Hindsight 2020

As the year comes to an end, I have found myself somewhat unconsciously, engaging in the same process that I do each year, an in-my-mind ‘stocktake’ of what was, what is, and what could have been. This year though, I am forcing myself to be more mindful, lest I encounter the danger of losing what I have learnt.

The year saw us experience the largest collective trauma of our generation. Our losses were global, financial, social, economic, psychological and, for many of us, also included the loss of loved ones. It would be easy to write this year off as one that didn’t count. I’ve heard many people talk about it as a ‘waste’, and a time they would rather forget.

Whist 2020 threw a mammoth challenge at us it also gave us an opportunity we could never have expected. A forced break, time to slow down, time to revisit old hobbies and time to reconnect with our families. It may also have meant we unknowingly found our meaning and purpose. We might have been more deliberate and conscious with how we spent our time and given more thought to our values and the people we chose to spend our time with.

To not reflect on the above, creates another loss. A lost opportunity to sure up our learnings. We don’t learn from what we do, we learn from reflecting on what we do.

Over the last month many of us, myself included, have thrown ourselves back into life as we knew it – madly socialising, working and hitting our end of year goals. All too easily returning to the fast-paced life that we relentlessly pursue but felt so grateful to be forced to break from. And so, as the year comes to an end, we need to make a conscious effort to reflect on, amplify and install our learnings before they are replaced with the next pursuit.

Amongst all of my reflections, some of my most profound were how hard I found it to slow down, but how much I enjoyed it when I did and, learning just how much uncertainty I could cope with before I needed to act. I learnt how much joy some freestyle lego-making can bring. I remembered how actually the best way I cope is to turn my attention to others and I feel so grateful to the people who let me into their lives – both personally and professionally. I (re) learnt that I love my profession and that the greatest gift you can give someone is to let them know that you see them. I experienced a newfound gratitude for the company of small people, who practice mindfulness with an ease that I strive for and I realised that self-care can come in the form of a home-done haircut.

There are other reflections too. About just how far a kind gesture can go. And about how when people feel they have something to offer, they generally step up to the plate. This is a particularly nice reflection to rest on.

So perhaps grab a coffee, and 5 minutes of space, and consider the following:

1.      What did you learn about yourself this year?

2.      How will this help you cope with new challenges?

3.      What do you want to make sure you hold on to? (this could be new ways of thinking or doing)

4.      How do you want to spend more of your time?

5.      What are you grateful for?