My 2020 Hindsight

Historically, after pandemics and periods of major disruption to institutionalized systems and infrastructures comes a renaissance, an awakening, like one depicted in the musical Hamilton. In 2020, we have witnessed history. A time when people will be writing about and referring to like other historically significant moments.

Leonard Cohen's song, "Anthem" has a lyric reminding us that, "there is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in." While this year has tested my faith of "there's a blessin' in every lesson", in reflection, as a survivor of 2020 and living up to the "hindsight is 20/20" idiom, here's a couple of things I'm reflecting on.

2020 showed the value of breath

COVID-19 goes after the lungs, constricting breath. Wildfires in the West during the summer sucked in oxygen to survive leaving nothing for people or animals to breath in its midst. The knee on the neck of Mr. Floyd took away his breath. Breath. Breathing. Without it, there isn't life.

If you follow astrology, you are aware we are entering Aquarius in December: an Air sign, and a mystical healer who brings water, or life, across the land. Giving us room to breathe. It's a time where social justice, community and human rights are more important than war and division. There is hope, there is light.

Trump was a tool

You know when you get a wound on your arm and it hurts like, a lot. You might even want to scream or be afraid of it being permanent. Then, a gnarly scab takes over making the wound ugly and itchy. If we're patient and let the healing go through its process, the scab falls off and there's new skin ready to go. 2020 is what healing looks like.

This year brought to light where so many abhorrent cracks are, where the holes are, where the wounds are and so visibly. It's painful. Trump was a tool to help reveal what needs to be healed. All of it came to the surface. Now, we must face it. We can deal with it. Cards are on the table. Significant opportunities lie ahead around social justice - all kinds of justice actually - climate, what's considered criminal, laws, economy, wealth gap, healthcare, education, government, organizations and the role we individually and therefore collectively play. They are all up for discussion, for healing, for repairing.

The renaissance

Therein lies the opportunity for a renaissance. 2021 will only change, be different, be better if WE change, are different and are better. How are we going to be known by history? What did we do with this opportunity? How did we shift the trajectory to make things better for all people? We must reimagine. For example, no longer can we build workplace cultures around the physical workplace. No longer is it acceptable by anyone that women are paid less than men for the same work. We will use our breath, our voice, we will no longer be silent when someone is not treated equitably, equally and respectfully.

What do we want? Most people know what they don't want but do we know what we do want? We must vision how we want this next chapter to be written. The light has gotten in. We cannot unsee. We must contribute and collaborate. Take a deep breath, because we can and we'll never take that for granted again. Then, let's do what is before us to do. Let's not throw away our shot.