Closing a Chapter in Life – How to Close Chapter 2020

Closing a chapter in life is a metaphorical phrase that means to move on from a specific time period. It’s much like how a book concludes a chapter and moves on to the next part of the story.

In normal circumstances, it’s about turning the page on an old relationship, a career, or the loss of a loved one. No longer dwelling on the past and choosing to focus on new things.

In the case of closing chapter 2020, we’re trying to move on from a once in a lifetime crisis, social unrest, and a heated election.

We’ve all had some kind of impact from these things. It’s stirred up emotions of anger, sadness, and even some joy.

But every moment in our lives comes to an end eventually. It’s funny how when you just stay stuck in a feeling or a situation, the world doesn’t stop.

Everything keeps moving, whether you’re keeping up with it or not. That’s the nature of life until whenever it all ends.

It just keeps going, as we should too. That’s the story of humanity. We face one challenge after the next, and we just keep living.

Our ancestors faced difficulties as great or even greater than we are now. From surviving in the wild to fighting in wars, we’ve kept going.

So how do we close 2020 and keep going again? Here are a few ways that might help you.

1. Find perspective

In hard times, I always believe there’s some good in it all. We look at the misfortune we’ve endured, but don’t think enough about the character we’ve built.

Some of you will enter 2021 with a renewed inner-strength. Some of you are entering 2021 with re-ignited passions which could lead to new endeavors.

We learn things through our challenges. We find out who are true friends, family and loved ones are, and move on with a stronger social circle.

Contrary to how the news loves to frame things, you don’t have to view this year as all about death, destruction, and chaos.

All the parents of newborns, like my cousin, are certainly not going to see it that way.

All the people who graduated, got married, and celebrated all kinds of milestones will not see 2020 as the worst year ever.

I empathize with those who’ve lost someone. I certainly wouldn’t tell you how to feel if that’s you.

But I hope we can all remember that we’re still breathing. We’re still here.

Finding a way to see your pain as something that’s making you better, and something that you’ll use for good in the future, that may help make it easier to close chapter 2020.

2. Take on something new

A new chapter inevitably needs something new in it to happen. As I touched on earlier, passions can be re-ignited through challenges, and we can decide to take on new pursuits.

Find ways to meet new people and see new places. You can pick up new skills like a learning language or playing the guitar.

Do something that you’ve always wanted to do. Develop yourself in new ways to be the best you’ve ever been.

I’m saying the word “new” a lot because I want that word to be ingrained in your mind. 2021 can be your time to expand your horizons in ways you’ve never done before.

When you start doing different things, you’re taking hold of the present more. That allows you to let go of your grasp of the past and let that time in life conclude.

3. Start making plans for the next chapter

It seems like the biggest lesson this year taught us is that plans can change. Therefore, you probably think the best thing to do is not make plans at all.

But I would humbly suggest that’d be the wrong approach to take. Life’s unpredictability should not force us to be predictable.

Sticking to the same day to day life until it feels like it’s normal to add variety again. Perhaps the exact opposite should be the thinking.

The crisis and the unrest maybe should remind us that life is too short. We should go ahead and have as much variety as we can now.

Just because it might be more difficult to do, doesn’t mean we can’t find creative ways to still live life to the fullest.

And of course, you can still be responsible in how you do things, so you don’t put yourself in a stressful financial or medical situation.

But we don’t have to be stuck in fear, worrying about if we’ll be able to do this or that next year.

Plan ahead to do that thing you hope to do next year. And if that doesn’t go through, then plan something else.

But don’t stop planning, and don’t stop living. We learned a lot from this year. It’s been tough time for many of us, but it’s now almost over.

Let it be over when it’s over, and use what you’ve learned to make your next year your best one yet.

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