New Year - Hope for the New Year, Built Upon the Good of 2020

Well. That was a heck of a 2020, hasn’t it? 

And while it may be tempting to just rush into 2021 and try to put the past year behind us, I think that’d be a mistake. Yes, 2020 was hard and filled with tragedy, but it also was filled with hope, resiliency, and a community that has largely come together.

Isn’t that what the New Year is all about? Hope for a better tomorrow built upon the foundation of our past?

As I wrote last week in my blog post, one thing that the Covid pandemic has reinforced is the importance of appreciating those around us. Pre-Covid, we may all have been guilty about taking those simple interactions for granted, but no longer. 

That sense of appreciation is something upon which we can build our future.

We’ve also seen wonderful examples of communities bonding together to support each other. Yes, we’ve all seen the reports of anti-maskers and protestors out there talking about their individual rights. But I prefer to focus on the thousands upon thousands of people out there who have gone above and beyond to support their communities’ needs.

I’ve known, seen, and read about people who bring care packages to those in need, people who came together to sew masks to be donated, and people who work in the basements of places of worship or community halls to cook meals for our most vulnerable community members. They don’t do it for accolades or pictures in the newspaper -- they do it because they care and they can.

That sense of togetherness and selflessness is something upon which we can build our future. 

We’ve seen mental health and community wellness discussed more openly and honestly than ever before. For some, social distancing meant social isolation. And whether it’s been simple check-ins, or companies coming together to ensure that those who want to come back to work have a safe environment in which to do so, our community has worked to realize that social isolation has a huge negative impact on health. For years, companies have talked the talk about work/life balance, but this year, more than ever, we’ve walked the walk.

That sense of commitment to community wellness is something upon which we can build our future. 

We have our challenges. There are many small businesses struggling to keep the lights on. There are many in the community who have lost loved ones to the pandemic, or who have experienced devastating illnesses. There are far too many of us in our community who are dealing with homelessness or suffering from food uncertainty. 2020 was rough, 2021 won’t be perfect, and there is no magic panacea that’s going to solve all of society’s ills.

But if we look closely, 2020 showed us there’s a foundation upon which a brighter future can be built. And it’s a future that we have to build together. 

That hope is what the new year is all about. And though, like you, I rang in the New Year at home instead of joining others at Victoria Park or attending another celebration like in years past, I know that those days will come back in the future. For me, that future’s filled with hope.

On behalf of everyone at Digital Echidna, let me wish you a safe and Happy New Year.

This will be our last post on the Digital Echidna blog, but don’t worry -- you can find us at https://www.northern.co/blog/.