Despite popular opinion, 2020 wasn’t entirely bad
By Elizabeth Keifer
Did 2020 really suck?
Everywhere you look, someone is still complaining about what a terrible year it was. It seemed that every day last year, we were bombarded with rising coronavirus infection rates, vaccine resistance stories, election-rigging allegations, racial unrest — and the list goes on and on.
May I present an alternate view? Although there is no way to ignore the tragedy of COVID-19 deaths and the rest of the turmoil this country lived through, there were a number of positive outcomes.
Wellness. Not only have we kept the rate of flu and colds way down with our masking and hand sanitizing, but we have also taken to the outdoors in a big way. Also, sales of indoor exercise equipment have gone through the roof, and many folks have taken up healthier home cooking.
Home. Since we had to spend so much time in our apartments, homes and yards, we went to work cleaning and organizing and renovating. Many folks created amazing outdoor living spaces so they could social-distance with neighbors (and many got to know their neighbors much better). Some planted home gardens to be more self-sufficient, and others rescued cats to cuddle and dogs to play in revamped yards.
Technology. Technology was getting a bad rap up until the quarantine. We were told that we were too addicted to our screens and that it was numbing us out to reality. Now it’s a lifeline. It connects us to our families and friends, lets kids continue to learn and is here to stay for many of those working remotely. Technology has helped us with things like contact tracing, elections and my favorite: Zoom happy hours.
History lessons. As a retired college professor, I think of myself as very well read in history and many other subjects. However, this was the year that showed us what we didn’t know. Columbus was a slave trader? Stories of Black heroes from the time of slavery popped up on my Facebook feed with their fascinating tales of bravery. Remember that feeling you had after seeing the movie “Hidden Figures” about unsung Black women who helped with the first computers? I felt my awareness increase with each passing day of 2020.
New heroes. Convenience store and grocery clerks. Sanitation workers. Restaurant employees. Health care workers. Delivery men and women. We have whole new categories of heroes we depend on to keep life going. Hopefully, their courage will never be forgotten.
Black Lives Matter. George Floyd’s gruesome murder was broadcast to the world, and it was the catalyst for tremendous change. Although some may dismiss the marches and protests because of the tiny number of looters, there is no doubt that this year’s mass protests created movement toward a more inclusive and tolerant society — reflected in police reform, Joe Biden’s Cabinet picks and many other appointments of people of color, women and those from the LGBTQ community. We still have a long way to go — but 2020 wrenched the dial in the right direction.
Family. 2020 was the year when many were not able to see their families. Although this has been tragic — as when coronavirus patients die without loved ones by their side — we almost needed to realize how sweet these connections are by taking them away. Zoom and phone calls and letters are great — but there is nothing like face-toface contact and hugs, and now we see their value even more dearly.
These are just some of the positive things I saw in that crazy, messed-up, history-making year, and of course there are many aspects of 2020 we mourn. I hope we can see 2021 as one big lesson, and we can learn much more about ourselves, others and our planet from experiences.