Things We Learned In 2020

Like so many of us, 2020 was a year that challenged ALL of the coping skills I had learned through my recovery journey. It was also the year that landed me back on my therapist’s (virtual) couch. As stressful and anxiety provoking as last year was, it also taught me some invaluable lessons. 

1. Going to therapy isn’t something to be ashamed of.

2. Family doesn’t always mean blood, chosen family is still family. 

3. Sometimes we need to stop watching serial killer documentaries and watch something that will make us laugh (I’m looking at you Schitt’s Creek). 

4. As painful as it can be to set boundaries, in the end it will pay off. 

5. We all need days to do absolutely nothing but relax.  

6. Recovery isn’t linear for anyone. 

7. Puppy snuggles are actually a therapeutic coping skill; it is one of the most grounding things to do as it engages almost all of the senses. 

8. Even during a pandemic, mental health is just as important as physical health. 

9. Sometimes new, healthy coping skills may not immediately be as effective as old, maladaptive coping skills. 

10. Press on nails are a decent substitute for salon manicures. 

11. Despite the pain, you can still continue to love deeply. 

12. If you need to smile watch YouTube videos of French Bulldog puppies. 

13. I took the ability to aimlessly walk around Target with Starbucks for granted.  

14. Weighted blankets do live up to all the hype. 

15. Some of us need medication to help us manage our mental health and there’s nothing wrong with that.

16. I may not have friends that live in the same town as me, but I still have an army of people surrounding me. 

17. You’re allowed to take a mental health “sick day”. 

18. We all have times when we need to take a break from watching the news.  

19. It’s normal if sometimes our coping skills don’t work as well as they once did.  

20. It’s okay if the only thing you did last year was survive. 

All in all, 2020 is the summation of my favorite quote, “There are lessons in everything, even the hard things, even the things that break our heart.” Thankful for the lessons learned last year and cheers to 2021!