The Power of New Beginnings
/It’s 2021 and this might be the most hyped year ever. 2020 was a bender for just about everyone and we’re all hoping for positive changes to come.
But really, the changing of the dates resets calendars but nothing else. The problems are still there, and the only thing that will change our experience of them is our response to them.
2020 was hellish for me, although, like many of us, I came off lightly in many ways.
Working from home, pandemic lock down, Black Lives Matter, global politics and the widening polarisation of views within my own friendship circles and networks, made me reassess everything about my life and the value I wanted to offer to the world.
At first it felt like the world was facing something very frightening but we were all in it together, but after a few months it didn’t feel like that anymore.
Everywhere I turned there was heartbreak, and many of the spaces I used to turn to as safe and supportive communities were now bitterly divided over mask wearing, vaccines theories and even conspiracies that the whole thing was because of 5g...
Did I turn to my tools and find resilience? Yes. And no.
On my good days, I ate well, stayed active, took breaks, connected with people and was kind to myself.
On my less good days, I cried all day, ate crap, drank at lunch and picked fights with my boyfriend. My old codependency raised its ugly head and I started having nightmares again.
But there’s nothing I love like a new beginning and fresh start so I’m excited to take what 2020 had to teach me and move forward better and stronger.
What did I learn (or re-learn)?
I will always be a work in progress, but that we can truly heal from anything
Self care must always come first. That self care isn’t so much about WHAT we do, as HOW we do it
The investing in good relationships gives us back more than we could have dreamed
That when sexuality is the last thing on our mind, it’s often what we need most
The power of community is essential to wellbeing
In 2021 I have resolved to make what feels good my guiding factor in everything. I have re-learned that feeling clear and sober is underrated. And that we need community more than ever.
What are your takeaways from 2020? Happy to just see the back of the bastard, full of gratitudes for the lessons or something in between? I would love to hear your thoughts.
Lots of love
Ruth