Mackenzie Golden
It’s no secret that 2020 has brought many different sorts of issues into society today. From a global pandemic, to murder hornets, to a brand-new civil rights movement, 2020 is inspiring change and forcing us to accept a new way of life. The changes that this crazy year have brought are easier for some to deal with than others. The artifact I posted above shows how I have been handling 2020, for it is a photo of my boyfriend and I back at marching band rehearsal. It connects to how I’ve handled this year because it shows that yes, positive things have happened that I am extremely grateful for, but a lot has changed. Those changes have taken me quite a while to get used to.
When I had first heard that we had to quarantine, I believed it would only be for two weeks. But then, two weeks turned into two more weeks, and then two more. Hearing about quarantining and what was going on in the world was too much. Some days it was hard to get out of bed. I felt - and still sometimes feel - like my teenage years are being taken away. As the months went on, and my stress and anxiety rose, I grew tired of feeling that way. Realizing that this was the “new normal” was my first step to recovery. I turned to self-care, Face Timing my friends, and continuing to work hard at school. I practiced my instrument to get ready for the band season we would hopefully have. Hanging out with my family and beginning to build a relationship with my boyfriend were also exploits that helped me to feel much better.
Thinking positive during a time period filled with so much negative is a big challenge. But it was a challenge I needed to beat in order to be myself again. 2020 has been insane, and it was way too easy to let all the events during it to bring me down. Yet, there were many good things that happened to me personally that made this year tolerable. Growing closer in my relationships with friends and family, meeting and finding love with my boyfriend, getting straight A’s, learning to play a new instrument, getting to still be able to go to school and participate in other activities, and learning to love and what I am capable of all made this year worth it. I don’t know what else may happen this year. I do know, though, that if I could defeat the enemies in my own personal battle, I can handle whatever else comes my way.
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