Dear 2020,

It is nearly time for us to part, so I thought I’d write to you to reflect on our time together. I’m not going to lie, 2020, you have been rude. You took many of our loved ones, sent this world into unprecedented chaos and upset everyone’s plans. You are definitely one of the most hated years in recent history and most people are wishing you good riddance. But don’t worry, I am not writing to add to the angry voices yelling at you. Instead, I want to reflect on the good I found in the midst of your turbulence.

My friend, you really came to shake things up, forcing isolation upon a society built for community. You imposed a mandatory break from busyness, leaving me with just my sister and my thoughts. Being the recluse that I am, I was in my element: reading, sketching, learning new skills… I was one of the lucky ones whose life was initially minimally impacted. However, as I spent more time with you, more challenges were thrown my way. But in the midst of the constantly changing environment and prolonged isolation you really shone a light on the value of people.

Like everyone else, I had to change the way I interacted with others. I had to be more intentional about spending time with friends and family. Consequently, my focus was switched from increasing the quantity of encounters I had with people, to enriching the quality of the interactions. Investing more time in a handful of friendships brought a unique joy to this year and, alongside the improvements to the personal hygiene habits of the general populous, this was definitely a silver lining in the global pandemic.

2020, as well as bringing about unsolicited change, you also highlighted areas in which further reform is still needed. My heart broke as more instances of police brutality were caught on film. In Nigeria, the government openly fired at peaceful protesters and out of Europe and the US, many demonstrations of the use of excessive force by law enforcement were captured.

Watching a grown man cry for his late mother as a policeman pressed a knee against his neck was a harrowing reminder that racial inequality is very much alive and pervasive in this world. You helped bring the fight for equality to the foreground of the public’s mind, and new measures began to emerge to help push us in the right direction. But the struggle is by no means over, so as we leave you 2020 and move on to your successors, we need to keep pressing at the matter and holding people accountable to make sure that change continues and is lasting.

I’m not sure whether you remember this, but the day after meeting you (January 2^nd) I scribbled “2020 = year of intentionality” in my notebook. Man did you prove those words true. With you, more so than any of your predecessors, people have had to be purposeful with their actions. You tore apart the structures and schedules that ran our lives and left us to our own initiative. For me, in addition to relationships and activism, a key area of intentionality was personal development.

“Your title is rented, what you own is your name.”

This quote has never rung more true, than when spending time with you. Our 12 months together were a reminder of how quickly the roles and positions we hold dear can be taken from us. The only thing we truly own and have control over is one’s self.

My friend, you provided me with the invaluable resource of free time. While I did waste a good proportion of that binge watching TV series and trashy films, I also did a lot of reflection and self-work. I got to work on many passion projects, invest more time in others and grow in knowledge and self-awareness. So, hopefully, I’m leaving our time together more well-rounded and a little wiser than I started.

My dear 2020, you were a nuisance and a perpetual headache. The chaos you caused was unmatched and it felt like your 12-month tenure lasted a decade. But in the midst of your tumult a lot was learnt, some good seeds were planted, and I gained a new appreciation for the nuances of life.

My friend, you will not be missed, but I wish you well. I am a better person for having met you.

All the best with whatever comes next,

Ifeoluwa

PS: Please tell your successor to be kind and take it easy on us, we’ve all had a rough year.