With gratitude, goodbye 2020!
Like many of you, I’m more than ready to see 2020 right out the door, with hopes of better things to come in the new year. But rather than simply chalk this one up to a terrible year, I’ve done some reflecting on some personal growth and learning I’m taking away from experiences this year.
1) I have gained a willingness to give myself and my to-do list a break.
I’m a chronic overachiever, a people-pleaser, and a “doer” at heart, so it’s hard for me to say “no” in the first place, but even harder to let go of things once I’ve said “yes” to them. This year has taught me to really understand what’s important, and that it’s OK to give myself permission to take things off the list that really don’t matter. It’s still a work in progress for sure, but I’m more able to give myself a break when I’m feeling overwhelmed.
I’ve never been one to handle a last-minute change in plans well. As a child, I would interrogate my mother about the plans/routine for the day, and if she changed the order of errands and went to the grocery store BEFORE the post office, it would set me off. That’s still true for me today. 2020 has forced me to accept that things are unpredictable and I’ve improved my coping skills for when things don’t go my way.
Everything has been a challenge this year – from getting supplies and food to juggling working from home and parenting. Self-care, healthy choices, clutter control and more have fallen off track. Even professional organizers struggle to keep things in line, and I can relate more clearly to the challenges my clients face every day.
3) I am strengthening my flexibility and adaptability.
I’ve never been one to handle a last minute change in plans well. As a child, I would interrogate my mother about the plans/routine for the day, and if she changed the order of errands and went to the grocery store BEFORE the post office, it would set me off. That’s still true for me today. 2020 has forced me to accept that things are unpredictable and I’ve improved my coping skills for when things don’t go my way.
4) I have gratitude for the little things, and the not-so-little things.
Practicing gratitude daily keeps me grounded and helps me manage stress and anxiety during these crazy times. I’m grateful for so many things, including:
- My family’s health.
- Amazing friends and colleagues, with whom I spent many a Zoom hour venting frustrations, lending support, and making plans for picking ourselves up and marching on.
- Our amazing clients who have been willing to shift how we work together and try something new.
- And last but not least, my husband, the eternal optimist, my rock, and my partner-in-crime, who has supported me in countless ways this year and throughout our relationship.ll with a positive attitude and remarkable understanding.
- And last but not least, my husband, the eternal optimist, my rock, and my partner-in crime, who has supported me in countless ways this year and throughout our relationship.
So, though I’m ready for a fresh start in 2021, I’m also grateful for what 2020 has taught me. What are some of your takeaways from this crazy year? Here’s to a happier and healthier new year!
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