The years were a blur…
2020 to 2021 seemed like one long rollercoaster ride. Continuous waves of the pandemic, frenzied COVID-19 measures, the spread of new variants, switching to online education almost overnight, and the loss of loved ones and ones we hurt for.
I hope that everyone had the opportunity to slow down a bit towards the end of the year – to process what happened to us, rest, and recuperate with those we hold dear. If you didn’t get that opportunity, I wish that you will find the space and time to grieve, process, and heal.
Although the pandemic might be subsiding, we continue to witness the tumultuous effects of the climate crisis. Recently there have been floods in Malaysia and India, typhoons in the Philippines to wildfires in Greece, and extreme temperatures in Canada.
What will humanity be from 2022 onwards?
As Arundhati Roy wrote, “the pandemic is a portal”. We have been shown what we must not return to and what we must change. We have learned essentially that we need less to thrive on the planet. Our well-being and the planet matter most, as I wrote in a series of posts about what we have learned through this pandemic.
Moments in nature that kept me going
Vast, open green spaces like this one at Clementi Forest that provided a sense of calm from the confines of indoors
Views of the sky, like this day when the clouds were pink
Growing food in my home, reconnecting with soil, like this lovely passion fruit flower
How about you?
What were your joy moments in these times? What were your nature moments? What will your new year goals be, for yourself and those around you? Or do you wish to take things as they come? How do you hope to serve for the collective wellbeing of fellow earthlings and Mother Earth?
Start off with a one-word resolution
My one-word resolution for this year is trust. Trusting that I am doing all that I can in my capacity to tackle the climate and ecological crisis. Trusting in community, in love, joy, and the power of human spirit, courage, and resilience. Trusting that the journey may be long and arduous but each step ultimately leads to progress. Trusting to enjoy that journey, stopping to smell the flowers and hear the bees we work so hard to protect.
My Nature Experiences 
Nature is the great healer.
It definitely is! Hope you are doing well, and best wishes for 2022 🙂
Happy New Year Lavanya. We moved house to the countryside two days before lockdown, so it worked out very nicely for us. I now have to work from home, so was able to paint every room in the house and spend my lunch hours, evenings and weekends working in our woodland making it better for wildlife. We feel very fortunate to be here, surrounded by nature.
Hi Nick, it’s lovely to hear from you. Happy new year to you and your loved ones! It’s great that you moved to the countryside and have the lucky opportunity to live and work in the midst of nature in this rather turbulent time. I’d be keen to hear more about the work you do in the woodlands to help wildlife 🙂