on again in the evening. I have been much more productive. I have built projects and accomplished goals I have never thought possible.
Yes, I had to adjust almost all of my 2020 goals because of this pandemic. Yes, it may seem like everything in your world is upside down. My advice is that instead of fixating on what you couldn’t do, focusing on what you can do. Take advantage of what you now have, which might be time, family support, even solitude. Focus on what can bring positivity to your life right now. We only have so much mental energy, why would you spend them on the negatives?
This all shall pass, and we’ll come out the other end stronger.
