By: Christina Nguyen
As November and 2020 come to a close, it’s a great time to be thinking about what you’re thankful for. In fact, November is actually National Gratitude Month!
2020 has been an unprecedented, tumultuous, difficult year for most of us. Even if your own life hasn’t been too affected, it’s important to have empathy and compassion towards this year’s many tragedies -- including those due to the pandemic and police brutality. Rather than being all “in the same boat”, we’ve been in different boats in the same storm.
Despite all of this, it’s also important to find glimmers of positivity. Even if you’ve yet to experience anything happy this year, someone you know has probably experienced some reason for gratitude. Being happy for others is also a form of empathy and compassion.
Recognizing that 2020 has brought its own unique silver linings absolutely shouldn’t minimize or diminish all the tragedies that have occured this year. It’s still important to recognize each loss that shouldn’t have happened as well as the emotional and economic issues that 2020’s events have initiated or exacerbated.
In case you need a little sunshine, here are a few positive things that have happened this year to be thankful for:
1. The ability to work from home.
One of the most significant ways our everyday lives have been altered is many of us are working from home. Having our office just steps away from our beds and kitchens have transformed our routines by taking away dreary commutes, reducing our carbon footprints, and making it easier to dine on our own home cooking rather than eating out. Something that was considered a luxury for many became a necessary safety precaution for many of us.
While having a cat pounce on the keyboard or interrupt a Zoom meeting may be annoying, it’s undeniable that working from home has had several positive benefits on many workers and on the environment. If you’ve got kids, you’ve probably experienced some benefits from being able to more consistently keep an eye on them as well!
2. More accessible events.
One of the pre-pandemic relics many of us dearly miss is in-person events, such as parties, happy hours, or educational workshops. While Zoom events don’t have the same networking opportunities and there’s sadly no free food, the silver lining is that we can access events that we never would have had access to had they been in-person.
This is especially handy for those of us trying to learn new skills -- we can now attend useful workshops and even conferences taking place 8000 miles away. No plane tickets necessary.
3. More consciousness towards racial equality.
Summer 2020 rallied our attention towards other tragedies that led to large-scale racial reckonings and reforms. Several large brands and influencers wrote their own personal statements detailing their impassioned feelings and relevant experiences, urging their millions of followers to donate to racial justice organizations and to learn more about the terrible injustice that led up to those tragedies. Even our LinkedIn feeds suddenly were full of professionals finally revealing the discrimination they’d faced in their industry, drawing awareness to an issue many of us previously felt stifled by.
Declarations to improve swept the nation’s companies and individuals. Juneteenth finally became widely acknowledged and was celebrated all throughout the country. Companies pledged to be more conscious within their hiring processes to eliminate bias, foster a more inclusive environment, and make their working environments safer and more welcoming to diverse individuals.
If these plans continue to be implemented, they’ll undoubtedly have a positive effect on employee mental health, collaboration, and overall productivity – studies show that more diverse organizations often perform better. We’re on the way to experiencing a world where a wider range of voices will finally be heard and appreciated, including the ones that don’t sound like those traditionally at the top.
4. Pet adoptions have increased.
Animal lovers rejoice! More hours spent at home means more need for companionship and more time to devote to pets. Even if you don’t have the time or means to own a new furry friend, it’s still heartwarming to know that more animals have finally found homes. This isn’t only good news for the animals, but also the humans. Studies show that having a pet has positive benefits on physical and mental health, such as relieving stress, anxiety, and depression.
5. We’re embracing nature a little more.
With outdoor activities in not-so-crowded spaces being among the safest activities out of the home, many of us are taking to camping sites and hiking trails rather than bars and clubs. Studies show that spending time in nature has positive effects on your mental health, such as lowering stress.
What happened in 2020 that you're thankful for? Let us know in the comments below!
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About Stingray Advisory Group LLC: Stingray Advisory Group LLC is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan and is a proud member of Local First and the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. We help small businesses grow by providing guidance in financial planning, website development, marketing, and more.
