GUIDES

20 life lessons we learned from 2020

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The year 2020 has turned our lives upside down and changed not only our day to day life but also the way we think and behave. When we take a look back to 2019 we can’t help but think of how many things in our lives we took for granted. Yes, 2020 has been tough but it has taught us valuable life lessons that we should hang on to and try to implement in every aspect of our lives, now, and in the future. 

Here is a list of 20 life lessons we learned from 2020

Life is short so enjoy it to the fullest

_John walters

We should cherish it and spend it with people we love the most. Nothing is more important than family and friends and 2020 taught us this lesson, the hard way. Many of us suddenly got separated from our loved ones and we still don’t know if we are gonna see them anytime soon.

It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver

_Mahatma Gandhi.

We lived the nightmare of seeing our loved ones struggling to breathe. We prayed for their survival and good health. Without good health nothing is important.  

There is no “right time” there is just time and what you do with it

_Naramdil

We kept delaying our plans, projects, passions, and lives for the sake of waiting for the right time. There is no better right time than now. Never delay and stop yourself from doing what you love just because you are waiting for the right time. There might be no other time.

Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare

_Anonumous

If I would choose a lesson that 2020 taught me best, I would choose self-care. Many of us have been struggling emotionally and physically because of COVID19. Also, many of us rest, strive to keep a healthy lifestyle at home, maintain a healthy diet, sleep, train, meditate, and socialize with loved ones through the phone or the internet. This is what we call self-care and we don’t need a pandemic to start doing it.

Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow 

_Melody Beattie

2020 taught us many lessons for which we are so grateful. One of them is to count our blessings and actually be grateful for whatever situation we are in and with whatever little things we own. We have had to accept that 2020 was a year of survival, not progress. 

Patience is a Virtue

_Anonumous.

2020 taught us to be patient in times of uncertainty and stress. These strange times gave us no choice but to pause and wait for things to go back to normal. We have had to learn to be more patient, more than ever. 

Nothing inspires cleanliness more than an unexpected guest

_Radhika Mundka.

22020 taught us to master the art of sanitizing and consistent cleanliness. We now understand more than ever the importance of deep cleaning and sanitization in order to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

Sometimes asking for help also means that you are helping yourself

_Renuka Pitre

Never feel too shy or ashamed to ask for help. There is a time when we all come to the point where we say “I can’t do it”. In 2020, we have learned not to shy away from asking others for help. 

Save money and money will save you

_Anonumous

We learned that saving money is important in the event of an emergency like the one we are living in. We understood the value of always being financially prepared. During covid, many of us learned how to live on less, spend less, and appreciate more.

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment

_ Buddha.

The pandemic gave us time to reflect and appreciate the present moment, enjoy the day and experience moments of bliss rather than living in the past or the future.

There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up”

_John Holmes.

Helping others is not only good for them, but it also makes us happier and healthier and we have experienced this many times during these difficult times. Giving is a way to connect us with people and it’s not all about giving money. We could give our time, our attention, and help. 

There’s a whole world out there, right outside your window. You’d be a fool to miss it

– Charlotte Eriksson.

Maybe we’ve never given it a thought before, but we actually got the chance to travel without booking a flight. Visiting nearby places, taking small walks, and hikes in our hometowns was crucial for our mental and physical sanity, and guess what, It was a lot of fun.   

It is okay to feel sad, it’s okay to feel depressed, these emotions are just as common as others

_chaitanya Sai. 

We’ve learned that stress, depression, sadness are just another side of human life, and it is okay to feel confused when everybody else feels the same. 

Slow down and whatever you are chasing will come around and catch

_John De Paola

It’s okay to slow down a bit or even take a break. By slowing down, everything somehow speeds up on its own.

We don’t always have the chance to say Goodbye

_Anonumous.

Never leave the house angry. Always show your love and compassion to people you care about before leaving the house. You never know what the day is hiding for you. 

I have learned that when you try to control everything you enjoy nothing

_Anonumous

We cannot control ourselves let alone control or change life itself. The sooner we realize that nothing lasts, the quicker we get to enjoy life in peace. Fortunately, 2020 made that clear by giving us a push towards understanding this lesson.  

Sometimes you need time alone to unplug and reconnect yourself again

_Anonumous. 

In 2020, many of us spent days, if not months alone. I’m sure loneliness is very hard but spending time alone is actually good for us, and it gives us the chance to relax and recharge. I, personally, appreciated the time I spent alone in 2020. It was an opportunity for me to reflect and regain my energy and thoughts.

Finally I understand little things are the most important in life

_Anonumous

I used to take the basics such as clean water and a bed for granted. These are the things we are entitled to have but all the losses and changes of 2020 have taught me otherwise.

Be yourself; everyone else is already taken

_Oscar Wilde

Last but not least, we have learned to be ourselves and to strive to be better for ourselves, not for other people. 

I am always ready to learn although I do not always like being taught

– Winston Churchill

Lifelong learning will help us adapt to unexpected changes and 2020 was a living proof of this unexpected change. By learning from what 2020 lessons, we’ll more easily step out of our comfort zone and take on new challenges toward improving ourselves.

Photo by Artem Beliaikin from Pexels

We enter 2021 just as clueless as we entered 2020. We don’t know what the future holds but we are hopeful. But we are determined to survive 2021, together, by learning these lessons from 2020. We know that through unity and sharing, we can overcome the greatest challenges. And we also know that we don’t know everything, and that’s okay. We are here to live and learn.

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