2020 was an awesome year!
I see so many posts here and elsewhere bemoaning 2020, how awful it was and how they can’t wait for it to be over.
My perspective is different.
Bad things always happen, it is the nature of existence. We don’t control them. We do control how we react.
Why was 2020 great?
-I am alive
-My children are healthy, and doing well
-I am healthy. I take no medicine for anything
-I am housed
-I have enough to eat
-My job was not impacted by the pandemic
-No one in my personal circle died, and none have contracted COVID
-I learned many new things. I can’t wait to get up in the morning, anxious to discover what’s new. I have maintained my intellectual energy and curiosity, and love learning. Knowledge compounds, and every day I look forward to obtaining more.
-I continue to work out regularly and with the intensity of a much younger man
-I have little money, but I have enough.
I am not naive or seeing the world through the proverbial rose-colored glasses. But I appreciate what I have, and I have a lot. I suspect all of you do as well. There is always something to be grateful for, often more than you realize.
Have a great 2021.
Amor Fati.
11
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8 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.I wouldn't go as far as "awesome" as there was a lot more death and suffering in these parts then most years. My perception of an increasingly racist society, the degradation of science over faith and the putrid rise of theist based political and court system power is disheartening.
If I were to look at this year from more of a selfish perspective,
Aside from the tragedy of loosing my father, 2020 has been tolerable.
- Gainfully employed,
- Fully functioning - no medication
- Tools and skills to fix and maintain most of my things
- No tobacco drug/alcohol addiction
- Debt free living in 5 bedroom fully paid for house with a home-made theater. Every morning I awake and am thankful I in this house.
- Nice having an insulated double garage so I don't have to scrape windows or plug in the head bolt heater.
- Enough money saved up to live comfortably without employment for many years.
- More projects (research and production) then time
- A usually fun job that allows me to help students and teachers
- Currently in the minority of people at my school who has not had covid
- The occasional opportunity to interact with good people in these pages
But my 2020 not happy list is less then fun.
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With school online and many sick staff, lately I have been tasked to deliver homework and food to many in our school. Where I live, there is space and affluence. Where I deliver food, often these traits highly limited. tRump signs flying over run down trailer-houses gives me little hope for the future.
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The need to build and maintain covid essentials. I made dozens of face masks and placed MERV11 filters between the layers. To wash the masks, I remove the filters remove the metal nose bridge, and place the outer mask in a net bag to machine wash. Takes a lot of time to dis-assemble and hand wash the merv11 filters then e-assemble the masks. (several a day) Have spent many hours working with covid infectious teachers but I am among the minority of people at our school who have yet to be infected. with covid.
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With a usual crowd of over 100, I no longer work out at the YMCA. I miss the weights, sauna and occasionally educating theists.
NoMagicCookie
Level 8
Dec 31, 2020
3
I started 2020 with cancer surgery, I lost at least 10 friends and family to covid, I had covid, I had a second cancer scare (came back benign yesterday). I had multiple trips canceled. 2020 was a bad year, but I survived, so far. I'm not going to sugar coat it, but I hope 2021 is much better.
glennlab
Level 10
Dec 31, 2020
6
I'm very sorry for all of your losses this year and wish wonderful things for you in the new year.
Glad you are still here and Hope next year will bring better surprises.
@LovinLarge, @Lorajay It was a tough year, but it didn't dampen my optomism, tempered with a bit of reality. Not being able to attend the funerals, actually made it easier to accept.
I wish you the best in 2021
I have to wonder how you would feel if I had said that to you after you had had a personal year full of financial and horrific family losses.
Yes the world is always full of tragedy but Americans are very lucky that it has not been as close to home as what we've experienced in 2020. This is also the first time in my memory that the whole world is in mourning for the many losses we have suffered.
Lorajay
Level 9
Dec 31, 2020
2
I have had such experiences in my life. I reacted the same. Job loss, family deaths, etc.
@Mitch07102 stoicism and control of one's reactions can be an admirable trait. Bragging about ones Superior ability is seldom admired by others.
@Lorajay It isn't bragging. It is offering a non-standard, alternative way to view circumstances that have gotten many people down and depressed.
@Mitch07102 There were more than 300,000 preventable American deaths in 2020. Anyone who interprets that data as "awesome" is either abnormal or phony and not to be trusted.
No man is an island, yes, be happy that you have good fortune, however, 2021 may be your worst year.
nogod4me
Level 8
Dec 31, 2020
1
Worst is a feeling that comes from within one's head, not external circumstances. I've dealt with some horrific things in my life, at least as is commonly understood. While I of course wish it were not so, it was. This doesn't imply that I haven't experienced things that made me sad. But I have taught myself to not be unhappy, and focus on what I can control, and the many, many things I have to be grateful for. Try it.
@Mitch07102 No, "worst" would be losing all that you mentioned in the most horrible, lingering, way. Watching your loved ones slowly dying without being able to help them, to hold and comfort them. No frame of mind could keep you from being unhappy, unless you love yourself more than them.
You have the same empathy as a president I know. There's a joke about a little kid stuck in a room with shit up to his neck and he's throwing it around saying there's got to be a pony in here somewhere. Ignoring or downplaying a worldwide pandemic is pretty sad just because it didn't affect you.
lerlo
Level 8
Dec 31, 2020
6
Didn't you know the world revolves around @Mitch07102?
You may wish to familiarize yourself with Stoic philosophy. It will likely improve your life quality.
@Mitch07102 You may wish to familiarize yourself with common decency, it will likely improve other people's life quality.
@LovinLarge I have, thank you. Best wishes for an awesome 2021.
@Mitch07102 This is your refresher course. I have not seen on this website before the self-absorption and blatant disregard for the welfare of others shown in your original post.
@Mitch07102 : Your post came across as someone who lacks empathy. I too have made it through 2020 without any significant change/impact to my life. But I can see that this was an absolute shit horrible year for millions; and just because I made it just fine, I would never deem it to be an awesome year. It was a shit awful year because so many have suffered, and most of the suffering could have been avoided if we had had a president who was able to feel empathy.
@Joanne I understand your point, though I disagree that my action is inappropriate. EVERY year is a shit-show somewhere; 2021 could be far worse. But every one of us can choose to not be unhappy, or let things they do not control get them down. I am far from uncaring, and not blind or uninformed about what goes on. I don't control it. I do largely choose how I can react.
@Mitch07102: I don't make the judgement that you are uncaring, only that your post comes across that way. And, yes, any year can be a shit show for someone; but this one has been such a collective shit show.
You sound like me, well done fellow human, and may 2021, be even better.
Fernapple
Level 9
Dec 31, 2020
1
Likewise.
U are right . I hope the new year to be one of your best 
Pralina1
Level 9
Dec 31, 2020
5
Yours too. Thank you.
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