No one who lived through the past year will be likely to forget it. A time when fear, sadness, and panic became our constant companions. Anxiety levels amped to stratospheric heights. A person had to practically be on tranquilizers to watch the evening news. The world as we knew it disappeared.

It’s only been recently that a tiny light began to glimmer, ever so faintly, at the end of this very dark tunnel. Newly developed vaccinations have brought hope, and for me, hope promotes reflection.

I decided to take a look at what I learned in 2020. A lot of things came to mind, but I winnowed them down to seven.

History Helps

When it comes to infectious diseases, Covid-19 is not humankind’s first rodeo. History is fraught with frightening health adversities such as plagues, smallpox, tuberculosis, and polio. The knowledge that these diseases were, so to speak, beaten into submission, became a comforting thought to me. While this in no way atoned for the lives lost to Covid, it helped me understand the fact that with time we would once again persevere.

Made to Move

When mostly confined to one place, a person has a tendency to sit. Especially when the only contact to the outside world is via the phone or a computer. Too much sitting, I found, can lead to an unfortunate consequence. My back started to ache. Then it started to hurt, with pain and numbness shooting down my left leg. Off I went to physical therapy which only made things worse. One X-ray and one MRI later, I discovered I had a herniated disc plus a slipped disc. Why? Because sitting too much is bad. Our bodies were made to move. Over time the pain has improved substantially, but I remember the lesson. I now use a standing desk and take frequent breaks to walk, even if it’s only from one end of the house to the other.

Planning Ahead

Who would have thought that a major lesson would be to plan ahead? By that I mean, don’t wait until you’re down to the last roll of toilet paper or final container of disinfectant wipes before you buy more. Keep the pantry stocked. I’m sure you know why. And guess what? When the chips are down, you can buy almost anything on line.

Fresh Air

I’ve always been a fan of ventilation, but never really fretted much about it. However, over the past year it’s become an obsession. I want at least one window open a bit, even on cold days. There’s something about the idea of clean air sweeping into the house and diluting any germs floating around that makes me almost giddy with joy. I even bought an air purifier to run during the night. I no longer take for granted the privilege of filling my lungs with sweet pristine oxygen.

Technology Rocks

Our best buddy: technology. Thanks to the internet, we’ve been able to work from home, attend meetings and workshops, go to school, go to church, and even visit. My family celebrated Easter 2020 via Zoom. It felt strange, but it beat not seeing each other at all. Before the pandemic started, who would ever have imagined such a thing? While technology can’t replace in-person contact, at least we had a way to connect. I have a feeling this new-found knowledge will permanently change the way we do a lot of things, from employment to conferences to sales. Zooming is a lot cheaper than getting on a plane and booking a hotel room. It also adds a funny touch to meetings when your office assistant (also known as the dog or cat) makes a surprise appearance.

Appreciate the Helpers

As Mr. Rogers once famously said, “Watch for the helpers.” I’ve never taken helpers for granted, but there’s nothing like a pandemic to spotlight their crucial importance. Our medical workers, first responders, researchers, and teachers are among our best friends. They did things like take care of us when we were sick, developed vaccines in record time, adapted to new ways of teaching our kids, and at the risk of their own lives did what they needed to do during an unprecedented crisis. Then there were those who kept food pantries in operation and reached out to the homeless and others who are most vulnerable. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. May we never forget.

Connections

Family and friends. This may have been the hardest lesson of all. You don’t realize how much you miss the fellowship and cohesion that comes from being near loved ones until you can’t be near them. We had to totally change the way we “see” our favorite people. While waving from a distance or visiting virtually was better than nothing, I longed for more. And, after receiving both my vaccines, for the first time in more than a year I got a big long hug from my grandson. Just wow.

I finally feel like life is ever-so-slowly returning to normal. It may be a somewhat new normal, because change begets change, but I’m okay with that. What I hope never to lose again are the most important things.

What about you? What have you learned from living through a worldwide pandemic?

#########################################################

Pat Wahler is the author of Western Fictioneers’ Best First Novel of 2018, I am Mrs. Jesse James. She has also authored a contemporary romance series, The Becker Family Novels, and a holiday-themed short story collection, Let Your Heart Be Light: A Celebration of Christmas.