Wow. What a year, huh?
1) We started January off with a bang, losing cultural icon and NBA immortality, Kobe Bryant, in a freak helicopter accident.
2) Rumors began to circulate about a new virus that had wormed it's way over to the U.S. and in March, we closed our borders and economy.
3) Words like “quarantine…pandemic…coronavirus…unprecedented,” were used at a well, ‘unprecedented’ rate as the outbreak continued, and so we remain socially distanced in varying capacities across the States.
4) Civil unrest circulated amidst the most unfortunate deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and others raising questions about ongoing racism, unseen disparities, and calling the status quo, as we know it, into question.
5) A presidential election shrouded in alleged voter fraud still leaves Americans finding themselves somewhere in the middle of "What happens next?" And "This is ridiculous."
6) Masks, vaccines, Fauci, and conspiracy theories are topics that are up for daily debate that we wouldn't have had a clue about 365 days ago.
7) Alex Trebek, Sean Connery, and many other celebrities passed on, but so did many more lesser known, but more impactful (to us) family members and friends due to COVID-19 or other known/unknown causes.
That's a lot. And there are so many other individual events that may have affected you and yours in ways that I couldn't comprehend for better or worse. Personally, for example, we planned and re-planned a beautiful wedding while also finding out in the last part of the year that we are expecting our first child this upcoming April. Two incredible blessings in an unknown year.
It is easy to become weary and fed up with a year that caused plans change and speculations to arise when not all media outlets are telling the same story. But, my hope is that you were and are able to pull something positive out of our weekly blogs and maybe felt just a little more invigorated after spending the 100 seconds reading through. If you were able to skim through some of those blogs, these concepts aren't new, yet I want to encourage you to take some time to reflect on your year:
1) What are you grateful for? I'm a firm believer that we can always find a silver lining and in some ways, perhaps 2020 blessed you more than you could've ever imagined?
2) Most of us went two different routes: Did you sit and wallow, collecting stimulus checks and throwing an adult temper tantrum? Or, did you relish the opportunity to pour into relationships, pick up new hobbies, and become a (virtual) friend that a friend would like to have?
3) Finally and relatedly, if you were the former option in #2, what will you do differently in 2021? Write it down now. Write it on a rock in sharpie. Set that word (last blog emphasis) on your desk and go back to it throughout this upcoming year. And if you were the latter, continue to mold yourself: what will you carry over into the new year and are there poor habits that you accidentally accumulated that need to be purged?
Undoubtedly, you will hear variations of "Thank Goodness 2020 is over," in the coming days. Perhaps, we can start a movement in the opposite direction? After you've had an opportunity to reflect, will you please respond on one of our most recent social media posts on maybe just one thing that you're grateful for from this last year?
I'll start and speak for all of us at Health 1st in saying that it is a pleasure and honor to serve each and every one of you! I undoubtedly do the least, but am grateful for patients that were so accommodating when I was in the clinic! Thank you also for allowing me the opportunity to use this platform to encourage! I also know that Dr. Gina LOVES setting us on a path to better wellness through adjustments, advice, and nutritional recommendations. Brittany dominates serving and interacting and tackles administrative duties like a champ. And lastly, is it possible that Magnum is the best massage therapist this side of the State? In all of our varying roles, we are grateful for our patients, this past year.
The year 2020 was no breeze, but I hope that it's given you a chance to recognize what is controllable in our lives and thus able to maximize those arenas.
Until next time,
- Brock Baumgarn, CA, Nutrition Consultant, Health 1st Chiropractic