It's Not 2021. It's 2020+

“It’s not 2021. It’s 2020+.”

My friends have heard me say this a lot. They find it amusing, but I’m not really joking.

The thing about The New Year is that it’s supposed to have magical powers. We make resolutions and grand plans. We set goals for the future.

Now, personally, it’s hard for me to see a difference between 11:59 p.m. on December 31 and 12:01 a.m. on January 1. But I like to believe in magic, too, so I usually give that a pass.

But it felt particularly tricky this year, because if we’re starting with a clean slate, COVID should have vanished, right? Poof! Ta da!

And instead, we’re hearing: “Maybe summer… Maybe 2022… Probably by 2023…” and I’m still confused on the meaning of “soon”. Can someone explain that word to me? I’m pretty sure it’s now slang for “uhhhh”.

So if you were thinking that 2021 would be the year that saves us, I’m afraid you may be mistaken.

We mortals have to make our own magic.

But here are some New Year's "resolutions" anyway.

Goal 1: Lose the COVID Weight

Most of us put on a few+ pounds in 2020.

The gyms closed. The pools never opened. Our sneakers were scared to go outside. The treadmill made us feel dead inside.

But the ice cream was delicious. And we were home watching GBBO anyway, so we might as well bake some cookies. And all our comfort foods contain butter and/or potatoes.

And we kept telling ourselves: “As soon as the pandemic is over, I’m going to get back in shape.” And that will be… soon.

So call it “COVID weight” if that makes you feel better. It certainly does me. But you’re going to have to lose it like it’s just regular weight. Or 2020 lives on.

Goal 2: Stop Drinking

I stopped drinking years ago, but 2020 was rough, and the majority of my friends and role models rediscovered their love for wine… and beer… and cocktails… and hard liquor straight from the bottle. (YouTuber Todd in the Shadows referenced this in relation to music, and he’s not wrong.)

If you’re a “situational alcoholic,” COVID is the only “situation” you need to go from a glass of wine at dinner to buying in bulk. It’s like having to attend your ex’s wedding because you still have mutual friends. Except instead of an afternoon of awkwardness, it’s a couple of years. Imagine being at your ex’s wedding for years; don’t worry, they say, it’ll be over “soon”.

Dry [Month] probably isn’t going to cut it.

If you really want to be living in 2021, try to get back to 2019 (or 2015) when the white wine paired nicely with the evening’s fish, rather than the never-ending despair and uncertainty.

Goal 3: Get Vaccinated

Yeah, I’m not indifferent to “Can we test this thing a little longer before you inject it into my arm?” I really do get it.

But no, we can’t.

Get vaccinated in 2020+ and enjoy going outside again. Remember the trees and birds? They still live out there.

Goal 4: Have Hope… and Sustain It

Yikes. That seems about on par with ‘climb Mount Everest’ right now. But it’s not. You can do it.

To no one’s shock, it turns out that 2020 was stressful. And although a lot of Americans--and people around the world--have more hope than they did a few weeks ago, we’re still a little skeptical that things are going to miraculously turn around.

The video in the above Tweet continues to be my 2020+ happy place, as I watch pure joy engulf strangers in a random parking lot. When you’re having a rough day, do what I do. Play it 21 times in a row, dance, and remind yourself that that garbage year is technically over.

Make the Best of It

My referring to 2021 as 2020+ sounds cynical, but I choose to think of it as being realistic, making my goals feel more manageable. (Referring to 2022 as 2020++ would be cynical…) Things are better, but they’re not perfect. Hopefully we’ll continue to improve, and 2020+ will be superior to its predecessor.

In the meantime, attempt to be kind to yourself, and to others, and hopefully this year will be kinder to us.

And maybe even rekindle our belief in magic.