2020 Vision – 2020 Hope- Even In The Middle of This Pandemic By: Tanya South

On December 31st, 2019, so many of us had their to-do lists, goals, plans, dreams, aspirations and resolutions ready to crush in the awaited year of 2020. Entering what we thought of, as a new and exciting decade. Little did we know, how the year 2020 would become a historic, unprecedented moment in time. I had a deep impression in my soul in the beginning of this year, when three power words came to mind. The words were vision, breakthroughs and miracles. I walked into the year busy with work (while hanging onto to those three words) and fired up for a successful year ahead of me. But then, our world was attacked by an invisible enemy. The corona virus pandemic came like a thief in the night, and seems like it has stolen everything. Tragically, thousands have died or are still dying because of this virus; and we still do not know everything about it. The unknown can be frightening. Currently, our history in the making, will one day be in history books that our children’s children will some day learn about in school. Our businesses, schools, Broadway shows, restaurants, parks, and essentially, our lives have been almost completely shut down. The economy is suffering. As of today, the governor announced officially that schools will be closed for the remainder of the academic school year. The new norm is the “quarantined life.” The new norm is being mandated to wear masks in public and continue social distancing. So many suffer from losing their jobs, not knowing how they’ll pay their mortgages or rents; or how they’ll feed their children. While others like our doctors, nurses, cops and essential workers are still out there sacrificing themselves so that the rest of us can stay home. All who are referred to as “essential workers” and even the teachers are essentially HEROES. Our children have transitioned into online learning at home. Parents are stressed, children are stressed, teachers are stressed, EVERYONE IS STRESSED. Let’s not forget, REALTORS. Our profession is based on running around, showing homes, doing listing presentations, attending inspections, attending closings, hosting open houses, constantly being on the move and interacting with people all the time for a living. Then SUDDENLY, no showings are allowed, no open houses, not to mention because we are simply to stay home. So many people in general, are having to apply for unemployment. How about our seniors and graduating classes of 2020? Countless events and plans had to painfully be cancelled because of this global pandemic. Ugh! Overwhelming, right? I’ve written so much about how negatively, this pandemic has impacted all of us in different ways. But, even in the middle of the storm, we can change our perspective. There is a saying I’ve been seeing a lot everywhere, especially on social media. The saying is, “You are not stuck at home, you are safe at home.” Talk about perspective, huh? Well, it’s a true statement. Personally, this time has ironically been extremely productive for me. It’s been a time of clarity and reflection. Our earth, our world now has less pollution because of this pause. We also live in a world and society, where the normal theme of everyday life is “rush, rush, rush.” We are constantly on the go for work, to get kids to school, to pick up kids from school, to take them to their sport activities and games. Rushing to appointments, meetings, business trips, missing dinner with your families at home because you got stuck at work. Many of us missing the important conversations with our spouses and children. Now, we are actually talking with each other, laughing more with each other, playing board games, going for walks and enjoying our beautiful surroundings of nature. While it’s easy to get on each other’s nerves being under the same roof all the time in the midst of the monotony, I try not to see it that way. This has been a time of catching up on precious, quality time with the most important people in our lives. It’s not to take away from wanting time with our friends and colleagues too, but sometimes in the busyness of life, our families sometimes suffer the most. This time of reflection of what really is important, showed me what really matters is LOVE. Services from the church my family and I attend, are now online since this pandemic. Our pastor began preaching a wonderful series called, “The QuaranTeam.” Our pastor nailed it with the message of LOVE, LOVE, LOVE for our families among other things too. LOVE is what really matters. Outside of our family, I am also seeing so much LOVE being shown all over our communities and all over the world. I’m witnessing people creating Go Fund me pages, fundraisers to raise money for meals to our essential workers, raising money for families in need; children are creating cards and posters for the sick, the old, our essential workers and law enforcement. A cool new theme I’ve seen a lot lately and even been a part of a couple myself, are “drive bys” for birthdays. This is when everyone remains in their car and drives by their friend’s, neighbor’s or family member’s house to wave and wish them “Happy Birthday.” Our world seems to be working together. There seems to be a more “togetherness.” Although, we are still seeing some political differences and political separation; for the most part, I am seeing LOVE everywhere. I think and ask myself, “Why can’t we love like this all the time?” Why can’t we extend grace and compassion to others easily? Why can’t we just stop being so judgmental and just be understanding? Why? Why? Why?” I have a lot of “whys” in my mind. Can’t we stay like this when the pandemic is over? Have we learned anything while staying home, while witnessing so much chaos, loss and sadness; but still being resilient in our love for each other at the same time? I have learned so much. We have so much hope to hold onto throughout the unknown. Remember those three words that came so strongly in my mind before the new year? They were vision, breakthroughs and miracles. I had a totally different idea of how those words were going to be relevant this year. When the pandemic first slammed us, I thought the vision is gone, where are the miracles and breakthroughs? But then it hit me! Although, in the middle of the madness, there lies the vision of hope, the breakthroughs of our world coming together, the miracles of those who have suffered, but recovered from the virus. The miracle of so much courage coming out of so many and so some much love pouring out of all of us. So you see my friends, there is 2020 vision and 2020 hope, even in the middle of this pandemic.

By: Tanya South