My 2020 Lessons On Simple Living, Minimalism, And Mindfulness

2020 has been a phenomenal year, in more ways than one. It reminded mankind how utterly transient their idea of normal is. Perhaps we needed this reminder before we traveled further down the rabbit hole. But in the midst of all, we can agree that we did get some valuable 2020 lessons to last us a lifetime.

This year showed us that when faced with adversity, each of us could come back with even more strength. 2020 is the year that prompted us to look within and find resilience in the face of an ever-changing world. It brought hardships and pain unthinkable. And yet, here we stand- at the brink of a new year with glimmers of hope in our hearts.

The Hope

You know, that’s what I always find amazing about us humans. Even in the direst of situations, we dare to hope. This time it was no different. We adapted and learned to cope even as we faced health issues, saw loved ones get ill, or lost our jobs and businesses. And that, in my opinion, is the enduring quality that allows us to dare to hope and dream for a better future.

We have discussed and written a lot about all that did not go right this year. Instead of ruminating on that, let’s take a look at things that we learned- both individually and collectively. So, here’s my list of 2020 lessons on the matters of simple living, mindfulness, and minimalism. Hope you enjoy it.

2020 Lessons On Simple Living

This year, more than ever, showed the need to simplify things intentionally. As the pandemic situation got increasingly complicated, it became necessary to turn to living simply to maintain my sanity.

One of the most eye-opening epiphanies for me was the realization that I had the opportunity to further simplify certain areas of my life. While I actively always sought out ways to lead a simple life, 2020 taught me that I could do a lot more.

For example, I started cooking more basic meals from whatever I had on hand. Secondly, I learned to make do without items that were not readily available during the periods of buying spree. And finally, I got more into DIYs when it came to everyday household items. These practices not only rendered a sense of simplicity but also gave me an anchor during these turbulent times.

In the end, I plan to take these particular 2020 lessons on simple living with me into the coming years as well.

2020 Lessons On Mindfulness

I must admit that mindfulness practices got me through this year.

For me, the start of 2020 was perfect. My husband and I traveled to India to spend time with our families. We attended a cousin’s wedding and had a blast. Three weeks went by in pure bliss.

But while on our way back to the States in February we couldn’t help but notice that things had begun to look different at the airports. People were wearing masks and there were temperature checkpoints. And sure enough, after a few days, stay at home orders began to be put in place everywhere.

Our city started the measures quite early. Since the beginning of March, things changed drastically. And amidst this ‘new normal’ I figured that I needed to be more grounded if I wanted to get through the changes.

Mindfulness Practices

Here are a couple of practices that helped in staying grounded for the past few months

Actively practicing gratitude- It is difficult to count our blessings when nothing seems to go right. However, trying to remember at least one good thing a day worked wonders for me. Each time when I felt defeated this year, the only thought that kept me going was the fact that my loved ones and I were all healthy. What more could I really ask for?
Spending time with my emotions- Living miles away from family isn’t easy. It’s especially difficult when you don’t know when you will get to see them again. Over these last ten months, I learned to deal with my sense of sadness about being away from my family, especially my parents. Instead of trying to ignore these feelings, I chose to sit with them. And that made a world of difference.

The heart isn’t all that easy to keep in check. However, acknowledging all that we feel and remembering our blessings help to tide over the times.

2020 Lessons On Minimalism

Finally, some of the greatest 2020 lessons for me have been about minimalism. This year, more than ever, taught me the possibility of living a fulfilled life with less.

The initial couple of months warranted that most of us just make do with what we had on hand. With shortages at the stores worldwide, I, like many others, learned to be resourceful. This meant managing without things and some DIY. Ultimately, this led me to understand that I could be better and more intentional in my minimalist life choices.

I became further deliberate about my buying habits. In some cases, I made some long -wished-for changes. One such area is my closet. I have successfully pared down my wardrobe to fit my lifestyle. I was putting this off for quite long actually. This year gave me that final push.

Final Thoughts

Time is the biggest teacher. And this year proved the veracity of this sentiment like no other. We all learned things that we didn’t imagine we would. At the same time, we discovered inner strengths and resilience that we didn’t know we had within ourselves.

As we step forward to a new year with renewed energy, I hope that each one of us can carry forward our 2020 lessons. Let’s learn to be better, kinder, and more empathetic versions of ourselves in the next year.

Wishing you and all your loved ones a blessed time ahead.

Till then,

Peace.

Do you have any related experience or story to tell? Please share in the comments below. I would love to hear from you.

Please follow and like us: