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There’s no magic reboot

As much as I hope this new year brings some relief from pandemic shutdowns and all its related stress and difficulties, I’m not counting on it.
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As much as I hope this new year brings some relief from pandemic shutdowns and all its related stress and difficulties, I’m not counting on it.

I’d have loved to think all the problems of 2020 would’ve disappeared with the changing of the calendar, and was happy to say to 2020, “Don’t let the door hit you on the rear on your way out” but January has arrived and, surprise surprise, the virus is still here.

And yes, there is much to be frustrated about, especially after making it through the holidays without family and friends, and other personal sacrifices that were made, only to hear that at least eight UCP MLA’s spent their holidays out-of-country, enjoying destination vacations.

While no laws may have been broken, it does seem hypocritical if the party members can’t follow their own advice to avoid all non-essential travel. It doesn’t look good, at the very least.

Then again, if I’d had the opportunity and could’ve afforded a trip to Hawaii, and just kept to my immediate household, I’m not sure I would’ve said no.

There is no magic reboot, and even with the current health restrictions attempting to bring active case numbers under control, it may still be some time before things get back to normal.

Although I’m tempering my expectations of this year, and perhaps eyeing this newcomer “2021” with a glare of suspicion and mistrust, I’ll still move forward with goals for self-improvement.

The world may be a mess, but beyond our small sphere of influence, all we can really control is ourselves.

We can’t remove the chaos, but we can choose how we react to it (at least in theory).

Typical new year resolutions like personal fitness may be harder without the community support of a gym, or due to increased stress throwing a wrench in your good intentions for making healthy choices, but it isn’t out of reach, and there is still value in trying.

Another common resolution, getting out of debt, may be impossible right now for many, but any little bit of progress still counts.

We may move forward at a snail’s pace this year, but any improvement is still improvement and we can celebrate the little wins.

And hey, 2020 wasn’t all bad … was it? Well, I suppose that depends on your individual circumstances, as it was completely devastating for many.

There are a few things I learned from 2020 though:

Take opportunities to spend time with family and friends while you can, because you might not know when the next time will be, so don’t take it for granted.

Technology is a pain, and doesn’t always work, but being able to video chat can provide more of a feeling of connection than voice alone.

No matter how bad things get, there is usually a way through.

There’s been much struggle and much lost this past year, but if you’ve made it through, even scathed and bruised, that’s worth celebrating too.



Emily Jaycox

About the Author: Emily Jaycox

I’m Emily Jaycox, the editor of Ponoka News and the Bashaw Star. I’ve lived in Ponoka since 2015 and have over seven years of experience working as a journalist in central Alberta communities.
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