Good things I learned in 2020 [Archive]

View Full Version : Good things I learned in 2020

razz

12-19-20, 6:29pm

It has been a challenging year, I admit, but I have learned things that I value now. I wonder how many others have a similar experience.

- the people in the world can change very quickly if needed to meet a challenge such as limiting a pandemic. It was deemed impossible before. Maybe, just maybe, we can reduce climate change.

- Suppliers can develop other methods and products very quickly to meet needs such as alcohol sanitizers and masks. I made masks quickly as well after reading instructions quickly posted online. Vaccines are developed so quickly now surprising even the researchers.

- zoom services have made many activities such as church services, exercise classes easily accessible.

- my garden is my haven of peace instead of my being out attending events so I am investing more of my time to enjoy it

- now I mix a simple spray bottle of water, a little dish detergent and add 3T of bleach to clean everything regularly

- before I hesitated to invite people spontaneously for takeout; now I am thanked for doing so once a week throughout the summer and supporting local restaurants. I picked up the take-outs, was reimbursed and we socialized with proper spacing. Will it continue next year?

- online music events are wonderful; streaming of operas and other concerts are worth every penny

- online instruction has so much available to meet personal interests - art seminars, Coursera programs, etc.

- for years I was so organized as though I had a supervisor monitoring me. I am now relaxing and loving the freedom from that 'supervisor'.
- food especially homebaked breads while very tasty are to be limited in production and eating>8)

What good discoveries have you made this year?

Yppej

12-19-20, 6:58pm

I learned to better understand the viewpoints of political conservatives. I tend to be liberal but the top down, authoritarian approach to the pandemic in my state made me sympathetic to them as the governor tried to deprive people of basic constitutional rights like freedom of religion and freedom of assembly (except for BLM protestors who could assemble).

Transferring to a job site in a rural and conservative area where covid rates are much lower reinforced this. I feel safer amongst people who use common sense protections and appreciate open space, not crowding up on each other. This is something they do all the time.

catherine

12-19-20, 7:01pm

I learned I'm more of a hermit than I thought I was. I have appreciated space to eliminate some superfluous activities.

I've learned that I don't have to put lipstick on and create a lighting design to minimize wrinkles for Zoom calls.

I've learned that we are inextricably interconnected as a global community.

ApatheticNoMore

12-19-20, 9:26pm

I learned that life was too hectic before. I just can't go back to that hecticness. Some of that hecticness was trying to do the right thing, driving all over town to recycle and so on (because no convenient recycling). That may not happen so much, and bills going on autopay now etc..

I learned that much of the stuff I did before, was not actually worth doing, including the hecticness, including some shopping etc..

I learned working from home makes life sane (as does working part time which I did for awhile years ago), this and that period of time will be remembered as those where I had time to reflect etc..

I learned I only need to shop for groceries once a week, and if breakfast and lunch are pretty much the same thing everyday, planning is not that hard.

I learned I do miss some social contact

the people in the world can change very quickly if needed to meet a challenge such as limiting a pandemic. It was deemed impossible before. Maybe, just maybe, we can reduce climate change.

could not have taken a more opposite perspective from this, the social failure at a defined immediate crisis like covid, with the requirements for short term sacrifice and cooperation and coordination, but of a well defined and time limited sort, means nothing good for a truly long term complex crisis like climate change. Covid is an easy problem, climate change is a hard problem. So a techno solution (a vaccine) might save us in a few months despite social failure, well great, but we don't' really have a purely techno solution for climate change, it requires all those things we failed at. My despair that people, at least in the U.S., are even kind of up to the challenge of climate change kind of crystalized very hard by this pandemic experience. The end result of that maybe I become more apathetic :) (shrug, human extinction - IBGYBG) I'm not saying becoming so is laudable mind you. The earth has gone through hothouse and ice house cycles before just not with humans and nuclear weapons and artificial suns.

SteveinMN

12-19-20, 10:26pm

I learned how to do an amazing amount of stuff from my couch: order groceries; keep up with friends (teleconferencing and more); stream concerts and visit art exhibits; order eyeglasses; read all kinds of periodicals and journals; etc.

I learned how to cut my own hair. For someone who went to the barber shop every four to five weeks, this is a sea change. I'm not sure if I'll be back there once again even when it's a good idea.

I learned that I don't need as much time to myself as I thought. tbh I'm a little amazed that DW and I have not been at each other given all the time we spend in the house. But it's worked out.

I learned that people can adapt to things quickly when it benefits them to do so. My mother, who has long resisted the idea of using a computer, now successfully orders groceries on-line for delivery. People discovered that valid work can be done in meetings without everyone being in the same physical room and that the same mechanism provides a passable venue for lunches and happy hours.

I learned that Americans can understand that their vote actually does count. The system held up despite the failure of some Republicans to understand basic math.

And I learned the names of the various Disney princesses. Well, most of them.

happystuff

12-20-20, 10:14am

I learned that, the more time I spent inside my home, the less I wanted a good portion of the "stuff" inside. That while I still have some "wants", I am blessed and grateful that my most basic "needs" are fulfilled.

I learned that the majority of people are good, kind, compassionate, caring individuals.

I learned that I like gardening!!! Thank you to those on the forums that helped with my questions, etc. earlier in the year. I'm planning on continuing next year.

And I learned that I still have a lot to learn. :)

pinkytoe

12-20-20, 1:29pm

This thread is a good way to wrap up the year:
I realized that eating out is enjoyable but not necessary and that cooking at home is a better value.
I came to like reading fiction books by joining a book club (we meet outside in the park).
I became obsessed with gardening and seed-collecting and will never tire of it; so much to learn.
I learned that ignoring a lot of the "news" made me a happier person.
I learned that living with a significant other 24/7 requires a great deal of patience.

frugal-one

12-20-20, 2:06pm

I learned a lot more about cooking. I joined a monthly fruit and vegetable CSA this summer and went to farmer's markets. I tried new things. The winners were Medjool dates, leeks, shallots, Jeruselum artichokes, fingerling potatoes and different peppers (roasted a variety of them). Did not enjoy figs, pomegranates and a variety of greens (i froze and put in soups instead). I will continue to frequent farmer's markets in the future. Since I had such a bounty I had to learn the best ways to preserve for this winter. I have also been studying how to use agave as a sweetener and incorporate more flax meal into our diet. Was given butternut squash (not fond of squashes) and, so far, made brownies with it that was delicious. Made a puree of the squash and put in the freezer to try with other recipes I have collected. Have been collecting and trying recipes of different compotes that are naturally sweetened or used natural sugar free sweetners. A simple thing yet turns out so elegant! Next on the list is to study and incorporate chia seeds in diet. I currently use them in breakfast parfaits and homemade granola bars...

Like SteveinMN, I thought DH and I would be at each others throats. It turns out this forced isolation has made us even closer.

JaneV2.0

12-20-20, 2:19pm

My life has changed very little, but I have found that easy, unlimited grocery delivery combined with (generally) one meal a day results in storage issues and spoilage. That should have been obvious. At any rate, I'm well-stocked.

Tammy

12-20-20, 5:44pm

I learned that very few of the sauces/seasonings that we buy are necessary. (Ex: sloppy joe sauce, teriyaki sauce, taco seasoning)

They can be made very easily with the basic grade ingredients of oil, vinegar, tomato sauce, spices, etc.

LDAHL

12-21-20, 10:46am

I stopped working in January to help a spouse with health issues and a child going to school remotely. I learned how hard it can be to be someone else’s arms and legs. I also learned that the best way to learn something is to teach it to somebody else. And I learned that there are tougher things than being a boss.

The events of 2020 taught me that there are people who absolutely require villains for the world to make sense. I feel sorry for them.

I learned that one of life’s great luxuries is to take your time over breakfast.

Rogar

12-21-20, 10:56am

I learned that with good planning I could grocery shop once every week or two without any loss in needs. And slightly related, I learned that I could go months at a time without buying gas. I have been more thankful for simple pleasures, like gardening, cooking, bicycling, and reading. I've been more appreciative of those risking health to work in the food supply chain and internet commerce. Outside of politics, I've seen a more generous and helpful side of people behavior, although I've sure there is an opposite effect that I've just not been exposed to.

Tradd

12-21-20, 1:24pm

I’d not consistently kept a journal since I was in high school, but it’s been cheap therapy and a good way to help process the events of this unusual year.

rosarugosa

12-21-20, 5:37pm

I learned a lot from my Science of Well-Being class, most notably the value of social connections, acts of kindness to others, and daily meditation. It's not like I didn't already know that the first two had value, but knowing they were fundamental to boosting human happiness helped push me to prioritize them more highly. I think I still have a long way to go with the meditation, but I can see that it's already helping to provide a little more calmness in my life.
I learned how to cut DH's hair.
I learned that we could have fun vacation-like experiences close to home if we tried.
I already knew that I was good at entertaining myself, but in 2020 I learned that it was actually an important survival skill.
I realized that I am good at making lemonade when life gives me lemons.

iris lilies

12-21-20, 7:18pm

Is a great thread and I am truly pondering my answer. I can’t come up with anything. And I really don’t think that’s because I already knew everything.

rosarugosa

12-22-20, 5:35am

LDAHL: I hope your wife is doing well, and I do agree with you about breakfast!

Another not-so-serious but actual thing I learned is that I prefer the Market Basket knock-off of Scott's 1000 sheet TP better than the Scott's. The rolls "start" more easily and are actually larger. Scott's rolls have gotten shorter.

gimmethesimplelife

12-22-20, 11:20am

I've learned that I can free myself from a "self created prison" - not an hour goes by that I am not surprised and grateful for my break out of food and beverage/hospitality (though ironically, my last job in it was the best of the lot and I do miss parts of it).

I've learned that there are some people who just can not be reasoned with and it's best to accept this and let such people move on out of my life.

I've learned something a Jewish friend told me he heard at a talk featuring an Auschwitz survivor - patience and perseverance can overcome much more than you think.

I've learned that I am lucky to live in Arizona - a state so diverse that you can be in deserts averaging three inches of rain a year and just a few hours later be in spruce and aspen forests.
Rob

gimmethesimplelife

12-22-20, 11:21am

I’d not consistently kept a journal since I was in high school, but it’s been cheap therapy and a good way to help process the events of this unusual year.Cool! I've started journaling, too. Rob

Tradd

12-22-20, 12:07pm

Cool! I've started journaling, too. Rob

How often? I do pretty much every day.

JaneV2.0

12-23-20, 12:10pm

Canned chicken! Where has it been all my life...
No freezer burn, no dying all over again in the back of my refrigerator. The answer to "What's for breakfast/lunch/dinner?". Perfect.

catherine

12-23-20, 12:15pm

gimmethesimplelife

12-23-20, 12:19pm

Canned chicken! Where has it been all my life...
No freezer burn, no dying all over again in the back of my refrigerator. The answer to "What's for breakfast/lunch/dinner?". Perfect.Years ago canned chicken used to be very cheap at the border, not sure why. I remember making a lot of salads with it.....it was also great to eat a can of (or of regular tuna) the night before donating plasma to keep blood protein levels up. Rob

gimmethesimplelife

12-23-20, 12:21pm

How often? I do pretty much every day.I'd say around three day a week. I do it digitally. I have a blog on blogger.com set to private and I blog my life events and my takes on things there. Rob

Tradd

12-23-20, 12:32pm

I’m pen and Moleskine notebook. My “security” is that very few people are able to read my handwriting. I have a hard time myself fairly often! :moon:

happystuff

12-23-20, 1:25pm

KayLR

12-23-20, 5:03pm

iris lilies

12-23-20, 8:58pm

Canned chicken! Where has it been all my life...
No freezer burn, no dying all over again in the back of my refrigerator. The answer to "What's for breakfast/lunch/dinner?". Perfect.
Funny, I started buying canned chicken only within the past couple of years too.And that reminds me that I need to put it on the grocery list because I think we are out now. I switched to sardines because of the vitamin D, but canned chicken is good for other things.

Yppej

12-23-20, 10:20pm

JaneV2.0

12-24-20, 1:09pm

Funny, I started buying canned chicken only within the past couple of years too.And that reminds me that I need to put it on the grocery list because I think we are out now. I switched to sardines because of the vitamin D, but canned chicken is good for other things.

I wish I liked fish, because sardines are exceptionally nutritious. I keep telling myself I can learn to like them. I don't mind anchovies, if they're finely chopped and well-mixed into my salad.

JaneV2.0

12-24-20, 1:16pm

I have learned that I had thought of myself as less of a people person than I am. I truly miss being around my hobby group (Zoom just really doesn't cut it), going out to eat and mingling with other diners, attending church on occasion, going to the farmers market and talking to others.

I also learned just how much of my job I can do from home...nice!

Other than that...not much.

I've learned that I can be quite happy as a hermit; I've become nearly feral. :D But I'm getting older and more dependent, so having people around wouldn't be a bad idea, and I do miss far-away friends I haven't seen for years. Because my life hasn't changed much, I've mostly just learned how stupid and selfish (and gullible) a percentage of our population is. Like this clod:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9086235/Republican-Louisiana-Congressman-elect-Luke-Letlow-41-ICU-COVID.html?ito=push-notification&ci=63004&si=22991368

pinkytoe

12-24-20, 3:25pm

Sounds weird, but we have come to like sardines mashed up with either avocado or chickpeas as a sandwich/cracker spread. With a touch of dijon mustard.

JaneV2.0

12-24-20, 3:39pm

Sounds weird, but we have come to like sardines mashed up with either avocado or chickpeas as a sandwich/cracker spread. With a touch of dijon mustard.

I might get brave and try the chickpea version.

rosarugosa

12-24-20, 4:32pm

That actually sounds pretty good, Pinkytoe.