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As I looked across my social media feeds this past week, sentiments about 2020 were noticeably mixed. Some enthusiastically bid good riddance to the year that's kept us all grounded (and somewhat scared). Others embraced the not-so-gentle nudge it provided for increased time at home, less rushing, and more creating. Whatever your feelings might be heading into the new year, as someone whose work is centered in continuous learning, particularly as adults, I think it's important to recognize the things we did do and how we grew.
So here is my list of things I never thought I'd do (in 2020):
Plant a garden (and keep most of it alive)
Jar my own pickles and jalapenos
Watch almost weekly backyard movies with my kids
Go on daily walks with my husband
Learn to (finally) poach an egg
Fly under 20,000 miles
Shift 100% of my business (at least for the time being) to virtual spaces
Order so much takeout while also cooking more than ever in my life
Bake so many cookies and brownies
Run the dishwasher twice a day
Stockpile toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and Clorox wipes
Learn so much about web cams, microphones, and video editing software
Take courses in photography, copyrighting, and digital marketing
Find space in my schedule for regular women's leadership groups and accountability pods
Play this much Uno and Monopoly and still live to tell about it
Light up the night with hundreds of glowsticks, sparklers, and campfires
Take my kids on mid-day hikes - because we could
Reconnect with so many friends and family members without leaving home
Learn to embrace pausing, pivoting, and uncertainty
Leap even when I wasn't ready (if you're doing it right, it will be uncomfortable regardless)
We certainly lost a lot this past year, but I am choosing to focus on what was gained, how we can learn from it, and build something truly amazing together in the months to come.
Share what you never thought you'd do in 2020.
