Like many of you, I want to close the 2020 chapter of my life as soon as possible but decorum dictates that I can only do so after completing a list of resolutions that I will likely keep for a month.
Travel more
While I never considered myself a world traveler, COVID-19 has taught me that even a homebody like myself can only be inside so long. Health and safety are paramount, but I am hoping to visit more places once safer travel methods are implemented. Photo shoots in my driveway and grocery store will soon be replaced by views of the open road and interesting food items. My Edge® 3 Power Wheelchair is in need of gravel roads and new experiences, which also makes for fun Instagram content.
Sharing meals with friends
The holidays this year were smaller, for lack of a better word. My pod is modest-immediate family and a few close friends. The times were things to be treasured as always, but seeing an empty driveway put things into perspective. Breaking bread with loved ones is an extremely underrated part of most gatherings. Christmas is commercialized and Thanksgiving is most often associated with estranged family. I am looking forward to multiple dinner parties celebrating friendship once circumstances allow.
Staying in touch
If you are like me, quarantine brought you closer to people, for better or worse. It is easy to think of COVID-19 (or even this year) as a moment in time, but the unexpected friendship of a high school classmate and the surprisingly annoying family member will continue to exist in a post-COVID-19 world. It is up to you to determine if the quarantine friends that were made during this time are worth pursuing. As we slowly acclimate to the new normal, life will become busy once again. Do not let your friendships depend on circumstances. Yes, I have entertained the possibility that I am a jerk who needs to be reminded to keep in touch with others. Learn from my shortcomings.
Gardening
Some people made an unhealthy amount of sourdough bread during quarantine. I took up gardening. Though daunting at first, the gardening process proved to be extremely calming and therapeutic, especially during the early days of quarantine. Finding the perfect plot of land, planting seeds and watering my plants daily gave me something to look forward to. Best of all, I was able to eat the fruits of my labor. For the record, this was also done in Animal Crossing.
If your resolutions are anything like mine, many of them will be second nature once conditions clear up. Whenever that time comes, do yourself a favor and take that trip, call that friend and take the leap. Learn from this time and savor the future. The pandemic has taught me to appreciate the people and little things around me that I usually take for granted. All we can do now is stay vigilant, wash our hands, wear a mask, and hope for a better tomorrow. Here’s to a better 2021!
About Tim Shin: Tim lives in River Vale, NJ. He enjoys food, fashion, music and television. Click here to learn more about Tim.