It is safe to say, 2020 will undoubtable be a year we will never forget. From the wide spread of the Corona virus ushering us into a global pandemic, and a worldwide ‘stay at home’ order, to the #endSars protests that led to the Lekki toll gate massacre on the 20th of October, to seemingly all-round chaos in the lives of various individuals while not forgetting the high number of deaths recorded in the course of the year. 2020 left so many people hurt, disappointed, dissatisfied, and overall relieved at the fact that the roller coaster year that is 2020 is finally coming to an end.
I find it quite astonishing that the year we all had high hopes for, the one we thought would bring 20/20 vision and crystal clarity on what to do next with life forced us to live in the moment, take each day as it comes, count our blessings, and really just showed us how unpredictable life can be. Virtually everyone had to find ways to cope and maintain their sanity. Members of the 21 Team were not by any means exempted from the happenings, neither were they immune to the chaos (I wish we were, though) that seemed to pervade every sphere of existence. What you are about to read next is an exclusive gist of how the year has been for the 21 Team and how we were able to cope amidst the madness.
Blessing | Content Writer
2020 for me was the year I fell off the wagon. It was good, confusing, and scary at the same time. The year I failed and did not know how to handle my failure. The year I got a practical understanding of what it means to go through an existential crisis. Honestly, what helped me get through this crazy year was my savings.
Wendy | Content Writer
2020 was crazy, eye opening and depressing. This has been the most eye-opening year for me. I learnt so many things about myself and realized I can be so much more than I already am. My amazing family and friends are who I owe getting through this crazy year to.
Ella | Content Writer
This year for me has been electric, unfamiliar, and exhausting. The best thing about 2020 will be the new relationships I made and the new experiences I had. Being part of a work team free of toxicity is such a relief. This was also the first year I truly celebrated my birthday with my buns out. Beach party! I also felt more connected to the people I love, and I matured emotionally. Sadly, this year took a toll on my mental health, I dealt with many losses, a serious battle with my confidence and increased panic attacks. I am at a point where I am pushing myself to be more positive because I am a glass half empty type of girl and this has not worked out well for me. Be that as it may, I cannot deny that good things happened to me this year. I will describe 2020 as the year I lived in gripping terror and managed to laugh at memes. Confusing, to say the least! Learning to embrace unfamiliar phases helped me stay calm while the world was going up in flames this year.
Mide | Content Writer
Devastating, depressing and insightful are the best words to describe 2020 for me. The best thing about 2020 for me was how it forced me to realize a lot of things. One of the things I learnt is how fickle life really is. I am all I have, and I need to start living life with ease and being intentional. The year started on a good note for me till my school went on a two-week break in March because a student had died from Lassa Fever. I packed my bag to “come and unwind in Lagos before exams” but I was in Lagos till my birthday, which was in October. In 2019, I was singing Tems’ Try Me with so much fervor, without knowing that 2020 was going to in fact try me. I hate uncertainty so the lockdown threw me into panic mode. What can I say? A lot happened. Corona virus, halted education, the online and physical protest against sexual violence and misconduct. Uwaila’s rape and murder triggered me, lockdown, and Nigerian parents wahala —which resulted in me having panic attacks and depression. Overall, my 2020 was horrible. Living life one day at a time and intentionally practicing self-care helped me get through this year.
Chioma | Content Writer
All I have to say to 2020 is “Thank you, next please.” I was indoors for most of the year. I started making Tiktok videos to feel useful and felt so relieved the same day. It was like the movie, ‘Before I wake’. As bad as 2020 was, it made me realize what I really want to do with my future. 2020 made me a better planner. Twitter and Tiktok helped me get through this year. 2020 really made me feel more grateful for the little things.
Annabel | Content Writer
The best thing about 2020 for me was finishing my Master’s degree with a good result, and the worst thing about 2020 for me was the heartbreak I went through. This was a bad year, but it also had its pros. It showed us alternative ways of doing things like learning, working, and even getting married. 2020 showed me there is so much to be grateful for regardless of how bad things may look. My closest friends and RuPaul’s drag race helped me keep my head straight amidst the madness associated with this year.
Nneoma | Beauty Content Strategist
2020 for me was enlightening and challenging, but necessary. Although this year has been long, It put me through situations I never knew I could handle, connected me with people who matter and disconnected me from those who do not align with my journey. My friends turned family have been my support system this year. Although they all have things they are dealing with individually, my friends have always made space and time to come through for me every time I need their support, love and sometimes just a shoulder to cry on.
Oreoluwa | Content Writer
This year was heart breaking, abnormal and emotional. However, it taught me gratitude and to be kinder to myself, to show love to myself and those around me while I can. 2020 really got me to understand how soothing Gospel Music, Binge-watching Netflix series and the Nigerian Twitter craze is. They are quite therapeutic. Music to soothe your nerves, Netflix to give you a mental escape/getaway and Nigerian Twitter to kill you with laughter.
I know we all cannot wait to give 2020 the big boot at the countdown to a new year in our homes. Regardless of the intense madness we saw this year, life will not be complete without a silver lining to it all. 2020 forced a lot of us to slow down and gave us time to introspect, showed us how to look out for our loved ones and be our brother’s keeper. This year forced gratitude upon us like never before and taught us to hope for the best, irrespective of how dark the tunnel we find ourselves in may be. This year we laughed together and cried our hearts out together. You were never alone. I know this year was trash for a lot of us, but I do hope we remember in our running out of it to carry the vital lessons we learned this year and allow this crazy time to be a guide for us in the future. No experience is wasted, especially not one we all faced together. Au revoir 2020.
