My Life Lessons From 2021

With the continuing pandemic, lockdowns, and social restrictions, 2021 caused uncertainty, stress, and even devastation for so many people. It has tested us in ways we’ve never been tested before. However, when life is turned upside down, we see more clearly what is truly important to us and what we want to change in the future. Here I would like to share some life lessons I have learned this year.

1.??????Human connections is the primary source of happiness

As wonderful as digital technology has been to help us remain in contact with family and friends, there is no comparison to a time spent together in real life. Being together and gazing in each other’s eyes make our hearts synchronize and souls connect. Holding a hand of a loved one, hugging a friend, and having a good laugh together with a colleague - are priceless and cannot be replaced by video calling or virtual meetings. Once social distancing restrictions were removed, I used every opportunity to be with the people that?matter to me?the most?and spend time together, making precious memories and strengthening connections.

2.??????Sometimes slowing down is the best way to move forward

If there’s one positive thing that lockdowns and working from home have given me, it’s the opportunity to slow down and take a pause, switching off for the moment from the fast-paced work environment to stop, calm down, reflect and think. Having space and the ability to concentrate allowed me to see things clearly and creatively, it helped to generate new ideas and pull off a number of large ambitious projects I have never dreamed about before while being submerged 12/5 in the noisy and stressful office environment. I vowed that however the future changes the ways we live and work, I will always make sure to make some "windows of calm" during the day - to regroup, recalibrate and reset.

3.??????Our home is our lifeboat

Before 2020, I saw my home as a kind of “pit stop” for the racecar of my life - a space to eat and sleep before heading out to work, travel, or social life. Lockdowns turned our homes into the personal insulated islands, the only space we had for months. “Same storm - different boats” as someone nailed the reality of COVID lockdowns with our homes suddenly becoming our lifeboats of very different size, equipment, and a crew.?Two years into the pandemic and lockdowns, my home feels less like a prison but resembles more a lifeboat - a place to relax, enjoy and engage in work and hobbies. More work is yet to be done next year to turn it into a great place to live in, weathering any storms outside our life can bring.

4.??????Nature nurtures both body and soul

Recent lockdowns made outdoors a rationed luxury, rekindling my childhood-time natural hunger for open spaces and great outdoors. With restrictions lifted, I felt an extra motivation to get outside and explore my local areas looking for natural beauty spots. Being outside in fresh air and natural light, enjoying green spaces, and observing wildlife became an essential part of my mental wellbeing and an additional source of happiness.

5.??????It is always possible to find happiness in “Now”

In the endless quest towards “social success”, we used to overlook small daily joys, racing towards more important events or achievements. However, “big stuff” needs space, planning, and some certain future – luxuries we did not have in the last two years. With high uncertainly over the pandemic evolution making long-term planning next to impossible, we can deliberately turn attention to small affordable delights “here and now”. We can make sure to do little things to add sunshine to each day - for us and people around us. Making freshly brewed coffee in the morning, baking a loaf of sourdough bread for breakfast, preparing a relaxing candle bath instead of a quick evening shower, getting absorbed in a new fiction book instead of mindless internet surfing, scheduling a long park walk with a friend or watching a favorite comedy movie together with the whole family… With so many things out of our reach now, we can appreciate the things we have. Unfortunately, the pandemic and lockdowns have not put our life “on pause” – something we can fast-forward through and resume from the place where we left off, once the pandemic is over. Our lives continue here and now, every day eating off from the limited amount of time we have. Instead of regretting have-nots, we can make the best from the things we have, and create small special moments of joy and happiness for the people next to us.

Wish everyone a Joyful, Bright, Healthy, Prosperous and Happy New Year ahead!