What has 2020 taught you?

[NoEffingWay]

I have learnt to appreciate the small things, to let old grievances go, to love my dp and ds openly and freely, that kindness is invaluable and to be thankful for all I have.

It turns out all I needed I had anyway, but didn't realise.

[Maybe83]

That I thought I had an appreciation for my life and family but I took it for granted.

That your life can change in a minute and never be the same again.

That things really don't matter.

I have great friends and family.

That my marriage is much stronger than I realised.

That my job is just a job and that you live to work not the other way around and that I have missed out on so much concentrating on a place that in the grand scheme of my life doesn't really matter.

That kindness can make all the difference in a situation.

That I have very little energy or patience for idiots who whinge and moan about such small crap and make themselves seem like the victim and hard done by in any situation.

That I have to be much more careful were I put my time, energy and thoughts.

That I am much stronger than I thought I was.

[PontiacBandit]

I love being at home with my family, it's had its moments but not been too bad.

Being well prepared and stocked up has served us well this year.

Working from home has been really great but I've missed the office and commute more than I expected.

[Fluffycloudland77]

That I’m deeply unhappy.

[museumum]

That my life is far far less rich without being able to spend quality time with friends. I miss them so much and so do my dcs (the kids they’ve known from birth and holidayed with etc).

[ballsdeep]

Life is fragile

Not to plan things and worry about things. I planned so much for this year and obviously none of it happened. Noemi just take things in my stride and think oh well if it happens it happens

To save money

[DianaT1969]

How important parks are in central London.
Not to assume that any job or career is secure.
To grab every opportunity to socialise and travel.
That friends, family and good health are everything.

[Tweacle]

That life can change with a phone call. That memories will last forever. That my husband is a really good man ( I knew it but he's gone above and beyond this year). That family is everything. And a big one for me was that some people really aren't very nice, and you just have to walk away.

[userxx]

@museumum Absolutely agree, I miss my friends so much.

[greenemerald]

Had my first baby this year and after a difficult pregnancy, pre-term birth, NICU, SCBU, colic/reflux I felt so completely overwhelmed like things would never improve in those moments. But it did and things are better now. So when things look bleak I remind myself that 'this too shall pass'.

[BlueStarRose]

Who my real friends are

[Xiaoxiong]

To grab every opportunity to travel, see friends and family, go to a shop, go to a show because if you dither you miss your chance. I never ever thought that I wouldn't have next week or next month to reschedule, but in 2020 it's now or never.

Similarly, I've learned not to save things for best or for company because you might not be allowed to have company!!

[icanboogieboogiewoogie]

Not to buy fancy dresses and coats for the DDs in the January sales. There may be no events the following winter.

[Hopeandglory]

I've learnt to appreciate the diversity and dedication of some many people - so many people have touched my heart this year through either what they have achieved or by the way they carried on encouraging others to live a full life in an upside down year. I have 2 DD's, DD1 is a critical care nurse and has worked through out the year with compassion and dedication that has amazed me. She has grown in so many ways, her compassion awes me and her ability to prioritise her professional life and remain sensitive throughout this pandemic left me speechless. DD2 is year 11 and she had a difficult year 10 but she has, with her class mates, remained understanding and appreciative of the limitations that this year has brought. I have seen strangers being far more curtious than previously, friends checking in just to keep in touch and the world just seems to be a little slower and kinder at the moment.

[Flowerblue]

That I’m a good deal tougher, more resilient and adaptable than I thought. That I can be anxious every day and still get up and go and do my job.

[starrynight19]

That life can change so very quickly.

That time with family and friends and their good health are the most important things.

That so many people really dislike teachers.

[Retrievemysanity]

However bad things are, they can always get worse.

[Cameleongirl]

@AgeLikeWine

That getting up in the middle of the night to spend two hours driving to an airport in the dark, then the next two hours standing in queues is actually a privilege.

@AgeLikeWine Completely agree! I’d give a lot to be able to get on a plane and see my elderly Dad/SM.

I already knew that life is short and we need to go out and grab it, but I’ve sometimes been lazy about actually doing it.😂 I have a renewed zest for life now and once things are more normal, I’ll be out there living it to the full. I’m not wasting my opportunities.

[Meredithgrey1]

When push comes to shove, despite all the lip service they’ve paid, people don’t give a shit about mental health.

[Bourbonbiccy]

Reinforced my knowledge of how amazing my hubby and my son are.

My extended family are brilliant and I took for granted how often I saw them ( I will never moan about how often I see them)

My friends are funny and resourceful although one or 2 don't make good decisions and can be selfish.

[justanotherneighinparadise]

That the only people who truly care about my children are me,their father and their grandparents. All the professionals I thought cared couldn’t give a shit. I found that enlightening.

[rumerhasit]

That life is too short, if you want something...go for it!! And I did...several times this year! Take leaps of faith...trust the process.

[marly11]

That we really don't need to run around as much as we used to. That my DC are much happier not running around so much. That after over 30 years of always having or wanting a man in my life, I now realise that I really don't need one and am much happier without one.

[BillywigSting]

That people are in general equal parts fantastic and awful.

That I'm more antisocial than I thought I was.

That I want absolutely nothing to do with work place politics.

That even though my job is minum wage and roundly looked down on (care work), that actually I really value it, the difference I make and the independence it affords me, and I would not give it up for dp to have a better paid but longer hours job. If he wants to take that role he can sort the childcare because I have thoroughly had enough of putting my career on the back burner for his.

I actually really love history, just not the history I was taught in school. Ditto geography, religious studies, socialology and psychology.

That statistics are a useful tool but most people really don't understand them.

Starting elf on the shelf was a bloody mistake.

[Gingernaut]

The general public are morons

It doesn't matter how bad it gets, there is always another level, another rule, another thing to make things worse

We voted for corrupt and incompetent twats, utterly detached from the lives and experiences of normal people and the opposition parties are just completely incompetent

Kindness is rare and must always be celebrated

Retail workers are heroes, up there with the emergency services, medical staff, communications and transport workers

With masks getting in the way of my wired headphones, I miss music when I'm out and about.

[LouJ85]

@PowerhouseOfTheCell

We're all an island of idiots with a toilet paper fetish

Erm.. not all of us.