I think I speak for everyone when I say 2020 hasn’t been the year we were expecting. It’s definitely been a curveball of a year for everyone on a global scale. We have been made to adapt, to change and come together. Many events and plans cancelled, businesses changed or sadly lost and everyone’s lives affected in someway. I don’t want to focus too much on the negatives but it would be wrong to say this pandemic hasn’t caused heartache, suffering and loss because it has. And I think this year will be going into the history books and I truly hope there is a positive ending.
2020 has personally taught me a fair few things about myself. Here are the 5 things I have learnt this year.
I am adaptable
When we went into the first lockdown my business as I knew it was over. Face to face PT was out of the question and so were group exercise classes. I cried a lot, I was scared and unsure of what the future held, and to be fair I still am. BUT I was able to pivot my business, I moved clients online, I created online classes, I took to Instagram live and I started to make new plans for my career. It forced me to look and see how I could improve my business and what else I could offer. It has made me realise I am more than capable of doing the hard stuff and it is something I intend to take into 2021. The fitness market had changed, I have changed and I intend to follow my heart and see where it leads to next.
Slowing down isn’t a bad thing
I am from the hustle generation, the generation that always has to have a million and one things to do. Where we all believe being busy should be worn as a badge of honour. This year stopped that, it forced me to stop and slow down. For that I will forever be grateful. By having to rest more, slow down and have more time on my hands I have realised it’s possible to still get things done. I have more respect for what I do, it has made me realise what I was missing when I was busy. I know I am not the only one who will be adding more rest into their lives when normal begins again. My aim is to keep a proper balance in my life and create boundaries in order to do so.
Human connection is essential
I miss seeing people, I miss going out with people and I really miss hugging people. I didn’t really realise until it was taken away how much I crave social interaction. However what lockdown might have taken away it also made me reconnect with more. I was speaking to family and friends more via calls and voice notes. Checking in and keeping in touch. There seemed to be more effort to keep connected in someway that I have felt relationships become stronger. That sense of togetherness and strength is something I truly hope we don’t lose and keeping connected is so important.
Appreciate the little things
2020 hasn’t been the year for the grand big adventures its been the year of the little things. Those moments in life we may overlook we now love. I have found that things I may have taken for granted in the past I will appreciate and relish more now. It’s put a lot into perspective for me on how and where I see my life going. And to be honest I’m pretty excited about it all.
To trust that it will all be ok
I love to plan, I love to be in control and both of these things have gone out of the window this year. And my world hasn’t crumbled around me because of it. I always have been that person who needs to know what comes next. Making plans is what I do, follow them and then move onto the next one. I had a big plan for this year that would lead me onto the plan for next. Now I am ok with the fact neither has happen. I need to put more trust in myself and know that it will be ok, I can handle it. I am going to try and see what happens when I plan a little less and just be more in the moment.
Alongside all I have learnt I want to take a moment to appreciate the positives that have happened this year, maybe not in the way we planned but they have happened.
– Friends getting pregnant
– Family engagements
– Friends managing to get married
– My own career developments
– Friends businesses taking off and launching new things
– Moving house
– More time with Elliot
– New friendships built
– The sunshine
And the biggest one for me is the fact we got our wedding day. It’s mad to think a month and a half after this day we went into lockdown. We are forever grateful it happened and we managed to have one final party with all of our loved ones.
Taking inspiration from Harry Potter I want to share this quote with you. To remind you when you look back on this year don’t just focus on the negatives, find all those silver linings. What have you learnt? What have you taken from it and what will you take into 2021?
Happiness can be found in the darkest of places, if only one remembers to turn on the light.
Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter
