What have we learned from 2020…
As we find ourselves coming to the end of 2020, this time between Christmas and New Year can be used as a period of reflection. This year has been like no other in our lifetimes, yet along with the fear, loss, sadness and difficulties we have experienced, there are also tales of hope.
Communities coming together, people supporting each other and finding new ways of connecting with each other.
I challenge you to look back at what you have achieved, this may be the fact that you are still here, still struggling but just managing to get through the day. This may be getting through the first lockdown period, trying to home school your children, while simultaneously adapting to working from home, whilst trying to cope with the on-going uncertainty and fear.
This may be managing to maintain your recovery by using tools and skills you have worked so hard to learn to stay sober and substance free. This may also mean you have relapsed and struggled to forgive yourself, but still have the knowledge of where you have been before and with strength you don’t know you have, will be able to pull yourself back to where you need to be on your journey.
Some people have lost their jobs, plunging them into debt they have never experienced before, yet for others they have turned this into an opportunity to start a new venture, changing career paths, following a dream that was never able to become a reality before.
I have read so much this year about the rise in Domestic Abuse which is frightening, yet the services supporting victims have been tirelessly working, campaigning and raising awareness.. Which will hopefully result in more people than ever realising how widespread Domestic Abuse is, how much support is still needed, and how if you have experienced domestic abuse, maybe for the first time this year – that you are not alone!
The effects of isolation and loneliness have impacted our mental health in unimaginable ways. We have tried to stay connected with each other, longing for human touch and to be able to see our friends and family – yet these things we crave, that have kept us well before, we are not allowed to do. If we do meet people, even within the rules then we have to contend with further fear and anxiety, not knowing if what we are doing is actually safe or a political decision?
The rate of suicide, people in mental health crisis and people seeking support for their mental health is also increasing. Yet maybe as we move into 2021 we can remember our struggles, we can continue to show people compassion, empathy and to take time for others, to notice if our neighbour needs help, to appreciate other people are suffering and may need our support too?
Do we really want to go back to how things were before?
I saw this image today, this quote is written by Arundhati Roy. I liked the feeling of hope that it brought me. I thought it is important acknowledging our struggles but we also need to look forward.
I certainly have noticed how I have become more mindful this year, in one way because I have not been able to plan things in the way I normally would. Instead of rushing around with different commitments and deadlines I have had to learn a new way of being, not knowing what tomorrow might hold, trying to be grateful for everything I have, trying to remain hopeful. Hoping that the sacrifices we are making WILL protect the NHS, will protect people from dying and becoming severely unwell, will protect people who are vulnerable and who have so much living left to do!
I worry about the politics, the B word, what 2021 will hold, but I want to celebrate the resilience we have shown, the challenges we so far have overcome, the organisations and communities adapting and working to support the vulnerable.
The campaigns that have managed to change policies, such as Marcus Rashford’s campaign to feed children in poverty. Action aid is providing children with food in the UK for the first time in 70 years, we are a rich country, this shouldn’t be happening. These children are our future, we need to be looking after them.
Maybe we will look back at this year as one where people took the time to educate themselves, to learn about racism due to the BlackLivesMatter movement. Would so many people have supported this if they were still at work rushing from one place to the next, with their head down trying to avoid the scary realities of life?
As usual I will include details of helplines and support services in this post, but I am also going to include links for further reading and stories of hope…I would love to hear your thoughts, stories of hope, how you are feeling about this year and moving into 2021…
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/13/covid-19-rewired-our-brains-pandemic-mental-health
https://www.insider.com/good-news-inspiring-things-this-year-2020-11
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/a32745051/what-black-lives-matter-means/
Support
Samaritans 116123
National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 200 0247
Victim Support 0300 303 1972
No Panic Phobia’s and Anxiety helpline 0300 772 9844