The Lessons of 2020

It has been a rough year by almost any standard, and on almost every front. We have experienced disequilibrium fueled by a global pandemic and the turbulence it has created for work, schools and families, an unprecedented response to racialized violence and a call for equity and justice for Black Americans, an economic meltdown in many industries bringing unemployment, homelessness, hunger, and the demise of many small businesses, and sharp increases in mental health challenges and addiction. 

A year ago, this situation would not have seemed possible. We took a lot for granted. Going to work, the kids off to school, visiting our parents, going shopping, dining out, holiday family gatherings, and enjoying the company of friends were luxuries many of us didn’t fully appreciate until they were taken away. 

I remember reading once that we all strive for happiness in life, but our character is forged through adversity. I know that has been true in my own life; that I’ve grown most in character, empathy, and resilience through the challenges and difficulties I've faced. So what has all of this year's adversity taught us? Taught me?

As I gladly walk away from 2020, here are some of the lessons I have learned:

1. Fear of the unknown and unseen can fuel paranoia and an “us versus them” mentality, but empathy, data and dialogue can mediate those fears if we choose that course. 
2. Science and scientists are amazing. In the face of massive shutdowns worldwide and more than one-and-a-half million people dead from the global pandemic, in a matter of months, scientists developed vaccines to protect us from the virus. This gives us hope that we will not only survive this moment, but may be able to return to our former lives at some point in the not-too-distant future.
3. Times of quiet and even isolation can be challenging, but they can also be a time for reflection and renewal. Slowing down, limiting our movements, and finding different ways to occupy our time have all been a radical departure from where we were ten months ago. Maybe we were all moving too much, too far, and too fast before the epidemic and this pause has provided us with the opportunity to see more clearly what’s truly important. 
4. The universality of this crisis has made us realize how much we need and value community and how interdependent our lives are. Healthcare professionals, essential workers in grocery stores and other industries, public servants, and first responders have all played such important roles in 2020 and have made us more appreciative of how important others are to our survival and well-being. Connectedness drives our lives and our successes. 
5. Generosity is critical always, but especially in a time of crisis. I may have lost my nights out and my much loved summer travel, but I have so much: a home, the ability to continue to work, a family that is healthy and well nourished. For millions of Americans that is not the case and this reality is sobering and important. In 2018, 14 million Americans were designated as food insecure at some point in the year. The number this year may reach 50 million. So for those of us who are the fortunate ones, generosity is critical.  
6. Our democracy, despite its present wobble, is supported and flourishes thanks to tens of thousands of paid election officials and volunteers. While partisan debates were flying, thousands of our fellow citizens of all political persuasions worked diligently to ensure a fair process and a credible election. In spite of COVID19 and the fears it engendered, last month’s election had the highest percentage of Americans voting for more than a century and 20 million more Americans voted in 2020 than in 2016. That speaks to the appreciation so many of us have for our democracy and this moment in our history.
7. Our prosperity in the future is dependent on trust, cooperation, compassion, and adaptability. Hopefully this year, we’ve all learned the importance of these attributes.

Finally, on a personal level, I learned that 30 years ago I married exactly the right person. How often can one say, after spending 24x7 together for 9+ months, that I still thank God when I see my beautiful wife at the start of every day. And she feels exactly the same way. “Don’t you, Annie? Honey? Hello?” She must have hopped on a Zoom meeting or something. 

Enjoy the holidays, merry Christmas, and for sure, a happier and healthier 2021 for all of us!

Dr. Brad Harrington is the executive director of the Boston College Center for Work & Family and a research professor in the Carroll School of Management at Boston College.

Follow Brad on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@DrBrad