2021 Here We Go

 As the clock ticked on last night on the year that was 2020, a lot of people around the world were anxiously waiting on 2021 for new hope, a sense of new direction and to new beginnings. The year 2020 tested everyone all over the world in so many ways imaginable with a global health crisis at the forefront, who knew the economy, face to face social interactions, celebrations with friends, events, weddings and all other normal human activities would be put on hold because of virus. The coronavirus in itself put a halt on everything we took for granted in life but it has also put life into perspective as well. 

In this technological digital age, the virus accelerated a lot of technological advancements such as zoom, google meets, Facebook messenger rooms, google classroom and other video software that allows us to connect with our friends. The traditions that we took for granted, had to be altered quite drastically, birthday celebrations with friends turned into drive by celebrations outside their house, sports turned off in an abrupt fashion and then later returned with no fans in the stands whatsoever abroad. Social interactions turned into social circles and gatherings turned into physical distancing puzzle pieces, holidays turned into only immediate house hold members, grocery store outings turned into military like missions where your weapons you had was a mask, sanitizer and your own judgment and I can go on and on and on. 

The frontline workers that helped keep our economy opened got drive by celebrations for their countless efforts in keeping us all safe and are the backbone of our fight against the virus. They have not given up to this day to help keep us safe and provide us with the necessities to buy groceries, care for our loved ones when we are unable to be there and help us find a light a the end of this ongoing tunnel. 

To understand these concepts at first was a little out of the ordinary and frustrated a lot of the general population at first. The idea of the government pouring relief money to aid the economy at large seemed questionable at first but it was the right move and it still is to this day. With the pandemic came a lot of small businesses going under as a result of little to no traffic whatsoever as everyone was grasping with the reality of the world that we now live in. As peoples livelihoods went under that they worked on for so many years on end to make, it was a reminder that this virus was not something to take lightly and that more had/has to be done to get trough the pandemic at large. 

The summer came and the cases were on the decline and as people were getting fatigued with being indoors for most of the winter/spring of 2020, patios were finally allowed to open up with health measures in place and people would flock to them and enjoy the little bit of normalcy that they have been after in months. When the malls opened up, the economy was officially open but restrictions were enforced to keep people safe and wearing a mask in malls was the new normal along with sanitizing and distancing of course. We were reminded by the province to support local business and some did just that, supporting as much as they could in hopes that their actions could save their favorite local shop. 

As the summer season came to a close and the fall season was upon us, we often wondered what the fall would have in store for us. With the fall, the cases were moderately increasing and decisions were made about thanksgiving and Halloween, but some people wanted to defy the orders and have thanksgiving anyways which only hindered our efforts to collectively fight the virus. More cases started popping up all over and soon we went from a tiered number approach to define what is open and what is not, to a color coordinated approach to try and help us understand what way this virus was taking as nobody really knew or understood. 

By November and into December, we were and are limited what we can do outside, where we can go and who we can see, but that doesn't stop us from doing all those things online with the use of technology. We can video with our friends and extended family and work on projects that you have talked about doing for quite some time but didn't have any time to actually start them because.. well.. life got in the way so to speak. 

Finally a Christmas like no other was had, as we celebrated with our household bubbles and were connected on video chat with the ones that couldn't be with us to physically celebrate with us. Followed up by kicking the year 2020 to the curb and ringing in  the year 2021 with new hope for all in the fight in ending the pandemic and getting our lives back to the normal that we once had. 

2020 was not all bad and we should not shun a year just because of what we couldn't do, it taught us to be strong, resilient and true to ourselves throughout this winding journey that is life. Their is no straight arrow in life and it's full of winding curves and dips. 2020 was all about what you made of it and 2021 is what you make of it. 

'Now, go get after it and explore what it has to offer. Never let the year define who you are, let you and your actions define the year that you want to have" 

I ask the question, how are you going to define 2021 and what are you going to make of it. 

Stay safe and take care!!

Gordon Williamson (G.W.) :)