Lessons Learned
Most important on this list: GRATITUDE! With all that sucked about 2020 (sorry, no better word for it), I tried to find the silver linings. I am thankful for my continued health and well-being; for my job, sometimes just for the distraction; for the technology that allowed me to connect virtually with friends and family.
Hopefully, we as citizens of the world have learned from the pandemic and how to deal with it more swiftly and effectively next time (and yes, I believe there will be more of these in future). But more importantly, I hope we have learned to be respectful and kind to one another. We each have our opinions. Let us agree to disagree but act in a manner that is best for the many rather than the self. [Sidebar: this is not easy for me to say or do, given that I am a very liberal person and grew up in a society with a strong notion of the individual. But I am also very logical and willing to make short-term sacrifices for this to be over ASAP].
With respect to BLM, I have learned a lot, especially what I did not know that I did not know (if that makes sense). I have been under the false impression that we were living in a post-racial world – I mean, there was a Black U.S. President after all – but I was wrong. Talk about the luxury of white privilege… My commitment has not wavered.
Looking forward to a better more normalized year in 2021