What If 2020 Is The Year We’ve Been Waiting For?
Hello Lovelies, I saw these words about 2020 by Leslie Dwight on @lisamessenger’s Instagram and they really struck me.
During COVID in Paris, I ran the entire gamut of emotions, options, thoughts, and feelings on where we are at in the world. Locked out of my local park, in an apartment (like almost everyone in Paris) with no balcony or outdoor space, we became disconnected totally from nature. Paris without its restaurants and cafes, its florists and boutiques and all human interaction became the ‘wasteland’ for me. A place that no longer made any sense at all.
Metal shutters pulled down on shops, street after street, roads that were empty and that felt like it would take very little time before tumbleweeds would soon roll down these once teeming Boulevards.
Every day, I filled out my document to have the right to one hour outside within 1 km of my house (I will always be grateful for this right) with police on every corner checking our every movement and probably like you, I became bewildered, shocked, confused, and at times lost my compass.
There were good days and bad days. Days I declared I would march straight down to the divorce office the minute this was over and then other days, I thought I was the luckiest girl on the planet to be in lock down with Francesco. It was like riding an emotional tsunami and the only way to hold on and stay sane was to stay in the present.
In the afternoons, I would spend time in a mini studio I created in my office and photograph flowers. I would remember the words of Mary Anne Radmacher “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the silent voice at the end of the day that says ‘I will try again tomorrow’.”
And so each day I would start afresh with the goal to stay present. At some point, I ‘lent into’ the stillness. I started to question my running around the planet, the planes, trains and automobiles and what an exhausting investment of energy this takes.
I learnt so much, what I want for the future, what I care about, what I can no longer tolerate or what I am no longer willing to keep silent about. I learnt about how I want to live and now is the time. I learnt I was privileged and that many people in the world were in tougher situations than me.
A part of me was happy for my discomfort, I knew somewhere amongst the angst there was magic and I didn’t know exactly what it was but I have had enough tough times in life to know that where there is intense discomfort, the power is released and transformation can happen.
Just as we were released from COVID, George Floyd was killed in America and all of a sudden COVID seemed to fade away. I’ve heard the media talk about a second wave of COVID, and when that police knelt on George Floyd’s neck and killed him, I felt this is the true second wave. This is the wave we’ve been waiting for.
The outrage and global anger that followed his death and that of Breonna Taylor’s has given us all a chance to do better together. To ask ourselves, how have we got it wrong? How haven’t I been proactive?
So as Leslie Dwight says in her above quote about 2020: “A year that finally screams so loud, finally awakening us from our ignorant slumber,” I too feel like I have come out of a slumber.
What’s happening in America and now in the world I believe is the beginning of healing, a chance for us all to come together and find true equality for black people and the under-privileged.
2020 made us look at our shit!! George Floyd and COVID allowed us to see all the damage we have done over the centuries on every level, nature, pollution, humanity, wellbeing, wildlife, climate change and all the compromises we have made individually in every country.
I certainly can do better and more than I’ve been doing and I’m so very grateful for 2020 for prodding me out from my slumber.
I can ask more questions, make a greater effort to learn about what I don’t have personal experience with. I have been naive in my ‘whiteness’ and haven’t done enough. I can be more proactive.
I will remember 2020 as the year I truly woke up.
What are your thoughts on 2020? What has 2020 taught you? Leave me a comment below.
In light, love and healing,
Carla x
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I agree wholeheartedly with your sentiments and hope that the world’s memory of 2020 doesn’t diminish with the conquering of Covid19 like some half-hearted New Year’s Eve resolution. Hopefully it will mean lasting change.
I live just out of Wagga Wagga in Australia on a lucerne hay farm and while aware of Covid19 and affected by a few restrictions, life has gone on as usual for us. We have had an incredible year financially and with it has brought a terrible feeling of helplessness that I can’t directly help people who have lost their jobs, their homes and sadly those who have lost lives. I have donated to charity but it sits uneasily that we are doing so well while others around us are descending into a living hell.
Hi Sabina thanks for your words and thoughts. Yes there has been so much turmoil including the drought, bushfires, covid and the united front after George Lloyd. May the outrage remain long enough that we can transform the way we are doing life and have more respect for people and our planet.. thankyou 🙏❤️
Thank you for addressing this issue. As a black woman in america with a huband, two sons,and a daughter, I had to both cry and shout for joy when the world finally got to witness what we’ve been living with since we were brought to this country as slaves. So many assumed and believed that we were just whining, complaining, and/or exaggerating about our treatment in this wicked country for 450 years. Although the fear still lingers when I or my other family members leave the home, I’m relieved that others may come to my aid if they see us in danger. Cheers
Hi Tahica lovely to hear from you and thanks for your thoughts. I can only try to imagine the feelings of joy and sadness at the same time to see people finally come together. Hard to believe so has taken so long and so many tears and lives have been sacrificed in the states, Australia and other countries. Tragedy of epic proportions but as you say what joy to see the uprising. May the world move forward in a new, healthy, empowered way. Big love to you ❤️❤️❤️
Hi Carla, I also agree with all that you’ve said. Covid is a big wake up call for everyone. On an individual, organisational, country and world platform it has shown us many things. One is that we need to live within our financial means and have savings and more than one income stream. I am shocked at how little fat/savings exist for a rainy day. Here in Australia we have been extremely fortunate to have had the strain of Covid with the least serious consequences. We have also been fortunate being an island with smaller population. We have been able to exercise outside daily without the restrictions that you had. I fear that those in Government will not make the hard decisions for change unless we, the people agitate strongly for them. Change for the betterment always starts at grass roots level. I could gho on but won’t. Carla, thank you for creating your beautiful community. Love and sunshine. Mandy
Thanks Mandy. Absolutely agree the change needs to come from the people not the govt or authorities. I loved what happened in Australia this year when the people moved mountains for thr bushfires and the same has happened since George Flloyds death. May we continue to agitate for change 🙏🙏❤️
Thanks Carla, for articulating so well what I have been thinking and feeling.
Thanks for your note .. many of us have similar feelings as we have been under pressure for months and months.. 🙏🙏
Much gratitude Carla for articulating what many of us are feeling. Absolutely agree that 2020 is the slap in the face many of us needed. Whilst our streets are empty of congestion, it brings much joy to look from my home and finally understands why The Blue Mountains are called ‘The Blue Mountains”. For the first time in my life, I have cautious hope that the ‘new normal’ will see positive change for the majority of people and for our environment.
Hi Abe what a joy to see the blue.. i’m with you that I hope we can retain the lessons and look at how we had it wrong and how we can make the world a better place ❤️❤️
Beautifully articulated post, you gorgeous lady you… thank you Carla.. yes 2020 will surely be remembered.. it came from nowhere, with no forewarning, non of us were ready, but we’ve now been equipped with those ‘social distancing’ graces, and polite manners – it;’s shown me I can exist without travelling, I can be content at home.. (I grumbled a bit.. ) it’s given me time to re’do and re’ connect with home and that’s a good thing always.. keep writing – you’re soo gifted. x
Thanks Jean, isn’t it wonderful to be content at home. A great lesson indeed in our times of movement and travel. So true about no forewarning maybe that was a good thing!! 🙏🙏❤️