2020: Is it ‘cancelled’?

2020 has been tough. The year began with bushfires in Australia and then we were faced with the COVID-19 outbreak. 

Towards the end of May, George Floyd was murdered while he was in US police custody in Minneapolis. This was caught on video. There have been many more recent cases of racial injustice towards black people, which in turn sparked many protests around the world. Unfortunately, racial injustice and oppression is STILL ongoing. The racial injustices that have occurred this year have made us reflect more about white supremacy and white privilege. It has also led to peaceful protests, thus highlighting the importance of social solidarity. To combat injustice, we must work together and use our voices. 

Sadly, the lockdown has meant that domestic violence increased globally. There has also been a large increase in anxiety and depression for many individuals. People who were already dealing with depression might be feeling even more depressed due to the social isolation. This might indicate the need for more mental health awareness in our society.

Perhaps, this year could change the way we treat each other. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, it was easy to act in self-interest, without considering the needs of others. This year has given us a better understanding of the significance of public health. Due to the pandemic, people are more frequently washing their hands and wearing face masks. It has also been established that many job positions can effectively be done from home. Therefore, there might be more opportunities for remote and hybrid working. Perhaps 2020 is the year where we can try to change our attitudes and approaches towards climate change. 

Prior to the pandemic, many of us were ‘too busy’ to pay attention to the important things and people in our lives. We were constantly scrolling on our phones rather than paying attention to what was going around us. This year has given many of us the opportunity to reset. During April, I was able to slow down and get back into mindfulness. I have been able to read more books and listen to more podcasts. I can proudly say that I have reduced the screen time on my phone. I have realised how therapeutic phone detoxes can be. It’s refreshing to put your phone away for the day. Doing this can enhance productivity levels and make you more mindful about what is going on around you. 

While this year has been an absolute madness, I believe 2020 might have been the wake-up call that we all needed. 2020 has made us pay attention to what we have neglected. We MUST reflect on what we have learned. We MUST actively make changes.  2020 is NOT ‘cancelled’, as they say on Twitter. This year has simply highlighted that we must WAKE UP. We must stand together. We must evaluate our approaches towards important social, economic, environmental and political issues. Finally, we must prioritise our mental health and take care of ourselves.