I enjoy re-sharing words I've personally written on the few occasions I've managed to capture a turn of phrase in just the right way, but it's nothing short of lazy when I simply share a sentence or two from the past, or offer only a like or a love to another person's sentiment without even responding. We live in a strange period of history right now where we can feel all our words slipping away from us by the minute, replaced by gifs, emojis, and like buttons.
So here's a phrase, in summary, I have read most often this time of year, especially now that I can see friends' comments more easily from the past decade or more: "I'm so glad this year is over. 20-- has to be better than this awful year has been!"
Keep an eye out for this phrase, written with similar words, on the Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, TikTok, or Instagram feeds of your friends and family members. Perhaps it'll be typed out with more colorful language too. Something like, "Fuck this year. I'm done!" or "Bye-bye, 2019. Don't let the door hit you on the way out." or "This year sucked! Please just end already!"
Here's the thing. Some years will, undoubtedly, suck much more than others. They will contain within them some horrible, possibly even horrifying, life-changing moments. But when you summarize most years of your life with this kind of disgust and hatred, you're casually throwing away hundreds of other beautiful moments. You're tossing aside truly special connections with the loved ones in your life. You're flushing joy down the toilet as if it never even happened, as if it never even mattered.
2020 is almost upon us, and in the last few moments of this year, I will read or hear handfuls of these kinds of negative posts or comments online and in person. Person after person will complain that their whole year was horrible, even if in truth they had much more good than bad.
Perhaps it's just their way of escorting the dark energy out of their minds and homes, and perhaps I need not read into their venting as much as I do. For the sake of those who are anxiously bursting with negative energy this time of year though, I simply offer the following advice.
As you prepare to open your calendars and day planners to 2020, I encourage you to open your mind and heart to 2020 as well. Be prepared to receive so much goodness, so much hope, so much laughter, and so much love. Be prepared not for the sadness that will undoubtedly seep in too, but for the greater joys that will begin showing up on the first day or two of the new year.
2020 has so much to offer you. The funny commercials. The inspiring news stories. The good news shared by others. The delicious food you'll enjoy. The places you will see. The sunrises and sunsets that will leave you breathless with awe. The warm hugs. The kisses, even just the ones on your cheek. The time spent cuddling under blankets with your favorite people, pets, or produce. All of this and more are waiting for you in 2020.
There are no doubt many things that did in fact suck about this past year of your life. There will no doubt be more that will suck about the following year of your life. Yet none of that can possibly take away from all the good you not only will experience next year, but that you already have experienced this year.
Stop disposing entire years of your life casually as if there was nothing good in them. You disrespect people, nature, and yourself when you do this. Focus your energy instead on all the good that is absolutely waiting for you up ahead, and all the good that is already yours right now.
Wishing you a very happy 2020, and a very happy today to begin with!
