Vision 2020

MIND BODY SOUL FINANCE

MIND

Vision 2020

How to cope with The New Normal of 2020

BY KATIE M c CULLOUGH

If 2020 has left you feeling like an inexperienced surfer that keeps getting pummeled by 20-foot waves, then I hereby welcome you to the club. It seems so long ago when we were all ringing in the new year without social distancing, without a deep-set feeling of unrest, but rather comparing the new decade to seeing in 2020 vision, among other hopeful clichés. Katie Colborne, a dear friend of mine, has aptly expressed her emotional turmoil to mirror that of the “pandemic mood swings” many of us have experienced. First, it “started with panic and uncertainty due to the unprecedented, the unknown” then “burgeoning hope” at the human response and connection until fi nally, a “climax of hope, stress, and grief all culminated at once in the anger of our protests.” So, what now? How do we cope with the burst of this 2020 distress bubble? I would like to argue that this year has, in a bitterly ironic twist, got us to start *seeing in 2020 vision* in the most unexpected way possible. This year has combined enough unsettling ingredients into our cauldron of personal growth potential to spark new opportunities for educating ourselves as a means to endure our new normal and emerge with the best possible outcome.

If we are honest with ourselves, a lot of us are feeling burnt out. I am not here to tell you to fi nd the silver lining, because it is not that easy. Many of us are struggling. Hard. The LGBTQ+ community, according to Human Rights Campaign Foundation, experience more “exposure and risk of both economic and health complications” during this COVID19 pandemic than non-LGBTQ+ due to “highly aff ected [job] industries” and higher rates of poverty. Pair this with systemic discrimination and unsupportive community environments, it is diffi cult to feel safe and protected.

It is important for you to consider your mental health in times like these. I challenge you to begin with the basics. Remember when the fl ight attendant instructed you to put the mask on yourself before your loved ones...back when it was safe to travel? If you do not take the time to acknowledge and understand your own reactions, you will not be able to help others, much less yourself. Set aside time to sit, breathe, and refl ect. Perhaps develop a new hobby that provides comfort or a slice of joy. Most importantly, allow yourself moments to experience peace in this time of turmoil. This is your sign to start being intentional with your self-care. Your mental and emotional well-being depends on it now more than ever.

If nothing else, let these words bring you solidarity - whether you are coping with a lost job, a lost loved one, or experiencing outrage as community members challenge your very identity with hateful comments or actions. Let me acknowledge your frustrations, your fears, and off er some peace in return. With pain comes growth if you seek to understand it.

KATIE MCCULLOUGH,

graduate of Flagler College, is currently teaching English Language Arts in Saint Augustine, FL, specializing in gifted and exceptional education. Prior to attending graduate school, Katie plans to pursue her passion for writing while fi nding time to travel the world.