Recommended for you

10 'The Grinch' Quotes That Defined Our Whole 2020 Mood

The Pros And Cons Of Having Too Much Free Time

Start writing a post

Lifestyle

3 Things I'm Leaving In 2020—And You Should, Too

And 3 words to sum it up - What. A. Year.

Brittanyrubin

Jan 05, 2021

Oklahoma State

104937

3 Things I'm Leaving In 2020—And You Should, Too

Photo by Zoritsa Valova on Unsplash

This year has been a dumpster fire.

I think we all will collectively have PTSD from this horrid and heartbreaking year. 2020 was so different than anyone expected. It broke hearts, grew frustrations, and taught us some awful lessons.

Through it all, we had to learn to adapt. Nothing has been the same since March, every sense of normalcy is gone. If 2020 has taught us anything, it is to be flexible and how to stay connected with everyone without being physically with them. Therefore, it has shown me some things I need to leave behind me for the next year.

High expectations

Giphy

2020 has shown us all that plans can change on a dime. We all had to put our lives on hold and stay home for two months.

Trips were canceled, colleges shut down, visits with family and friends were prohibited, and everything was stripped away in the blink of an eye. I kept getting upset by the predicament and kept expecting things to become normal by a certain date, only to be disheartened by the outcome again.

I also want to stop placing such high expectations on myself. I am my own worst critic, I will place the bar up so impossibly high when it comes to myself. Then when I cannot reach it, I beat myself up mercilessly. I want to stop giving myself such high expectations.

I cannot be nor will I ever be perfect, and I can't fix all my and others' problems on my own - that goes for you too.

So for 2021 and on, I want to lower my expectations and be content with what happens. I need to be flexible and not expect things to work out perfectly or exactly to plan.

Negative outlooks

Giphy

This year, I want to be better about being positive.

Even if the year sucks or things are crappy around me, there's no reason for me to be like Eeyore and spread more negativity around. I want to try and be content and spread joy wherever I go. I want to be happy and bring happiness to others.

I don't want to be the reason someone else gets even more down in the dumps - I want to be the reason they got to smile.

Not to say there won't be days where everything sucks and the most I can do is get out of bed. On those days I want to spread a more accepting outlook on myself. Rather than beating myself up for being 'lazy', I want to know that it's okay to be in a rut and that I cannot be negative with myself all the time. I need to work on how I talk to myself.

Worrying about the future

Giphy

For a considerable amount of my life, I have been a worrier. It has only gotten worse every year. 2020 was, beyond, out of control. That is totally normal given the circumstance of the world.

However, I would always be worried about something. Once one thing was okay I'd worry about the next thing. I worry about everything and everyone. It keeps me up at night. It's to the point where I cannot even be in the moment with the people I love. So, this next year I am going to TRY to leave worrying behind me.

I want to live in the present.

This will be the hardest thing for me to do, but I want to work towards being able to not worry so much.

I want to leave these three negative things behind me going into this next year.

2021, please be kind to us.

From Your Site Articles

25 Beatles Lyrics: Your Go-To Guide for Every Situation

The Best Lines from the Fab Four

SUNY Binghamton

30930

Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less

best beatles lyrics

Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Smith College

94727

college students waiting in a long line in the hallway

StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

waitlisted

Recommended for you

3 Things I'm Leaving In 2020—And You Should, Too

And 3 words to sum it up - What. A. Year.

High expectations

Negative outlooks

Worrying about the future

Subscribe to our Newsletter

The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

Trending Topics

Top Creators

Trending Stories

Best of Lifestyle

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments

Subscribe to our
Newsletter