We all know 2020 has been a difficult year for just about everyone. If you’re like me, you spent the past 12 months confused, upset and, at times, cursing the universe. I’ve heard many friends, relatives and colleagues wishing for a better 2021.

That all depends on us. Some say life is all about perspective, so I say we look at the events of 2020 and take those lessons learned into the new year.

The “curse of 2020” started off strong with the Australian bush fires. These fires began late in 2019 and carried us into the new year. This disaster destroyed 47 million acres of forest, killed 34 people and displaced countless people and animals from their homes.

According to an article Jan. 7 on BBC.com, many of the fires were caused or exacerbated by rising CO2 levels, resulting in higher temperatures and droughts. A simple lightning strike can create a devastating fire that will feed on the dry vegetation.

“Scientists have long warned that this hotter, drier climate will contribute to fires becoming more frequent and more intense,” the article warned. “The more extreme weather patterns and higher temperatures increase the risk of bush fires and allow them to spread faster and wider.”

This tragic event draws into sharp focus the lack of attention we have been paying to the environment, and now years of damage are showing their effects. The August wildfires along the United States’ west coast bring this problem closer to home.

The Harvey Weinstein verdict Feb. 24 is another big event from 2020. Weinstein was convicted of raping an aspiring actress and sexually abusing a production assistant. This is marked as a watershed moment for the Me Too movement.

“Harvey Weinstein is a symbolic case. To see a high-profile, rich white man be convicted of a crime in general is always astonishing,” Tarana Burke, Me Too founder, told Radio 1 Newsbeat, according to a July 9 BBC.com article. “We need to talk about the systems that are still in place that allow that to happen.”

The conversation has been started, and changes are happening, but this is not the end. We need to continue speaking out and supporting those who need help. We need to hold people accountable for their actions and stand strong together.

While we’re discussing standing up for those who need our support, we have to talk about Black Lives Matter. While the Black Lives Matter movement was founded in 2013 following George Zimmerman’s acquittal in the death of Trayvon Martin, the year 2020 has seen a monumental shift and increase in action.

The deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, only two of the hundreds of Black people killed at the hands of law enforcement officers, awakened a cry for equality and an end to systemic racism. Protests, both peaceful and otherwise, swept the country this year.

Our eyes were opened to how prevalent this problem is in our society. Despite knowing there was still racism in our world, even I didn’t realize the true depths of the problem.

We all must answer the call to action and continue working toward positive change and growth in our country - for everyone.

We need to be better. We need to pay attention.

The greatest disruption of our lives in 2020 has, of course, been the COVID-19 virus. First announced Jan. 9 by the World Health Organization, this virus swept the world, shutting down country after country. Most of the United States saw the shutdown hit in March.

The unknown elements of this virus combined with its high fatality rate called for stay-at-home orders, face mask requirements, quarantines and more. We, an already fairly technological country, were forced to adapt our work, school and social lives to a virtual, online format.

Every aspect of our lives has been upheaved. Simple things like running to the grocery store or even just getting the mail required a different procedure. Everything changed.

The virus, and the subsequent shutdowns of businesses, caused an economic hit. The working class has been hit hard with people not being able to work and, therefore, not being able to pay their bills.

Food insecurity numbers skyrocketed, as evidenced by our local food banks, as people were forced to choose between paying rent and buying food.

Thousands of people continue to die from this virus. Hospitals are overwhelmed and health care workers are at their breaking point.

Being surrounded by all this tragedy and having to completely change our entire way of life, practically overnight, have caused a dramatic rise in mental health problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. I’m even seeing a noticeable difference in my small circle of family, friends and acquaintances.

It can be hard to find the lesson in all this upset. A bright side to this year has been the creativity and ingenuity of people adapting to the virtual format and finding new ways to stay connected while staying safe.

We, as a nation, need to stand strong together. That’s the only way we’re going to emerge from this virus and rebuild. Togetherness and unity can be a challenge, as evidenced by the 2020 presidential election that seemed to tear our country apart.

I’ll leave you with one final lesson - be kind.

We learn this lesson from actor Chadwick Boseman, best known for his starring role in Marvel’s “Black Panther” and “Avengers” movies. Sadly, he died Aug. 28 from colorectal cancer at the age of 43.

Despite having been diagnosed in 2016, he kept his sickness a secret while filming several movies. He kept quiet about numerous surgeries and chemotherapy.

Former President Barack Obama commented on Boseman’s death.

“Chadwick came to the White House to work with kids when he was playing Jackie Robinson. You could tell right away that he was blessed. To be young, gifted and Black; to use that power to give them heroes to look up to; to do it all while in pain - what a use of his years.”

In addition, he used to visit children in hospitals and worked to keep inspiring others.

We all need to follow Boseman’s example and use our gifts to give back every moment we can.

We also need to remember everyone has private battles. Boseman’s weight loss in the last months of his life was noticeable to the public, sparking negative comments from random strangers.

My mom always told me, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

You never know what people are going through in their personal lives, so try to exercise a little extra patience, especially right now.

We need to work together and put aside our differences. The strength of the United States is in celebrating our differences and using our individual talents and backgrounds to build a better tomorrow.

I always tell people I have no regrets in life. As with everyone, I make mistakes. However, I make sure to view each and every mistake as a learning experience. Take a lesson from each mistake, and move forward stronger.

We need to look at 2020 as a learning experience. Let’s take every terrible, tragic event from 2020 and use it to grow as individuals, as a country, as a planet.

We need to be better. We need to pay attention.

Samantha Anderson

editorial assistant

Whitehall-Coplay Press

Northampton Press

Catasauqua Press