The past year, 2020, is like no other that any of us have experienced. For way too many of us, it has been a tragic year with losses of loved ones, ruined businesses and finances, or damaged health. At the very least, it has been isolating, lonely, and financially challenging. And that is not all, George Floyd”s murder ripped away any ignorance about the depth of systemic racism in our culture.
It’s almost 2021. Just about everyone is eager to turn the page on the calendar and welcome the new year. There are things to look forward to, vaccines, and a new administration, a new awareness about BLM to note several. And as more become vaccinated, we can reconnect, enjoy gathering, and travel to see friends and loved ones. A fuller life can resume.
In the meantime, however long that is, life will continue to be rough. Most of us aren’t vaccinated yet, and COVID is raging. That means it is necessary to continue with precautions, mask-wearing, distancing, and handwashing for the near future. But an end or at least the beginning of an end to the pandemic is coming. And there is ongoing reflection on the state of racial relations, although that work is just starting.
Then what? How will we prepare for post-COVID and a new cultural perspective? I imagine many anticipate that it will be exhilarating, able to party, mingle again in stores, restaurants, places of worship, and to travel. Euphoria! Yes! I imagine that there will be that expression of relief as COVID’s grasp fades. Our work on social justice must be ongoing, of course.
And there will be some specific work to do, too. I also imagine, that if we could see all the real devastation, our world would look as if a category five hurricane had ravaged the landscape. We would see not uprooted trees and destroyed buildings, but uprooted lives and closed businesses, and very different degrees of damage, depending on one’s racial ethnicity and degree of wealth or poverty. The healing will be needed in many ways. These areas come to mind, but I am sure there are more.
- Finance, to assist people impoverished or without jobs
- Education, help children and young people get back on track with their studies
- Economy, support people to restart shuttered business, begin anew, or retrain for new employment.
- Social Justice, address the income gap and racial disparities in housing, education, and health services
But the psychic wounds are the most important to address, and the hardest to see. Many of us have been traumatized by painful experiences brought by 2020. Here are some symptoms of psychological trauma from www.helpguide.org,
- Shock, denial, or disbelief.
- Confusion, difficulty concentrating.
- Anger, irritability, mood swings.
- Anxiety and fear.
- Guilt, shame, self-blame.
- Withdrawing from others.
- Feeling sad or hopeless.
- Feeling disconnected or numb.
Some will need clinical help, but most will be fine with some support and these practices,
- Regular exercise
- Mindfulness exercises, breathing exercises
- Connecting with others, support
- Balanced lifestyle, regularly getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet
And there are two lessons above all others to keep in mind; how completely we are all interconnected with each other and nature, and the importance of kindness. Happy New 2021!