Given what we’ve been through for the last 10 months, the term ‘2020 hindsight’ takes on a whole new meaning. We will look back on this year and remember a grave time for humanity.
Not only has the virus sickened and killed many people, it has polarized us, at a time when we really needed to come together. I blame it all on social media, the purveyor of information, dis-information and cat videos. I can’t read a lot of that stuff anymore, there’s no truth in a lot of it and it just drives me nuts. And I’m not a big cat video guy either.
I recently had the opportunity to hear from a very interesting fellow, Dave Sanderson. Dave would know something about getting through a troubling experience, as he was the last passenger off the Miracle on the Hudson, the plane that went into the Hudson River, piloted by Sully. His take on 2020 was different.
Trying to make sense of everything that’s happened this past year is difficult. There’s every reason to be apprehensive of the future. Will we have another pandemic? Will the next one be worse? Will the vaccine work? Will we get this one under control? Will I even be able to shake someone’s hand again and not fear for my life?
What Dave said was to live a life based on gratitude. Believe that everything happens for a reason, and how you respond determines your future.
If you believe that, maybe 2020 was destined to be the year we looked back at, to remember how fragile life is. But is there much to be grateful for?
There sure is.
I’m grateful for the scientists and researchers who found a solution and developed a vaccine. I’m grateful for the medical staff that was there to help the sick. I’m grateful we can see the light at the end of this tunnel, because we may have another tunnel to look down again, which could be worse. The lessons we learned this time will help us next time.
I’m grateful for the country, the province and the community we live in, because this pandemic was much different in other parts of the world.
I’m grateful that, even though we can’t be together with family over Christmas, we can still connect through Zoom. And I’m grateful for a mute button.
My heart aches for anyone who lost a loved one to this virus. I lost my Dad before it started, and I’m grateful I could hold his hand before he passed.
I’m grateful that 2020 is almost over, the sun will rise soon on a new year.
Hindsight indeed, 2020 has been a real pain in the derriere.
Brad Sherwin, MBA is a long-time resident of South Delta, and has over 30 years’ experience in marketing, public relations and business strategy. He teaches Marketing at Douglas College, coaches hockey goalies and is Past President of Deltassist.
