No one expect 2020 to be awful and bad. The world welcome 2020 with a bang. Grandiose firework was displayed all over the globe. I too did not expect what 2020 turns out to be. At midnight, we are happy celebrating the new decade. We laugh and cheers at our dinner table. At dawn, disco sound echoes around the compound. Loud and funny singing at the karaoke was spilled all through the house. We are having so much fun. It was indeed a bang!

The morning comes and reality suck the fun out of it. It all started in the Middle East. I may not be directly affected with it but it is bad omen to start the year. On January 1, a news broke out that US killed a top general from Iran which may lead to war between two parties. Speculations on eventual war has broke the internet. Alleged videos of troops marching to Iran spread across social media but it was a conspiracy, a hoax. The tension may slowdown a bit but who knows till then it escalate again. Sadly after a few days after escalation in the Middle East, a Ukrainian plane was strike by Iran causing 167 lost lives. Iran took 3 days to admit and says, it was an accident, a mistake. Aside from that, Indonesia was flooded on new year's day. Heavy rain caused the Indonesia to be flooded by at most 5 feet of water. It forces them to evacuate instead to celebrate the new decade.

A massive bush fire in Australia. image source

January started at a wrong foot and everyone never expected to be this bad. A swarm of locust devastated Kenya and went to swarm East Africa, from Somalia to Ethiopia. The pest is the worst in the last 70 years. Locals feared that new vegetation during the rainy season increased the locust's population by 50%. Also, the swarm may spread through out region. On the other side of the world, Australia continues to put out the bush fires that burned acre of forest and its inhabitants since December 2019. The bush fires clouded Australia with smoke.

The corona virus. image source

The world has yet to face the worst. A new corona virus has quietly spreading across the world since late 2019. However, reports still non conclusive at the time for WHO to declare a pandemic. It started at wild game market in Wuhan, China. Reports of a new flu-like disease infected locals. At late January, the virus spread across multiple countries and infected 10,000 individuals in a month. The cases steadily rising at the time. Quarantines and lockdowns were inevitable. We were not ready for this. Flights were grounded. Cities were closing borders. Movements were limited for essential services. In a month, the world hibernates. We become uncertain of what to do. The pandemic toyed with our health, body and mind. We are forced to accept reality as it is. No one wished to have a pandemic. Social distancing and putting a mask became a norm.

Mt. Taal errupted after 43 years. image source

The aftermath of Turkey Earthquake. image source

2020 never ceased to surprised. A volcanic eruption and earthquakes occurred across the world. In the Philippines, Mt. Taal erupted on January 12, 2020 which blows dust up to 100 km away. About 300,000 Filipinos were evacuated due to huge dust clouds. To date, most residents of the volcanic island is still in the evacuation camp. The world experienced a handful tremors and most notable is in Turkey. The devastation lead to 116 lost lives and over a thousand of injured individuals. Natural disasters are not just the caused for awful events in 2020. Last August 2020, the world wake up with a viral video of an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon. The explosion send a shock wave over 240 km and registered an earthquake of 3.3 magnitude. The explosion leaved about 300,000 people homeless, about 6,500 injured, and 204 deaths. The 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate caused the explosion in Beirut. The calamities and disaster of 2020 continues on top of the global pandemic that we are facing right now.

The aftermath of Beirut explosion. image source

Massive protest around the world occurred even when the pandemic is ongoing. A viral video showed a police officer kneeling the the neck of a black man till he losses breath. This video spark protest and riot all over America and other parts of the world. People protesting on police brutality and shouting the mantra: "Black Lives Matter". I don't disagree with protesting on police brutality and the call to discriminate racisms but the looting of stores and destroying of properties should be condemned especially when we are in a pandemic.

The aftermath of US riots. image source

The laughs and cheers of the new year's eve was long gone. Everyone was confined to their homes as the lockdowns started. Some enjoy the comforts while others are striving to put food to the table. Lockdowns were not the same for everyone. Those who have jobs despites the lockdowns should be thankful hence others are barely surviving. The long lockdowns spares no one in terms of the mental stress, anxiety and overthinking that it brings. Roads became spacious and traffic was gone. Fuel prices hit all time low. Everyone wants food above all else (except for others who panicked on buying toilet papers). 2020 may brings more misfortunes but I believe there are things to be grateful from these experiences.

The social media apps. image source

Be grateful with Social Media. Lockdowns was quite long and is not suited for everyone. Mental stress are high for those with extroverted personalities. Boredom strikes and eventually, stressed and anxiety. Without family and friends to talk to, we fall to depression but with social media, we stay connected with one another. In a few years, we will look back and laugh at what we do during the quarantines and lockdowns. Tiktok has became a craze during the quarantines. Short video content has spread all throughout our homes. Everyone got hooked with it. Some videos in social media became viral such as video that sparks the #blacklivesmatter campaign and protest. Vlogs and funny clips has lighten our stresses and put a little smile in our faces. Social media allowed us to do online selling. In the Philippines, everyone started to sell clothes, goodies and other things online. As for me, I tried to help out my sister to sell his baked goods online.

A puto cheese (rice cake).

Be grateful of the job or business that thrives. Many have losses their jobs and businesses are filing bankruptcy. When our government implemented measures and policies to curved the spreading of virus, the economy slowdown. People stayed at home. Some bought their work while other don't. Many have no pays or business were closed and no revenues. Tourism was greatly affected. Hotel do not have guessed. A popular app, Airbnb became irrelevant. Their were no flights so crews were grounded. Academic institutions were closed. Everything went downhill. If you are getting a pay or revenue amidst the lockdown, be thankful because someone wished to have it. No matter if it has pay cuts. Be grateful. It is a sad reality that may retrenchment and job loss was incurred. If your business thrive, be grateful because others are barely holding on.

Be grateful to people who supported you in this trying times. The pandemic has showed as to people we can trust with. People whom genuinely help us when we are in need. This pandemic reminds as to about being human and humanity by itself. When we are in need, don't hesitate to ask for help. And eventually, help comes. If you can give, give willingly because you never know when you needed one.

image source

Let me repeat. No one expect 2020 to be awful and bad but never spoil the good things that happen. We may have lock ourselves but we find valuable things in return. The pandemic may have shutdown luxuries things in life. We may a bit out of the routine and into the new normal. One thing is sure. Never forget to be grateful.

Cheers to the new year!

Juecoree