Dear 2020: We’re Through. It’s Not Us; It’s You.

Author’s note: With this year nearly over, I’ve been reflecting on what a transformative period 2020 has been. It seems that so much has changed, and things we could have never imagined came to fruition. And in keeping with that sentiment, I’m departing from my usual article format to pen an open letter to 2020 as we bid it farewell.

Dear 2020:

It’s over.

We’re no longer tolerating your lousy behavior. You thrive on chaos, divisiveness, and fear. You seem to derive great pleasure from causing pain to others and enabling prolonged uncertainty.

Every time it seemed things returned to some sense of ‘normalcy’ (whatever that means—you messed that up, too), you threw some other wacky thing our way:

• Devastating wildfires in Australia and the West Coast
• A global pandemic whose Coronavirus affected over 75 M people (including the U.S. president) and killed more than 1.7 M worldwide
• Record unemployment numbers
• A stock market crash
• Never-ending extreme weather events
• Growing social injustice and civil unrest
• A crazy election cycle that never seemed to end

(Oh, and “murder hornets”—what was that about?)

You forced isolation, took away freedoms we didn’t realize we had or how much we’d miss, stole loved ones from us, and pushed us to the brink.

You disrupted the way we work, live, and learn, at times removing the possibility of in-person anything.

You beat us down, and nearly broke us.

To be fair, it wasn’t all bad. In fact, there’s one thing we can thank you for: forcing us to adapt.

You played that tough love card, shaking us out of any ruts in which we’d safely kept ourselves nestled and demanding that we examine the way we move through the world individually, as part of our communities, and as a planet.

We saw our businesses fall only to be reborn. You ignited our innovation and creativity to solve new problems in new ways. You gave us an ultimatum: pivot or perish, and as best as we could, we’ve risen to the challenge, building our collective grit along the way. Together from afar, we endured, we persevered and got through this toxic, exhausting relationship with you.

Ironically, you also taught us the importance of kindness, empathy, and patience. We learned how an encouraging word or small gesture could be the much-needed fuel to carry someone through the dark abyss of their existence. Forced to suspend travel and in-person experiences, we lived vicariously through our Netflix queue and fiction, relying on it for an escape to new worlds. (Even if one of those worlds belonged to the Tiger King.) And after years of neglect, we finally applied these concepts to ourselves by unapologetically recognizing that self-care is not selfish; it’s essential for our sanity, wellbeing, and ability to care for others.

Connecting became a priority, not only for business but for our wellbeing as humans. Misery loves company, and with you, we had plenty of both. This year you enabled the least tech-savvy among us (I’m talking to you, Dad) to be transformed into Zoom masters, organizing virtual meetings, classes, and events. It was comforting to know that we had each other out there, beyond the screen. Our lifeline relied on the strength of our WiFi and willingness to reach out.

We also came to appreciate and wax nostalgic over the things we once took for granted—an unmasked walk into a public place, hugging our friends, and attending a concert or play. Without your dark lows, we may have never fully rejoiced in the beloved (but infrequent) bright spots when they appeared.

Collectively, we were put to the test, and our resiliency carried us through what’s been a messy, imperfect, and rocky road.

And together, we’ll overcome and move on.

So sorry, 2020, you had your time, but we’re through. It’s not us; it’s you.

We’re choosing hope, optimism, and new beginnings. The promise of change and possibilities. A chance for a massive reset and fresh start.

You know, 2021.

Signed,

Amy and the rest of the world

This article was first published on Forbes.com. Find it here, and my other Forbes articles here.

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