“Look, in the end we’ll even have to thank 2020” says my client at the end of the Reiki session.
It’s not the first time I hear this comment, even if so many people went through real difficult times this year. One of the hardest trials this year had ready for us is the loss of our loved one by Covid. This virus is extremely cruel not only because it is easily transmitted and can cause very severe symptoms, but also because it keeps us far from our beloved ones in the moment of their passing away. Not being able to hold the hand of our friends or family when they are dying is definitely a pain in the pain that complicates the grieving process.
The difficult economic situation caused by general lockdowns has also become an issue: companies went bankrupt, professionals have been living off their savings, some people had to reinvent themselves on the fly because their job simply did not longer exist. These are very stressful and, in some cases, desperate situations that can push some to the brink of depression.
Distressing experiences often reveal hidden truths and make the houses of cards on which some relationships were founded crumble down. The picture is complete when a separation is added to a possible grief process and financial difficulties.
I believe that in this jungle of pain and mental confusion the only thing that we really feel to do is probably curse our bad luck and pray that this year ends, but believe me, although it is difficult to see, 2020 can be a blessing in disguise.
This year taught us some true values: how important it is to know that our family and friends are well and alive, how much we hated the job that we could not leave because our wage was high, how little we had in common with that person who behaved the only way they could when the game got tough: they cut and run.
It was tough, traumatic, destabilizing, he made us scream in anger and frustration, but it was also the best teacher we could have. So, yes, I think we all should thank this 2020, hoping that we learned enough from our mistakes to allow 2021 to be gentle us.