Let’s admit that 2020 hasn’t been kind to anyone. Beginning with wildfires and natural disasters and then the prolonged covid-19 pandemic, it had been an exhausting year by far, both financially and emotionally.

A lot of us have lived in the fear of contracting coronavirus, covid-19. While others lost their loved ones or successful careers went down the drain. Despite the uncertainty, there were some positive aspects of this year as well. Like it is said, every cloud has a silver lining.

The Much-Needed Break

Most of us have been indulged in our careers, work lives, and monotonous routines, so much so that we hardly had time to relax and contemplate. The lockdown gave everyone a timeout from their everyday routines. Sit and relax at home and give time to themselves.

Most of the people got time to pursue what they once loved doing, such as painting, writing, and any form of hobby. Some also took time out to refurbish their rooms, housing, and living space. Others got closer to nature and invested time and energy in gardening.

Bringing the Close Ones Close

Technology and social media have ironically brought the world together in terms of global reach, however, it has also distanced us from the ones living very close to us. Family life and real-time socializing have been affected remarkably.

Lockdown, somehow, brought the families together. We all have been locked up in houses, at least for the initial few weeks. And the times of the early 2000s had reminisced, where board games and playing cards were still a thing.

Mother Nature Finally Breathed

Increasing waste and carbon emission leading to issues like environmental pollution and global warming have been under debate for a while now. But these issues weren’t properly addressed. It was the first time that our planet got time to breathe in over the past couple of decades. With commercial flights, factories, and industries called off, everyone witnessed a significant decrease in environmental pollution.

Regular hikers in Islamabad reported seeing various wild animals, including new species of birds, coming out in nature that were not seen previously. The largest hole in the ozone layer was reported to have healed amid the pandemic.

Societal Unity and Food Distribution

The pandemic has also helped unite the formerly segregated communities. Everyone, especially in Pakistan, raised funds to distribute food supplies amongst those whose livelihood was affected by the lockdown.

We also saw people being more socially aware, responsible, and mingling around their neighborhoods.

Growth in Online Businesses

According to various reports, there has been a boost in online businesses. Many brands, who were not focusing on e-commerce in the past, realized the importance of selling online during the time when they were only allowed to sell online. Similarly, many individuals took advantage of this opportunity and launched their businesses during the lockdown period. One such example is Treasure Box, which launched shortly before the pandemic but has grown tremendously during the pandemic.

2021, a Way Forward

With coronavirus vaccines out in the market, there is a ray of hope to look forward to in the year 2021. Many countries have been open for tourism and resumed their industries while others are struggling to adapt to the new normal.

All in all, we hope that this year will be a better one and we will get to witness improvement overall.