Going Through a Tough Time Doesn't Mean That You are a Failure

2020 was, obviously, a bit of a curveball. Some of us responded very well to it, rolling with the punches, adapting accordingly, and are coming up on top. 

Most of us, however, were reeling from the surprise and many of us are still trying to claw our way through and make sense of the bewilderment and chaos.

I’m quite willing to admit that I’m closer to the latter than the former. 

I had made some rather far-forward-looking plans (after a long time of planning and putting the pieces together) and put them into action at the end of 2019, in preparation for a 2020 that would surpass my previous year by leaps and bounds.

The global slowdown was tremendously detrimental to my plans.

It took me a few months before I even came to terms with what was happening. It was only then that I started to take my original plans apart and tried to see where things can be changed.

As of this moment, they still aren’t fully-formed yet. But I'm definitely getting closer to what I sense that I'm meant to do.

I’m not at 100%.

And I think that’s ok.

Some of us take longer to adjust and adapt. The important thing is that we eventually move forward or at least take steps to move forward.

We don’t all have to listen to the ‘motivational gurus’ and make all of our time 'useful and productive'. It’s perfectly alright to take time to recover and piece things together before moving on again.

2021 Updates for remuszhong.com, including Word of the Year

It’s been a while since I updated this blog.

I’ve been trying to form the habit of regularly recording on Twitter and on my own phone in the form of Notes.

What I realised is that I find it way easier when I don’t feel that I ‘need to connect’ to an audience.

I may decide to kick people off the new Instagram account that I’m trying to set up about my professional life until I’m deeper into it.

Right now, I do feel a certain insecurity due to the presence of too many people (although there are less than 20 followers).

Let’s figure that out later.

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My Word of the Year 2021 is…

Jam

I actually wrote all of this down on 31 Dec 2020 in my notebook on why I chose this word:

1) Jam is experimental

It involves other people. In the coming year, I intend to experiment more, both to test things out as well as to continuously improve myself and my skills and abilities. As others are also involved, there will be a need to continue to build and maintain relationships, as well as cull them, continuing on from the previous 2 years.

2) Jam can get messy (as can jamming) (and making jam)

I intend to be unafraid of getting my hands dirty and having things in disarray. Eventually, things will become…

3) Sweet

The signature taste of jam. I will trust that things will eventually turn out for the best, The end-result of a jam is not only pleasant to the tongue, it will be pleasing to the eye (and ear), and is readily shared.

4) The Jams in my life

I will have to isolate them, deal with them, or overcome them. Also, I’ll have to jam the brakes on bad habits and behaviours that are detrimental to me and others.

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If you’ve read this, you’ll notice quite a bit of play on words. I find that this helps me to remember things and keeps them fresh in my mind.

The Final Month of 2020 - A Month of Renewal?

So here we finally are, in the last month of a tumultuous year. Based on everything that has happened so far, it isn’t hard to imagine that many people are either still reeling or just starting to get back on their feet. Of course, there are some of us who have managed to turn crisis into opportunity.

Wherever we may be in the midst of all this, it’s probably worth planning for the year ahead, and the ones after that.

Certainly, the virus isn’t going to up and leave just because it’s 2021.

However, we cannot let it dictate the rest of our lives.

It may have left an indelible mark on us, but we are an adaptable species.

Somehow, we will rebuild and restore, recalibrate and reconnect, restart and renew.

After all, it is through difficult times that strength and resilience emerges.

Let us embody this and help others around us forge that better future.