2020. The year that wasn't. The year that was.

2020.

The beauty about reviewing a year as it nears its curtains, is that it provides the luxury of hindsight. Retrospection and introspection, perhaps, are not long-lost cousins.

The year gave us more lessons than we could organically fathom or assimilate. It was a year when our astute assumptions were questioned with a fine comb. The reality we visualise with a status quo differed very significantly with the reality which we were asked to live in. The world around us tumbled, and we were told to save the pieces whilst anticipating, or praying for a better tomorrow.

It was a year when the mundane was missed, and what once seemed to be a tiring routine became something we secretly yearned for. The dreads of yesterday became the dreams of today. The year re-emphasised why absence of something is the most innate ingredient to make us realise the value of its erstwhile presence. Our definitions were rewritten, and uncertainty became the order of the day.

Never earlier had we seen the world change in such a fashion, and in such an epic proportion. Offices shifted to our living rooms. Visiting the local grocery store became a sought-after event. Deafening silence made us more uncomfortable than the noises of commotion which we were accustomed to. Masks became an integral part of our daily attire. Grandma's immunity boosting recipes suddenly found new takers. Kindness and empathy became our go-to virtues.

It is often said that common grief is a better unifier than common happiness. 2020 showed us why. We hardened as individuals, and softened up as humans. We realised that we share a common sky. Collective humour became our escapade. Our miseries, for once, were not ours alone. Grandeur did not seem of value anymore. We found joy in trivialities of life.

While the overriding theme of 2020 may be overwhelming, we constantly heard stories of hope, perseverance, of people extending help in unimagined ways, warm-heartedness, innovation, and most importantly, that of courage. Of people rising from ranks and showing grit and resilience in the face of adversity.

While journeys outwards were not feasible, we gazed inwards. We evaluated ourselves, and in a way, found traits about us which we subconsciously portrayed but never acknowledged. We appreciated art, in whichever form it came to us. We realised the often-subdued importance of cultivating and nurturing hobbies.

While a year, in its most simple terms, is an arbitrary collection of some days, we tend to view it as an enabling mechanism to keep a track of our time, and by extension, our lifespan. It is a practice which lends more weight to what-could-have-I-done than what-can-I-do. We usually view periods of inactivity as stagnancy. However, even inactivity is a root-building exercise, where the results may not be very apparent in the short-term.

When we think of 2020, let us not remember it for what we didn't win. Instead, let its remembrance be a reminder of what we didn't lose.

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