navigating the unknown

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the world around us and how it is changing rapidly. As the year ends, I can’t help but wonder: where are we headed? While only ten months have passed, the year 2020 seems like an eternity ago. Did life as we know it really shut down or was it all a bad dream? At the same time, it often feels like we’re still living in it and that’s because, well, we are. Billions of lives have been impacted, and we will continue learning how to navigate through this new reality for the foreseeable future. 

The clock striking midnight on January 1st, 2021, felt like a sigh of relief, but with a side of, “now what?” Subconsciously we might have hoped the new year would wash away all our fears and doubts that were reinforced by the pandemic. What would the future look like for my loved ones? Would we be healthy? What would travel be like? Were small businesses going to recover from closures? Would devastated countries be able to get back on their feet? Was 6 feet forever going to be the barrier between myself and the rest of the world? So many unknowns and yet all we could do was wait. Right?

I have no tips here, just thoughts. I think an important question we must ask ourselves is: what unique role are we each playing in moving the world forward? In our personal lives, at school, at work, and in the community. How are we showing up for ourselves and others around us? By focusing less on our differences and more on how we can unite, at the very least we can support each other in difficult times. 

A quote that really moved me this year was by a singer and songwriter called Nightbird. You might’ve heard it too. During her America’s Got Talent audition, she told the audience, “You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore before you decide to be happy.” It took a second for me to digest before I really got it. Life will always present its challenges; we can’t escape that. Unfortunately, there will always be hate, division, corruption, and suffering in the world, but that shouldn’t stop us from striving to do better. To be better. To want better. We shouldn’t let the occasional turbulence defeat us, because if we spend too much time solely waiting for things to change, we miss the bigger picture. There is beauty to be found in every storm, but it’s up to your perspective to guide you there.

One last thing: remember to give yourself and others grace. It is impossible to imagine what another person has gone through this year or any year. Whether it’s your colleague, neighbour, friend, family member, or uber driver, we’re all uniquely wired and experience life in different ways. The best thing we can do, especially at a time like now, is to lead with compassion. It’s something we must remind ourselves of because it’s easy to forget that we don’t know what’s going on in someone else’s life. So be gentle to yourself and be kind to others.

So, where are we headed? With a new year creeping up on us yet again, I want to make a suggestion. Really think about this past year. Reflect on all the headlines you’ve read online, the news clips you’ve watched, the material you’ve covered in school or at work, the stories you’ve exchanged with loved ones or strangers, the conversations you’ve had, the memories you’ve created, the lessons you’ve learned, the time you’ve spent planning for your future, the good, and the bad. Use everything that has educated, inspired, and shaped you this year to guide you moving forward. How will you become more intentional for the remainder of this year and onwards? Are you having meaningful conversations often? Do you welcome uncomfortable discussions? Have you challenged your perspective lately? How are you positively impacting others’ lives? What do you think the world needs more of? Return to these questions often and share them with people around you too. They’re not easy questions to answer, but that’s the beauty of them—challenging yourself and your existing ideas. The world will keep moving no matter how fast we keep up, so let’s get comfortable with being a little uncomfortable.

Xo,

Kundi