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You are here: Home / Explore / Unfiltered Opinions / Lessons Learned from a Year Gone Wrong

Lessons Learned from a Year Gone Wrong

By Know-it-All Nikki 1 Comment

Well, we made it. 2020 is starting to become a speck in the rearview mirror. Are you as happy about it as I am? I mean, yeah, we still have a pandemic on our hands but at least now we have an administration that is taking it seriously and to me, that feels like a step in the right direction.

It’s going to be a long time before we can make light of the last four years or even 2020 for that matter. But, (and stay with me on this), I think we learned a lot. What we do with what we learned is another can of worms all on its own but, there are some key takeaways from 2020 that I believe we are better for having learned.

Your Personal Bubble Matters

For all of the bitching and moaning I saw online about not being able to go out and hang with friends, hit up the clubs, concerts, or bars, there was a much larger number of people who seemed to get it, and carefully picked who they let into their bubble. A few close friends and some family (not all of the family obviously, we all know that ONE PERSON who wants to break all of the social distancing rules), and we’ve remembered how to connect and make time with one another count. It’s just a shame it took a pandemic to make these kinds of connections happen. Quality is always better than quantity.

Working From Home is F*king Amazing

It’s about time the rest of the world caught on to what freelancers, entrepreneurs, and independent contractors already know, and that’s you can do your job just as well from your kitchen table as you can your office. (Probably better, amIright?)

From all of us in the telecommute, home office space to the rest of the 9-5 cubicle world; Welcome to the dark side, please help yourself to some cookies. For all of you still stuck in companies who don’t understand the savings involved (or the ability to be twice as productive) by working from home, please accept our deepest condolences. Your fruit baskets are in the mail.

None of Us Really Wants to be a Teacher

Finally, the world (okay, probably just the USA), understands how underappreciated teachers are. It’s not for the faint of heart and not everyone is cut out for it but thanks to COVID, we all got a taste of a teacher’s life, but let me be clear; it was a sorted view. We weren’t trying to wrangle 22 young people at a time; we were only trying to wrangle our own heathens AND work from home. If you don’t send your kids’ teachers a very handsome end of the year gift, you deserve any insanity and grey hair your children impart upon you this summer.

Racism is Out; Unity is In

I cannot stress this enough; nothing gets accomplished through hate. The more we hate, the more divided we become. I know I come from a place of privilege. I grew up with racists in my life and for the longest time, I allowed myself to believe that truth because I didn’t know any better.

black and white racism is not patriotism sign

We know better. This is the 21st-freaking-century and the past has already shown us racism and bigotry are wrong. Let’s get our collective shit together and do the work to create a more inclusive future for everyone.

I remember how excited and hopeful we were for 2020, full of vim and vigor. We had our sights set high, the number alone, TWENTY-TWENTY, made us shiver with anticipation (Presidental election anyone?), but were we naive? I don’t think so. I think we did what we do at the start of any new year; we hoped for better and set goals.

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But 2020 stole a lot from us too; celebrations, family milestones, reunions, and yes, it gave us far more loss and grief than any of us should have to face in a lifetime, let alone ONE YEAR. I believe the best way we can avoid a repeat of last year is to move forward with the lessons we’ve learned and DO BETTER.

So here’s to 2021, a chance to do more and do better, and above all else, let no one and nothing take hope from you.

Filed Under: Unfiltered Opinions Tagged With: 2020, antiracism, coronavirus, COVID-19, Year in Review

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Comments

  1. Dani

    January 30, 2021 at 2:07 pm

    Nikki, you are so right on about every word of this! I 100% agree. Great post, thanks for writing! ❤️

    Reply

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Very #latergram - we have had a lot if rainwater w Very #latergram - we have had a lot if rainwater which means the rainbows have been showin their stuff. I have needed these rainbows in the last few weeks. They always remind me that despite the rain, better things are on the horizon.
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#therainbowconnection #rainbowsaftertherain🌈 #naturelovers #naturelovers #rainbowcolors #roygbiv #alaskaliving #alaskalife #rainbowsunset
Some people would see this and say, "my God what a Some people would see this and say, "my God what a mess!" But I know the truth; it's September 2nd and I am one day late to making new batches of chai latte and hot chocolate mixes.
Why? Because #itsfallyall 
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That's right! There's a new post on the blog! I've That's right! There's a new post on the blog! I've wanted to write this one for awhile but wasn't quite sure how I felt. Then a conversation with a friend on Monday turned on the light bulb in my head and it was... EUREKA 💡. Has this ever happened to you?

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When you're trying to find something to eat for lu When you're trying to find something to eat for lunch and didn't bring the big bag in to carry your wallet and phone, you decide you want a plastic basket like the one(s) @heatherspinsayarn and your daughter from another mother has. And once you have said basket, you get your lunch and checkout...

But THEN you decide the basket oils perfect for taking only the essentials into the library so you fill it with your WIP, the jerky your bought, pens, your journal, phone, wallet, and keys. And now you feel all minimalist even though the big bag is still in the car with everything else. 🤣
I decided today to clean out my bag. And by "bag", I decided today to clean out my bag. And by "bag", I mean the giant @landsend tote bag I received when I went to the last ever GOOD Type-A Mom conference in 2017.
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Here are some of the items I found...
2 pairs if wired earbuds
3 pairs of wireless earbuds
2 disposable masks
1 reusable mask
4 types of loose leaf herbal tea packets
- A more than comfortable stack of receipts for someone who doesn't work anymore
- An even more than comfortable stack of garbage
1 pen bag
1 small makeup bag courtesy @ipsy 
- a plastic closable case for bobby pins and hair ties
Saline solution
Flonase
2 rolls of washi tape
1 bobby pin
5 hair ties
5 scrunchies 
3 small notebooks
1 phone charger adapter that you plug in🔌 
1 phone stand
1 tablet or book stand
1 gauge swatch for the temperature blanket @heatherspinsayarn and I never started 🤣🤣
1 medicine bottle with extra strength Tylenol
2 moist towelettes (packaged)
3 kinds of hand lotion
1 lip balm
1 office clamp
1 small paper clip
1 really awesome microfiber eyeglass cleaner (I can share a link if you want it)
1 pair of very dirty clip-on sunglasses 
1 travel size pack of kleenex
1 notepad I made out of the library's recycling paper
A pair of fingerless gloves (not knitted)
A business card for the Alaska state troopers
1 knitting needle sizer
2 stitch markers
 A complete set ofstitch markers
A Travel size tooth bush, toothpaste, and flosadeck of tarot cards
4 fabric headbands
1 sports headband
Passport
Wallet
5 pens
1 mechanical pencil
- Too much Alaska sand in the bottom
- A combination crochet hook / knitting needle
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And do you know what wasn't in there? The one thing I can't find... my driver's license
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My office has no door. If I'm in the middle of wor My office has no door. If I'm in the middle of work, a phone call, or the @stitchingthemilestogether podcast there are extreme measures I need to take in order to get some privacy. 
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The curtain is held closed by office binder clips (not just for files and potato chip bags anymore!) On the other side if the curtain is a baby gate because dogs are like moose and they will not be held back by binder clips. 
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This works so well that I'm considering just leaving it like this permanently!
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#officelife #homeofficedecor #homeofficelife #amwriting #freelancewriter #freelancelife
Not the most flattering picture I've ever taken so Not the most flattering picture I've ever taken so you MUST know how much I love and miss Nickles Maple Twist Sweet Rolls. These were a staple growing up in Ohio and my kids love them too.
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Now, of course I can't find them here in Alaska so when @heatherspinsayarn talked about ordering them for the station, I may have let out the saddest, lowest sigh on the planet. Heather pitied me so much she sent me a maple twist sweet roll package.
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