Good Riddance 2020

​by Kathy Cap, LLPC, NCC

Kathy Cap is a Limited Licensed Professional Counselor (LLPC) in private practice at Trinity Family Counseling Center. She is a graduate of Oakland University with a Masters in Counseling and joins Trinity after a number of years in a solo practice. Kathy enjoys working with couples, and adults of all ages, including those older adults facing an array of life transitions related to health changes, loss, and caregiving.

This year has been unlike any we have ever experienced.

At this point, after more than nine months of living with a pandemic, I think it’s safe to say we are ready for 2020 to be a distant memory. Between the loss of celebrations, isolation, shorter days, and longer nights many of us find ourselves stuck. Our anxiety has been increasing along with the grief that comes with having lost so much this year.
 
While these feelings are valid, it’s essential to not allow yourself to become stuck but instead to find hope.  As uncomfortable as it may feel, pushing ourselves to imagine a better future is critical to our well-being. There are a few things we can do to foster hope no matter how hopeless things might seem. 
 
First, begin with giving yourself permission to feel what you’re feeling. It’s ok to not be ok. Next, implement some self-care. This can be a walk, listening to music, or taking a relaxing bath.  Then begin to identify and reframe your negative thinking pattern. For example, instead of saying “This year has been terrible and everything I was hoping to accomplish has been canceled, nothing is going my way.” Dispute and reframe this thought by saying: “Maybe everything has been pushed back a year but that doesn’t mean all is lost it just means it will take me a little longer to accomplish my goals.”

​Lastly, remember that now, more than ever, a new year brings with it, new possibilities.