Reflect: What’s the most important lesson you learned in 2020 that you’ll take with you into 2021?
Below, find selected responses grouped according to theme.
Resilience
We can adapt to the most challenging situations. — Jacqueline B. | Sao Paulo, BR
There are circumstances and events that you cannot plan for or anticipate. You can either let them throw you into anxiety or depression or try to "ride the wave" and try to learn and grow from it. — Kevin C. | Wilmington, DE
Things can change on a dime — appreciate today and be ready to pivot. — Pearl Ann N. | Downers Grove, IL
Life changes quickly and you have to learn to change with it by being flexible, accepting, and hopeful. — Marcia M. | Wilmington, DE
Humans are extremely resilient. You may not want to, but it is guaranteed that you will face tough times, and you will get through it and only grow from it. — Szandra B. | Warsaw, POL
2020 showed us how adaptable human beings can be and the importance of positive thinking. — Suliane S. | Bournemouth, UK
Letting go of past experiences means learning the lessons and distancing yourself, emotionally, from the "feelings" associated with those negative experiences. Forward momentum is diminished by the drag created when you remain emotionally attached to negativity. — Avalon R. | San Antonio, TX
Having a resilience plan for my family; I do this at work all the time and was able to implement this into my home life. Having a plan for if and when someone is exposed to COVID, or when someone needs help, has gotten me and my family through these tough times. — Ktrynha R. | San Antonio, TX
You can succeed in a challenging/alternative environment. — Andi S. | Columbus, OH
I am resilient, regardless of the circumstances. Practicing gratitude, prayer, and yoga have fostered my resilience. — Maribeth R. | New York, NY
That you have to be prepared for the unexpected, and when you are not, you need to just roll with it. You have to be flexible and adjust to the new way of working. You have to make time to still connect with people in a very human way. You have to set boundaries, and of course, be flexible with those boundaries. — Mark M. | Plano, TX
You have to be prepared to regroup, rethink, pull up your bootstraps, and do whatever it takes to help in whatever ways you can. You cannot give up. You have to keep going, no matter what. — Jennifer B. | Bear, DE
Expect the unexpected. — Ann B. | Columbus, OH
Gratitude
Live a life of gratitude. Life, like time, is fleeting. Enjoy and take care of what you have now, not what you are lacking. Do not hold onto grudges, for it is like poison you are drinking. If you do not like a person, just let it go, don't focus on him/her. Be kind. To yourself, to people around you. We all have suffered enough. Love life again. — Liss Q. | Cebu, PHL
Appreciate every second of every day, it can all change in a heartbeat. — Lyubomir I. | Glasgow, UK
Life isn't guaranteed to anyone, so try to make the most of what we have. — Melissa B. | Inglewood, CA
Tomorrow is not promised, live today like it's your last. — Kim B. | Indianapolis, IN
Don't take life for granted, be strong, and enjoy every moment. — Jacqueline D. | Tempe, AZ
I did appreciate time spent with my family even though it was very difficult sometimes to find the right work-life balance. At the end of the year I realized that I am really grateful for it. This year was unique and encouraged me to make a real assessment of what are the most important things and start to appreciate what we have. I think I am incredibly lucky to work in such a great environment with great people around me. With this approach and thoughts I entered 2021 and am looking forward to see what the future will bring. — Monika | Warsaw, POL
Celebrate the moments and live each day fully. I am grateful for my family, my friends, my job, and my community — if I focus on that, then the challenges along the way aren't quite as daunting. We don't know what tomorrow will bring, and I know how lucky I am to be here today. One of my daughters gave me a 2021 calendar with family pictures from every month of 2020 showing happy moments — so despite the challenges, there were a lot of celebrations along the way. — Marilyn S. | Phoenix, AZ
The most important lesson that I learned in 2020 that I will forever carry on is to be thankful to live, love, learn, and laugh. — Mariah G. | Chicago, IL
The most important thing I learned in 2020 is that although it was a year of tremendous loss, it was also an opportunity for recognition of tremendous gratitude. I have heard these called "COVID blessings" and I appreciate them everyday - positive things that would not have occurred were it not for the pandemic. — Judy K. | Houston, TX
To be more appreciative of the people around you. — Jaison J. | Plano, TX
The most important lesson I learned is not to take things for granted and to make the most of life, because we never know what tomorrow will bring. Embrace family and friends, let them know how important they are to you. Also to stop procrastinating in doing the things you always wanted to do. — Andrea H. | San Antonio, TX
Connection
I learned that we should not take our relationships for granted. I will be intentional about making time for the people I have relationships with. — Claire H. | Bournemouth, UK
Cherish every moment with friends and family. Find time when you have no time. — Penny G. | Springfield, MO
Staying in touch more often with friends and family! — Ann G. | Monroe, LA
Inertia can be dangerous. So, we must plan and schedule and reach out. — Tom K. | Chicago, IL
The most important lesson I learned is that true and meaningful connections are irreplaceable. Self-love and care facilitates deeper relationships with those around me, and a grateful attitude changes any situation. — Laurie W. | Lake Mary, FL
Take time to listen and reflect. — Timothy F. | Tampa, FL
Working together is the only way things go forward. — Joe M. | Columbus, OH
Without human physical contact we have lost a significant element of our being. The joys of a face-to-face chat can never be replaced by technology. — Jessica L. | Columbus, OH
Well-Being
Mental wellness and family are the two most important things that matter in life. — Mahesh N. | Jersey City, NJ
Be flexible, be open minded, be willing to take time for yourself. — Mike L. | Valparaiso, IN
Take care of your mind and body first. — Bonnie W. | Columbus, OH
Self-care mind, body, and soul. Took baby steps to have a relationship with exercise! — Virginia S. | Jersey City, NJ
I am not a superwoman, so I should not feel overly guilty when there is a need to drop the ball every now and then. — Michelle D. | Frisco, TX
Be kind to yourself and hear what your body and mind want to say. Know your boundaries and limits. — Justyna | Warsaw, POL
Taking time for self-care. — Baljeet G. | London, UK
Prioritize yourself first. No one is looking after you but yourself. You have to fill your own cup before you can fill everyone else's. While you'll always have obligations and responsibilities, you can choose where you put your energy in terms of activities, people, and more. You own your time and commitments, and can align them to what is best for you in the moment. — Melanie B. | Chicago, IL
How important downtime is — away from work to rest and recharge — for everyone. — Danielle C. | Edinburgh, UK
Must take care of "self" first. — Pearl E. | Houston, TX
Remember to make time for yourself when no one else will. Step away from the desk, remember to eat lunch, and don't take work stress too personally. — Adam S. | Wilmington, DE
Mindset
Power of our mindset. It's a choice, although not always easy, we have the final say on our actions and reactions. Whatever you do, "Make it Matter." — Steve C. | New York, NY
Shift your focus on the things that you can control, and worry less about the things that are out of your hands. — Silvia A. | Coral Springs, FL
Throughout my life, I have always taken time to reflect. It's a natural instinct for me. 2020 has heightened that sense, and has brought about a need for campaigning for it now more than ever. People only need to stop, listen and recognize the signs. — Monica P. | Plano, TX
To respect life, our world, our opportunities, and at any second things can change, so make the most out of every moment. — Cher S. | San Diego, CA
Be positive — someone always has it worse than you. — DeAnn H. | Bristol, WI
Things happen the way they are supposed to. 2020 was chaos, but after looking for a new job, being unemployed for a few months, I was able to regain confidence in myself and remember that the end of one chapter means the beginning of a new one, or a whole new story! — Anthony P. | Newark, DE
Family first, normal life pre-2020 is too fast-paced. — Scott R. | Houston, TX
Don't take anything for granted. There was so much tragedy in the world, I've learned to embrace what's in front of me and focus on what's within my control.
— Emmy T. | San Antonio, TX
Life is never guaranteed so take each day and find time to play. Doing work 24/7 is not life. If you want to write, write. If you want to rest on Sunday, rest... savor each and every day. — Lorraine A. | Chicago, IL
Time is a currency in its own right. If you're not careful, you'll waste it and not have any idea what you spent it on, and you deserve to spend it on the things and the people that are worth it. — Jack F. | Wilmington, DE
I have always been an advocate for not sweating the small stuff, and 2020 showed me how to prioritize my time. This helped me to see what is important in my life. — Olivia W. | Columbus, OH
Accept myself, each family member and friend exactly as they are - imperfect and complicated humans. Accept reality as it is, not as I wish or expect it to be. — Tammy D. | Indianapolis, IN
Every second counts and we should make the best out of every day. I was a full-time mom, teacher, employee, and domestic engineer for several months. I learned to make my daughter's at-home school super fun to reduce the stress from all of us. I learned to appreciate eating lunch with my daughters and my furry babies during a weekday, which had never happened in years. I learned to end my workday at a certain time and run outside or just bike around the neighborhood. I learned that there is time for everything and anything. — Andrea D. | Houston, TX
To slow down, appreciate the simple pleasures in life, and spend my time and energy on what brings me joy and fills my soul. — Kelly K. | Bournemouth, UK