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Life Lessons Learnt in 2020

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Looking back at 2020, we can say with certainty that this has been a crazy year for all of us, with most of us experiencing uncertainty, loss of life, unemployment, and the unexpected fallout that this worldwide pandemic has brought. As I sit in the EcoTraining Makuleke camp, watching the Vervet Monkeys scurrying about, enjoying the last rays of the summer’s day, listening to the call of the Woodland Kingfishers, I can’t help but feel that I am an entire world away from everything that is going on, in my own little piece of paradise.

Some of us will be glad to see this year-end, while others wait in trepidation to see what will happen in 2021. As for me, I choose to look at all the positives that have come from all this chaos.

Lessons Learnt

  1. That the things we value most in our lives aren’t our earthly possessions but rather our friends and family. We do not do well when we are isolated and alone, our strength lies in sticking together and embracing our communities when the times get tough.
  2. We are lucky to live in a time where modern technology exists and can help to keep us all connected, even when we can’t be together. Keeping your physical distance doesn’t mean that you have to be socially distant.
  3. To embrace change and not be afraid of trying something new. Sometimes life takes you on an unexpected journey, it’s not good to dwell in the past, rather learn to live for the moment.
  4. Life is a lesson and we continue to learn every day. It doesn’t matter how you learn, if you do an online course, study in a classroom, read lots of books, or even learned by being in the great outdoors, as long as you learn about something you love.
  5. It’s important to take the time to look after yourself. It’s far too easy being so busy in our daily lives that we forget to do only one small thing every day to make ourselves happy. Make time to take that bath, bake that cake, do that workout, and get a massage you have been planning to do for so long. Learn to treasure the little things and always remember that you are important too.

The start of 2020 was filled with so much hope and I feel that it should end the year that way as well.

“Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one”.  (Brad Paisley)

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About the Author:
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Emma Summers

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