Look Into Your Future

And Don’t Get Snagged by 2020’s Misfortunes

Hi, everyone. Happy New Year!

As I reflect on the past year, I realize that 2020 wasn't just tough. It was overwhelming for several months in a row. We might feel as though we're marching onward in 2021, but we can't ignore the struggles that many are dealing with at this time. Even as professionals, we rely on an internal compass to navigate our jobs and businesses all the time.

I'll admit, it's hard to keep my mind off my family this month. My father's health has been declining for a while now, but my mother's health has suddenly gotten much worse. It's a strange thing to see since she's always been the strong, powerful one in our family. As a family, we can never predict what will happen next. There are lots of ups and downs.

One reason I started thinking about this is because Jan. 13 is Make Your Dream Come True Day. Traditionally, the holiday poses a pretty simple question: If money weren't an obstacle, what would you try to achieve?

The only problem is that you can't buy what I want with money at all: a world without suffering.

Maybe it's because I was born the youngest of six, but I often find myself wishing that I could ease other peoples' pain. When I experience pain myself, I never hesitate to put these things into perspective, asking myself questions like, "Wouldn't it be worse if my family lived further away or if my business was not so conveniently close to my parents' home? Isn't this pain a blessing, in a way, compared to children who don't know their parents?"

But those questions can only help us ignore what's really bothering us, which is our own problems, disappointments, or sadness. We can't ignore 2020 — we have to embrace its lessons to grow stronger this year.

While we're all going through this pandemic, don't ignore your grievances of 2020. Instead, take care of yourself in any way possible and focus on what's really important. That can mean eating or exercising well or volunteering or contributing to a nonprofit that means a lot to you. Acknowledging the challenges might even make it easier to celebrate the victories!

My family is a huge reason why I'm still able to do my work while we all do our best to give my parents the best care. Without having my siblings to help me do video calls with my dad and mom everyday — as well as helping to care for them — I don't know where I'd be right now. I'm grateful for my parents every single day, and I make sure they know that.

As we are now into the new year, be grateful for the challenges and any hard times we had last year. We're able to keep pushing forward this year and use those experiences to prepare and shape us for the amazing things to come!