Every End Is A New Beginning

Ringing a bell is a traditional ceremony in many Asian countries for celebrating the end of a year, and at the same time praying for a new year. 2020 has been an extraordinary year to remember in many ways. As we bid farewell to this incredibly tumultuous year, it is again a good time to reflect while anticipating the future. 

All of us have had to navigate the unchartered waters of a global pandemic in our personal as well as work life, but it has been a unique learning experience for me. Facing so much uncertainty at the outset of the pandemic in China, we were forced to do a major overhaul of how we normally live and work. I am very proud that we were able to keep our employees and families safe and morale high by quickly securing personal protection equipment while providing regular communications and encouragement. At the same time, I was amazed by the resilience, care, and willingness to help that people demonstrated during the time. After going through the traumatic experience in China during the first half of the year, I came back to the US for the second half of the year. The contrasting experiences in China and US helped me better appreciate the differences between the two societies both in terms of culture and governance. Politics aside, it is very interesting to see how people make decisions when individual decision collides with those of others and the society as a whole. Regardless of where you are in the world, I think we have all learned some lessons from this experience. Here are a few things I would like to share from my personal perspective.

Things in life do not always go as planned

There were plenty of disruptions in 2020. Many had to grapple with a sense of loss about places not seen, experiences not had, people not hugged, and time that’s impossible to get back. Some unfortunately no longer have the jobs they once had. Worst of all, over one and half million people lost their life worldwide with many not having a chance to personally say a final goodbye to their families. Nevertheless, things in life aren’t always going to go as planned or hoped, but we don’t have to live life being constantly disappointed or disenchanted. It’s easy to look back on events and think about what could have been, but nobody can change the past. Nobody has enjoyed the pandemic disruptions we have all endured during this challenging year, but those who can persevere are the ones who will have the energy to bounce back, the courage to thrive, and the strength to be prepared for what comes next. It is true for individuals, for businesses, or even more broadly for a society.

The world is becoming a better place

The virus is still raging, and many of us are feeling its vicious effects personally or professionally. But this is not the first worldwide pandemic, and will not be the last. It is very easy to tell ourselves that the world is in despair with the pandemic and all the other turbulence and global issues, but we must put it in a historical perspective. Even with everything we are going through in 2020, there are many reasons to believe that the world is becoming a better place in general and there are also many things to celebrate.

According to World Economic Forum, life expectancy has risen globally from about 48 years in the 1950 to about 70 years today. Child mortality rates dropped from over 20% in the 1950’s to about 5% today. In 1950, three-quarters of the world was living in extreme poverty. According to world bank, the share in extreme poverty for 2020 is expected to rise in 2020 for the first time in 20 years as a result of COVID-19, but still likely below 10%. Buried in all the media coverage, China announced last month that it had brought its last 70 million people out of absolute poverty, an amazing achievement in 2020.

Reconnect with your personal values

On the one hand, covid has been a year of great leveler. The heads of states or royal families have to suffer through the same pain from the pandemic just like millions of us have to endure. It does not make the suffering any easier but does provide a perspective of what is truly important in life and our priorities. On the other hand, we are all in the same storm, but we all have very different life boats, some even without life vests. Pandemic will likely disproportionately affect those who were economically fragile to begin with, further increase the growth in inequality, and create social and economic instability in many parts of the world. 

This is not the year to ask everything we want, this is the year to appreciate and don’t take for granted the things and people we have. Life changing event can result in change in our life perspective and even change to our personal core values. If you were obsessed about accomplishments such as getting a dream job, winning an award, getting a promotion before 2020, pandemic may have changed your definition of success. Your values are your inner compass in life, so it’s important to take the time to reflect and recalibrate.

Human connections are vital

The most important lesson for many during the pandemic is the value of human connection and how truly vital it is when everything is in doubt. The power of human connection can reframe even the most dire of times and breathe hope into the most bleak of scenes. Connection is a basic human need.

On the one hand, technology has never before played such a vital role in human connection to allow us to work together while staying apart. Whether it’s reaching out to friends and loved ones through social media, finding digital ways to stay productive at work, or connecting with new networks to keep social network going, we are all relying on digital solutions more than we ever have before.

On the other hand, even though we are more connected than ever before and can communicate with anyone anywhere around the world in an instant, the need for human connection is as important as ever during the pandemic. Technology is not a replacement for human connection. Not being able to dine with friends, see family members or interact with coworkers has put a strain on the human spirit. We all seek our larger purpose. We thrive when we can be a part of something bigger than ourselves, something that bonds us together.

Life will not be back to “normal” as we knew it

The pandemic has been the single most disruptive event in America since 911. The ebbs and flows of daily life have become a chaotic jumble bearing little resemblance to our former routines. We could see ripple effects in how we interact, live our lives and view society for years to come. When the pandemic is finally over. Many will want to rush back their old way of life. So many people will be frustrated because they want their old life back. We need to recognize that something will eventually come back to norm. Others will never be the same. The reality is when life gets disrupted, often you can’t go back. The pandemic may permanently change how we socialize and our social circle. What is important is you can take back control and create your new normal. 

At the same time, there are many things we will hope that they do not return to “normal”. To name a few, I hope the speed and agility for developing and distributing a vaccine in a single year stay. I hope our workplaces and schools pull some positive aspects of telecommuting and distance learning into the future by leveraging the increased acceptance of virtualization. I hope telemedicine continues by leveraging innovation to meet market demand for sophisticated patient experiences since it has improved healthcare access, especially for older people and those living in rural areas.

Charlie Chaplin once said, "Nothing is permanent in this wicked world - not even our troubles." The lessons we have learned, however, will stay with we long after this pandemic is over, and will help shape the decisions we make going forward. I hope that the other end of this global pandemic storm awaits a bright sunshine in 2021 and wish you and your family health, happiness, and peace in the New Year!

(A hearty thank you to the worldwide subscribers to my blog with its number will pass 88888 sometime today. The number 8 is considered the luckiest of numbers in China and the more 8's the better. I hope it is also a good sign for the coming new year!)

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