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The End of 2020
Dec. 31st, 2020 12:00 pmAt the end of 2019, I was coming off some glorious celebrations of turning 50, and my retirement being officially Old Enough to Drink. I had spent a lot of the year trying to distract people from things they couldn’t really do anything about.
In some ways, 2020 was more of the same. Still a whole lot of awful out there (some of the same awful, and some new awful). Still only a limited amount we can do about it. But there were some real changes in 2020.
During the summer of 2020, white people finally had that moment where they went, oh, hey, this is real. Police brutality is real. Racism is real. Structural racism is a real thing. It has been an awful year, and this moment may still be forgotten, but the moment happened, and it was pretty amazing. My particular set of actions as a direct result of the moment was to go: okay, can’t really directly participate in the protests, so who can I give money to? And I found really incredible organizations, doing incredibly fantastic work, to give money to.
If, as part of the end of the year, you give money, here are some of the organizations I found:
NAACP LDF
WeTheProtesters
Center for Policing Equity
UFW Foundation
There are a lot more out there; it is not hard to find ones that align with your personal philanthropic values / mission.
If, like me, you have spent the year enjoying a lot of great food, whether cooked at home or takeout, but have come to realize that a lot of people have not been so lucky, you may also want to direct charitable donations to your local food bank. If you are not sure what to give as a gift on some occasion, you might give in the name of your loved one; many food banks will send a card to the person in whose name you have donated, and you can do all of it, safely, online.
For many years, I have sustained distant friendships via regularly scheduled phone conversations. This year, my book group (which I still attended in Mayberry (not its real name) in person through February) moved online. I started a weekly cocktail party. I participate in a weekly Family Zoom for my MIL. I participate in an irregular Mom’s Zoom. For me, the end of most in-person socializing has enriched my connections with distant loved ones. But after 9 months, I can still vividly remember the last person I hugged outside my immediate family, and the two people who are regular visitors in our home. I tell my loved ones _that I love them_, and I do it often. It can be a little weird, if this is not already your habit, but I urge you to start that habit. Today. Tonight. And every day.
Every year gives, and every year takes away. This particular year has insisted that we acknowledge the cost of every year. Let us fully experience reverence for the opportunity to experience another New Year.
In some ways, 2020 was more of the same. Still a whole lot of awful out there (some of the same awful, and some new awful). Still only a limited amount we can do about it. But there were some real changes in 2020.
During the summer of 2020, white people finally had that moment where they went, oh, hey, this is real. Police brutality is real. Racism is real. Structural racism is a real thing. It has been an awful year, and this moment may still be forgotten, but the moment happened, and it was pretty amazing. My particular set of actions as a direct result of the moment was to go: okay, can’t really directly participate in the protests, so who can I give money to? And I found really incredible organizations, doing incredibly fantastic work, to give money to.
If, as part of the end of the year, you give money, here are some of the organizations I found:
NAACP LDF
WeTheProtesters
Center for Policing Equity
UFW Foundation
There are a lot more out there; it is not hard to find ones that align with your personal philanthropic values / mission.
If, like me, you have spent the year enjoying a lot of great food, whether cooked at home or takeout, but have come to realize that a lot of people have not been so lucky, you may also want to direct charitable donations to your local food bank. If you are not sure what to give as a gift on some occasion, you might give in the name of your loved one; many food banks will send a card to the person in whose name you have donated, and you can do all of it, safely, online.
For many years, I have sustained distant friendships via regularly scheduled phone conversations. This year, my book group (which I still attended in Mayberry (not its real name) in person through February) moved online. I started a weekly cocktail party. I participate in a weekly Family Zoom for my MIL. I participate in an irregular Mom’s Zoom. For me, the end of most in-person socializing has enriched my connections with distant loved ones. But after 9 months, I can still vividly remember the last person I hugged outside my immediate family, and the two people who are regular visitors in our home. I tell my loved ones _that I love them_, and I do it often. It can be a little weird, if this is not already your habit, but I urge you to start that habit. Today. Tonight. And every day.
Every year gives, and every year takes away. This particular year has insisted that we acknowledge the cost of every year. Let us fully experience reverence for the opportunity to experience another New Year.