Self Reflection

Quite a few months ago I sat in a church pew just a few days before the New Year began. Our pastor said that we should take a moment to think of a work to represent how we wanted to spend our new year. For some reason the only word that stuck with me was self-reflection. At the time I thought it was because of school and my relationship but that word has come to define these difficult times all too well.

I want to rebrand 2020 as the year of self-reflection because quarantine has given us all a chance to think about who we are, what we believe, and what we value. We have never had this much time alone with our own thoughts. With less people around you, this time in quarantine has manifested into a time of finding your own self identity. That could mean finding a new skill or maybe coping with feelings that you previously cast aside. 2020 is a beautiful and terrifying time to be alive but we have to embrace its challenges and ourselves to make it through the year.

How you spend 2020 is up to you. I believe everyone has phases in quarantine, for example sleeping in everyday because you feel there is no point in waking up or waking up early to get in a morning workout. Despite the many ads that pop up on Instagram these days about juice cleanses, gym routines, and nice clothes (that we have no where to wear) there are so many valid ways to spend your time right now. You do not have to reinvent your entire being to have a productive quarantine. I think its important to recognize that the most you can do for yourself in quarantine is to make peace with who you are and who you want to be.

For example coming into quarantine I never thought that I valued news outside of my environmental activism but that has changed immensely. I have learned that for me human rights activism is very important and that running from the news is not always the best option. These personal revelation will help people grow in quarantine and make peace with yourself. With covid taking many lives unexpectedly it is important now more then ever to know that you can love and trust yourself to weather this storm. There is news around every corner good or bad and personal or global therefore we have to constantly adapt to our surroundings. However, you can be your own place of unconditional love and support.

So, take some time to make peace with yourself and the people around you. Meditate about how you are feeling and clear your mind of any toxic thoughts you have about yourself or others. Maybe do start working out or reading more because you want to leave quarantine in a better place. Leave a happy quote or note on the mirror for yourself in the morning. If we can take all of these steps then I believe 2021 will be a better year. It will be a year of love and unity because when you are at peace with yourself you have so much more to offer the world: kindness and your undeniable beauty. Here is to a better year for all of us.