So much has been left behind in 2020, yet there is so much that is still leftover. While we have may have lived our entire life through our own lens, most of us have seen 2020 through the same lens. Some of the highlights of 2020 includes George Floyd/ Breonna Taylor/ Black Lives Matter protests, the selection of Kamala Harris as Vice President, the United States presidential election, the West Coast wildfires, and various death of public figures.
The most visible of events is 20/20. Many are bearing witness, through news outlets, to a mysterious virus surging with infections, an overflow of intensive care units, and deaths. Daily living as we once knew it was put on hold due to COVID-19. We then began to tragically face what we have initially observed into our personal lives.
Countries around the globe have been taking part in helping to reduce the infection and death rate — while other countries, most notably the United States of America, downplayed its existence. The minimization eventually backfired by infecting and killing those that disregarded intentionally.
Along with the loss of loved ones, termination of employment, financial security, residence, among others, were prevalent. Thanks to Congress, COVID relief from the U.S. government has been dismal.
Various pandemic vaccine options have started to roll out and inoculated in phases beginning with healthcare workers and politicians, among others. A new strain, from the United Kingdom, is slowly making its spread to other countries. Health experts say the vaccine could fight off the mutation.
What will we look forward to in the future? We see at least two major political events transpire: Two separate run-off elections in the state of Georgia that will seal the fate of which party is in control of the Senate. The outcome of the Georgia election could either bring negative or positive future head.
We will also view a transfer of power from the Republican party’s Trump Administration to the Democratic party’s Biden Administration. The response from the upcoming administration in the next four years is unknown. We can only assume it will go in the opposite direction.
Aside from the continued stay-at-home advisory from the coronavirus and the new strain, given the surging numbers that happened after Thanksgiving, we will see surging numbers after the Christmas/ New Year holidays as well. Perhaps this time around, these numbers will finally be a wake-up call?
So far, we are living in 2021 that is 2020 in disguise. What lessons will this new year teach us that we did not learn last year? Hindsight is 20/20, or so they say. We can only remain hopeful by optimistically look into a blurred future.
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This post was previously published on Medium.
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Photo credit: Masaki Araya