2020 - TEACHER MIRROR MOTIVATOR

What a fantastic year 2020 was. Tumultuous YES but also an EYE OPENER. It yanked the eyepatch that clouded our vision and put it firmly on our nose and mouth in the form of a mask. 

It kept us indoors and away from the distractions that we have come to accept as NORMAL life. It re- introduced us to our HEART & SOUL.

It stopped our way of life dead in its tracks and reintroduced ourselves to what we have become. And it was shocking. 

Not just because how ISOLATED we really are but also how FAKE we have become. 

Not just because how OPINIONATED we are but also because how CLOSE-MINDED we have become. 

Not just because how ALOOF FROM OUR MORAL COMPASS we are but also how SELF-RIGHTEOUS we have become.

From time to time we need to stop, take stock, course correct and evolve for the road ahead. And what i realized was that because of the mad dash of modern life, hustle bustle of career and social and children and chores had no time for ourselves. For introspection and for acceptance of ourselves - flaws and all. And we had missed two decades of our lives without truly looking within. 

9/11 (in 2001) had forced us to think this way and after that 2020 did the same.

2020 truly reminded us what WH Davies had so eloquently penned

" WHAT IS THIS LIFE IF, FULL OF CARE, WE HAVE NO TIME TO STAND AND STARE..."

So what did i stare at in 2020.

WHATABOUTISM - When i first heard of this word i was intrigued what it meant till i realized that WHATABOUTISM has replaced CRITICAL THINKING in our conversations especially with those who hold a different view point. Instead of seeking to understand i found myself falling prey to this ethos that if someone else had done something wrong it somehow allowed me to do wrong as well. Our WHATABOUTISM was thoroughly exploited by politicians and commentators to create a CULT out of us. 

AGGRESSIVE ACTIVISM - I found it difficult to walk away from opinions and ethos conflicting with mine. There was an URGE to put down the person(s) who held that ETHOS. For some reason this AGGRESSIVE ACTIVISM led me to form a safe bubble around of me of like minded folks and utilize the mouthpieces available to me to berate not only the opposing ETHOS but also anyone who dared embrace it.

SOCIAL MEDIA MELTDOWN - in 2001 social media was actually in infancy and television was the tool of choice for disinformation. 2020 brought about the vicious and toxic cocktail of TV Internet and Social Media in full view of shaping peoples minds and judgement. It was non stop, relentless and maddening. I wend to bed several nights completely exhausted not physically but emotionally, not because there was crisis i was dealing with but because all that the mind had absorbed during the day from these sources. Whether we speak about it or not there was no respite.

RECKLESS CONSUMPTION - I stopped traveling from March 2020 and realized just how much of business travel is NOT needed. Don't get me wrong - there is no substitute to face to face interaction with people but 2020 taught us we were overdoing it in our personal and professional lives. There was a period of a few months where all sport activity was halted and society went NUTS. and we realized just how much of our so-called economy is propped up by RECKLESS CONSUMPTION. 2020 effortless reduced the pollution globally by about 10% where Nations who had committed themselves to do this willingly had failed. It taught me that in the end saving the planet comes down to us. 

It is of no consequence to STARE if we can't make sense from what we see. I wiped the tears from my eyes, thanked 2020 and resolved to evolve.

IDEAS are virtual PEOPLE are real - LEARN TO LISTEN & ACCEPT. ACCEPT that someone else can be just as committed to their thoughts as you are to yours. Learn to differentiate the PERSON from the IDEAS they subscribe to. RESIST being part of a CULT. Don't suspend your CRITICAL THINKING as it knows best and is aligned to your MORAL COMPASS.

EMBRACE MINIMALISM - Understand the difference between NEEDS (which sustain you) and WANTS (which sustain your EGO). MINIMALISM not just of objects but also of thoughts and people.  Learn to love your own company from time to time. You need you more than you think you do!!

As the vaccine begins to offer hope to restrict further spread and infuses confidence among people I hope each of us in our own way takes stock and will make a change to the emerging normal.

My wishes for all for 2021- Peace be with you.