2020 Lessons Learned
2020: The year of a global pandemic, quarantine, hurricanes, dust storms, civil unrest, the biggest presidential election in history, and murder hornets. Looking back over the last twelve months, it’s hard to believe all that we’ve experienced as a nation. We’ve rode a roller coaster of emotions, wondered how we’re already at the end of the year that simultaneously felt like it would never end, and leaned on the smallest sparks of gratitude to pull us through a seemingly dark 365 days. The news is full of information that changes from day to day and we’re glued to our devices hoping for a change in trajectory. At times we’ve been so laser focused on all that has gone wrong that we’ve forgotten what has gone right. But, as the saying goes, there is beauty in the storm; and while there have been times where everything felt impossible, somehow we’ve found ways to see the glimmers of light.
We are a small family at CURO. Every day we’re checking in, sending funny messages to brighten the days, and looking after each other both inside and outside of business. After all, CURO means “to take care of” and is a core value we strongly believe in. We spend our days encouraging each other to find the positive in every situation, and we’ve learned a lot through all the challenges 2020 has thrown our way. Below, we’ve compiled some of those lessons with the hope of inspiring you to find your very own moments of happiness as you reflect on this past year.
Marianna
Everything we do is because we choose it and what we choose not only decides our fate, but also the fate of others. This is true of financial decisions, as well as health, wellness, and safety choices.
Don’t expect anything and appreciate everything. You never know what is going to happen next.
We are not always in control. Life is full of experiences, heartbreaks and pain. But it is also full of love, beauty, possibility and new beginnings. We have to embrace it all, because that’s what makes us who we are.
Family dinners feel even more important. We are a family that is always on the go which usually means we don’t spend as much time at the dinner table together as we used to. During this period of slowing down, we’ve had more time to really sit and enjoy each others company, and it is time that I cherish more each day.
I have the best clients. One of the founding values of CURO is taking care of our clients on both a financial and personal level. While our clients are on my mind each day, I am humbled by the amount of outreach I’ve received in return with the same care and concern for not just me, but also my staff and our well being. This is the atmosphere I’ve always strived for and I am overjoyed. I feel incredibly blessed for the community we’ve cultivated together.
Melanie
We were moving too fast! I have enjoyed slowing down and spending time with my husband and children. The lack of travel for business, working from home, kids doing home school, has all brought us closer together.
Being close to your family all the time is not always great! Finding ways for individual time is hard when you are in quarantine. Sometimes sitting on the closet floor in the dark is all the alone time you can get. Take it!
Appreciate the blessings you have today. How quickly people or things we take for granted can be gone in an instant.
Life's challenges never stop. Growth is learning how to react to them and building resiliency. Genuinely enjoy and appreciate the pauses and good times.
ALWAYS try to find the positive in a situation. At times it’s hard to think that something positive can come of a situation that feels big and scary. I promise though, if you look really hard, you can always find it.
Rachael
I wish I had deleted my social media sooner. At the end of September I logged out of all my personal social media platforms. The first day was tough, but I soon realized how often I use my phone as a babysitter for my boredom, how much I lacked presence in my everyday life, and how comparison affected my mental health.
Taking care of yourself is the best thing you can do for others. It’s easy to find ourselves on a guilt trip when we put ourselves before others. But when we’re not feeling well physically, mentally, and emotionally we can’t show up for our children, partners, employers, friends, or family the way they most need us to.
Hitting 10,000 steps greatly affects productivity in a day. I finally jumped on the Fitbit bandwagon this summer, and I notice a direct correlation between the number of steps I take and my mindset around achieving my goals for the day.
Mental health is more important than grades. I’m a mom of a preschooler and a third grader. At times I’ve forgotten just how hard this time has been on them, and while it’s important that my boys do well in school, their mental health and happiness have taken the front seat. When this is over, everyone will be playing catch up. But teaching them how to cope with and navigate uncharted territory is a muscle they will continue to build and flex into adulthood.
If you don’t love your career, quit. I know that sounds easier said than done, but if you aren’t happy with how you spend your days and the people you spend it with, consider doing some soul searching and finding where you truly belong. Life is too short to waste half of it somewhere that you hate.
Dance it out. Admittedly, I adopted this one from Grey’s Anatomy. Whenever you’re feeling down, scared, or just unsettled, blast your favorite music and get your body moving. Sing to your neighbors sitting next to you at a red light, dance with your kids in the living room, or compete for the most ridiculous moves with your partner. Trust me, it can change your entire day in just a few minutes.
Samantha
Be grateful for the things that you have and the people that surround you. It sounds cliché, but we don’t know what the future holds.
My plants prefer when I leave them alone. It turns out that even plants need alone time too. Who knew!
Be present in every moment with family and friends. It’s easy to miss the little moments, but those little moments add up to life’s biggest memories.
Being outside is incredibly therapeutic. Standing out in the sun for 10 minutes at lunch, or taking the dog for a quick walk really helps me reset when I’m feeling overwhelmed.
Our animals are our best friends. Working two jobs and going to school full time means a lot of early mornings, late nights, and more to do each day than there are hours to do it. But I take one look at my dog, Maggie, as she sleeps loyally by my feet and remember that I’m not alone and it will all work out.
Sometimes being home doesn’t feel like a break. At first, rolling out of bed and working in my sweatpants every day sounded like heaven. But I quickly realized there is a whole other level of focus, patience, and careful daily planning that also goes into a productive work-from-home day.