I just feel like…2020 got me messed up.

We are currently living in a time of uncertainty for many people. Prior to March of 2020, many probably had an idea of how and what their year would yield, how their season would suit up, how the month would materialize, or hell, at least how the week would work itself out. But needless to say, due to Ms. Corona, plans were changed, and some altogether cancelled.

As this novel virus runs a world tour, I’ve observed and even experienced a widespread array of emotions. I watched people around me and online go through feelings of disbelief, acceptance, humor (my favorite idc sue me), anger, sadness, hopelessness, and everything else in between.

I’ve seen users on Twitter jokingly say that 2020 is a bust and that 2021 will be their year. Although it’s just a joke, me being the person that I am, always believes there’s a little bit of truth in every joke.

My question is: Why write off a whole (fill in the blank) because of a temporary setback?

A negative thought may answer with: BECAUSE IT’S HARD OUT HERE RIGHT NOW, DAMN! Sure enough, just like this virus seemingly came out of nowhere, the end is also nowhere in sight. Let’s be honest.

Unfortunately many companies are experiencing economic hardship and are shutting down completely. This leaves so many individuals without a job, and worse than that, unable to actively seek out new employment. So you mean to tell me you’re gonna fire me and now I can’t even find a replacement job?! BET! It’s easy for a lot of people to just throw their hands up and say fuck forget it.

And don’t even get me started on home life. Households are all out of sync right now. Parents are being forced to be teachers to their bad ass adorable kids while also keeping up with their own professional responsibilities IF they have been blessed enough to retain employment. I’m sure y’all love your kids but be real…you didn’t sign up for that. Couples are arguing about the most silly things because they have cabin fever. They’re tired of looking at each other. Even the pets are getting on your nerves.

After almost 2 straight months of lockdown and social distancing, people are literally saying they are through with this shit. Through with this job, through with these kids, through with this man or woman, through with the neighbor hosting a step show while you’re having a Zoom call, JUST THROUGH OK?

I want to encourage everyone (yes even after I just cussed in this post, I’m a work in progress) not to let destruction and discouragement creep up into your homes, your hearts, or your minds. Situations and environments like these are the devils’ playground. He can’t wait for you to surrender and give up out of frustration. He can’t wait until you display the smallest evidence of doubt so he can piggyback on those negative thoughts and blow it all the way up making you believe a solution is not feasible or out of your reach. He can’t wait until you DM, text, Snapchat, or smoke signal that person “checking on their health and safety because its crazy out here” all while your wife or husband is in the shower….too real? My bad. LOL

The solution…just don’t. Don’t even crack open the door for doubt. Don’t even entertain the idea of failure. Stop toying with the idea of complacency. Don’t even distract yourself with anything that could possibly take you off track.

Do we know when this will all be over? Nope. But just as sudden as it happened, God can turn it around just that quickly. Let God drive da boat and just enjoy the ride. And maybe  he doesn’t want to turn it around, but instead divert it to an entirely new and better outcome than you could have even imagined to begin with. Let Him do his thing!

So often we are our own worst enemy. We get in our head and convince ourselves that we cannot, we are not, and that we will not. all because of what a situation currently LOOKS like. Well, I’m here to tell you (and myself) that we can, we are, and we absolutely will. It’s not what it looks like right now, it’s what you decide it ultimately will be.