The first month of 2021 is already behind us and the second month has just begun!
Everyone would agree that last year was full of surprises and challenges resulting from the far-reaching effects of the pandemic. As we enter into the second month of this new year, I invite you to take a moment to look back on 2020 and ponder it. What are some things that you felt great doing last year? Or what are some things that you regret? I interviewed two Andrews University students and invited them to ponder those questions with us.
Einra Baker (freshman, medical laboratory science) says that she has learned how to “make the best out of bad situations.” The things that she will avoid taking into this year are people who “don’t always have your best interests in mind.”
Abigail Cancel (freshman, graphic design) had this to say: “Something I learned from 2020 that I’m keeping is the importance of taking breaks and giving myself time to process things. It was a really hard year and rather than letting myself breathe, I just kept pushing myself to keep up with things and do things. The problem is once you go too far past your limits, you just crash and can’t do anything and that definitely happened to me. I’ve been trying to be kinder to myself and I’ve learned that it’s okay to let some things go and take a break because it’s more important to be healthy than ultra-productive.” She adds, “Something I learned in 2020 that I’m trying not to take into 2021 is negativity. I got very pessimistic and cynical in 2020 and I’m trying to be more forgiving and kind. I’m trying to be less judgmental as well.”
Personally, the pandemic has taught me the importance of being physically active.
Last year, I enjoyed spending time at home and took this opportunity to try various activities such as cooking, watching movies, and changing hairstyles. However, being at home almost all day long created in me a sense of isolation and a feeling of suffocation regardless of how much I enjoy spending time indoors. To get rid of those emotions, I kept myself physically active either by going for a walk with my mom or by working out at home with my sister. In 2020, I learned how much I like the feeling of becoming a healthier person. In 2021, to become a healthier person and to grow my physical endurance, I have decided to take a pilates class and run at least 15 minutes in the morning three times a week. This plan has gone through some modifications as I tried to incorporate it into my daily life and now it is in the process of becoming a habit.
As we begin this new month, take some time and genuinely ask yourself this question: what are some things that you have learned last year and what would you like to take with you into 2021? By asking yourself and becoming conscious of what you want to do and not want to do, you will be able to set clearer plans and more achievable goals for this new year.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.