2020 What Could Possibly Be Next?
I saw a meme the other day of a man standing with an annoyed look on his face and the caption was “Wondering when we’ll get a week without some sort of catastrophic event” and it’s so fitting. I am pretty sure we are all feeling like 2020 is the year that keeps on giving and not in a good way. When I stop to think of all the events that have occurred, it’s wild to think it all happened in one year, and dare I even breathe the words, it’s not over yet.
Here is a quick recap of just some of what 2020 has handed us:
Australia wildfires (remember those?), 47 million acres lost.
Kobe and Gianna Bryant along with 7 other passengers die in a plane crash.
Two people are struck and killed by Mardi Gras floats.
Tiger King. Love is Blind.
Murder hornets.
The president was impeached and then acquitted. Endless amounts of political vomit on all social media and TV.
World Wide Pandemic. “Don’t forget your mask” was not something I ever thought would be a part of my daily reminders.
Deaths of George Floyd and Breonnna Taylor which spark a series of nationwide protests, some peaceful and others not.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle renounce themselves from British Royalty.
School out for 6 months. Back to school with a mix of virtual and in-person that we are trying to navigate.
Economic downfall. A $1200 stimulus check as compensation.
Hurricanes. Y’all, we are almost to the end of the named storms list, and there’s still a month to go. This season has been one giant game of dodge ball.
Wildfires up and down the West Coast. Air quality beyond the “hazardous level.”
The loss of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
With all these things and so many more that not listed, it’s so easy to become overwhelmed.
I began to notice a significant increase in my own anxiety and asked my PCP for medication. I have found myself taking more long baths, watching less true crime, and more feel-good shows, trying to find normalcy in a time that continues to be far from normal. Aside from the aforementioned quick list of just some of 2020, we are still navigating through the normal bumps that life hands us. As the holidays quickly approach, many of us are questioning what they will look like this year, adding additional stress to the normal stress most people experience during that time of the year.
It is so important that we care for our mental health and know when we need to step away from a situation, when to ask for help, and that it’s okay not to be okay. Reach out to someone if you need to, whether a friend or a professional. Asking for help can be hard, but be certain that you are not alone, no one is expecting anyone to be holding it all together right now, give yourself and others grace as we continue to navigate through this year and the future. I know I am not the only one feeling tired, feeling stressed and anxious, and constantly waiting for what’s next.
