Lessons 2020 Has Taught Us

 

 

When the clock struck 12mn on New Year’s Eve, everyone genuinely hoped for a new year – full of hopes and dreams. And for sure most of us have grown to list down our New Year’s resolution to serve as our guide or roadmap on how we would want the new year should turn out for us. However, unexpected things happen as early as February, the eruption of the Taal Volcano. News regarding COVID-19 started spreading and was announced already late last year. Still, information about it was not disclosed at that time yet, until the affected individuals became massive, reaching different parts of the world.

It seemed like our life was on hold as we braced ourselves for the unexpected and prayed so hard that this would all end. The devastation may have been a repeat of a similar pandemic, the first cholera outbreak in 1820. This started in India and spread out throughout Asia by infected people in ships. There was a severe winter which may have killed the bacteria. The pandemic lasted for 6 years.

Time flies indeed. The year is almost over, and it seems like 2020 was just a blur because of all the challenges we faced. I sit in my office and reminisce about what has happened for the past 11 months. There seems to be not as much like in the past years. Businesses thrived. Some of our fellow kababayans have to endure being jobless and find ways to get by. At the start of the second quarter, I was troubled about how we could all get back to how things were. It was a terrible scare knowing that the pandemic had lingered, and we were unaware when this would end. Not until vaccines have been provided and proved that they are indeed effective should we all remain vigilant.

The devastation that entrepreneurs experience is something that we all should look into. Yes, there are still businesses that remained after several months of being under enhanced community quarantine. Still, somehow, you can see the difference. Being resilient, we can blend in with what is available and create means to make things better for our family.

Living in the new normal was not easy to start with. It was like having to start your life all over again, especially for those who lost their jobs. And those who lost their loved ones because of COVID19. But, life must go on. And despite COVID19 creating havoc in our lives, it has taught us some lessons that will hopefully remind us how to be strong and resilient.

What have we learned?

2020 has helped us realize who we really are and identify our strengths and weaknesses. So, I can say that, in a way, 2020 has become a blessing in disguise. Why did I say that? Here are the reasons:

1. Staying at home is not a bore.

Life is not over, even if we are just at home. This actually became something that may have been “long overdue.” For those who have been busy for such a long time. It may just be the time to sit down and relax, be with the family, and reconnect.

2. Unemployment is not the end.

Indeed, some people were laid off because there is a need to reduce the number of employees to follow quarantine protocols. There had been a decline in business transactions due to a lack of money. As the pandemic progressed, we did not just rely on the government’s help because, realistically, the government does not have the means to provide for everyone. And so, with that, new businesses emerged in which the social media platforms have become absolutely helpful.

3. Having empathy for others.

In the beginning, we may not have expected that the virus could reach pandemic status. But realizing just how many people have died because of it, we start to acknowledge and be grateful for whatever little thing we have. Watching the news and knowing how some would extend more than an arm to help our kababayans despite their own struggles is a selfless act.

4. Physical appearance is not as important.

Some people are naturally vain. And probably, this is brought about their status in life or the kind of work they do. But since most of the workforce was allowed to work in the comforts of their own homes, dressing up just became enough. The need for the usual “beautiful” things has been set aside because putting food on the table jas become the priority.

5. Technology may have become the most significant invention, but it also has flaws.

We may have relied on technology for the past 20 years because we have seen how much it has made our lives easier. But you may have noticed how many students and people who started working at home struggle with their internet connection. The internet providers were not prepared for the vast subscription turnout. And more than just approving the applications, there is a need to add cell sites to improve the service. And with that, we have somehow gone back to how things were. Like the need to use modules to prevent students from being left behind. So, giving up entirely the use of pen and paper is not and should not be an option.

6. The need to be always ready.

The pandemic has taught us the value of money. To be always prepared in times of crisis. We wouldn’t want to be caught unprepared again because raising a family with nothing in our pockets is difficult. We have realized the need to have a business or investment because it might just be the way to save us.

The pandemic has shown us the scary part of life. But it has also helped us realize so many things that we have overlooked in the past. What started as fear and anxiety at the pandemic has become the “new normal” that we must embrace. The uncertainties we had for months have turned into something to work on so that we can overcome the anxieties brought about by the pandemic. In simplest terms, it is not how much we have to struggle but how we can cope with uncertainties.

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You may contact Armando “Butz” Bartolome for questions and more information.

By email:  [email protected]

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Website: https://www.butzbartolome.com