Be kind to yourself and others at challenging time
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Happy new year. May we know peace, love and hope in 2021.
The turn of the year is often a time of reflection when we make resolutions to change things.
So what were your expectations for yourself for 2021? Have you resolved to eat better, exercise more, contact people? Learn new skills or practise old ones? Listen to God or others more?
How’s it going? A week in, with tighter lockdown, how is anything going? What are our
expectations for ourselves now?
For some, last lockdown offered time for completing projects. For others, isolation, loss and
uncertainty meant it was enough to just survive. For many, there was less time than ever, amongst demands of work and home-schooling.
We can put high expectations on ourselves, but I think we need to be kind to ourselves. Honestly, what is fair to expect, given our particular circumstances? Does it help to have targets, or will we just beat ourselves up with them? We’re all different, but all need honesty and kindness.
I think we also all need others to support us. If we have targets, it helps to have someone who can (kindly) hold us accountable. If we are struggling, it helps to have someone who can (kindly) listen and offer perspective.
This matters in what others ask of us too. I was really struck by the column two weeks ago, by David Patterson, Principal of Moray College UHI. David was clear that he expected nothing of his staff over the holiday period. What a gift to offer colleagues. Can we give similar clarity and kindness to those we live and work with?
What other expectations might we have for 2021?
The bar is set pretty low for many folk – it just needs to be better than 2020, and to include coronavirus vaccinations.
However, 2021 potentially brings some national and global highlights.
Scotland’s men’s football team are in the Euro finals this summer. Our expectations may have been met by them qualifying, but who knows?
Tokyo 2020 Olympics are a delayed culmination of years of training for sportspeople, with attendant national expectation.
Can we offer honesty and kindness in supporting sport at all levels?
This is also a big year politically. There’s Brexit. Scottish Parliament elections are due in May, bringing accountability and shaping future trajectories. Ongoing Covid responses by local, Scottish and UK governments will form the political landscape for years.
The world is watching the new US President. The world will also be watching Glasgow in
November, hosting the 26 th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26). Actions from that will affect all life on Earth, now and into the future.
We may have big political expectations, matching the significance of the challenges facing us. But those spheres need honesty and kindness too, and need us to help each other find ways forward. 2021 is here, with uncertainty and expectation.
May we be honest in our expectations, work on them together, and be kind to ourselves and others.
- Jenny Adams is Minister of Duffus, Spynie and Hopeman Church of Scotland.
