Author: Mona Klausing
What do the 2020s have in store for you?
As we move closer to the two-year anniversary of the California lockdown (March 16, 2022), my family has been in some reflection about what we have learned from the past two years cut off from our extended family and friends, our day to day living utterly disrupted, and the things we have valued and prioritized under question and scrutiny. We are fortunate in that most of our immediate circle of friends and family have escaped the worst of COVID, we’ve been able to continue our work and school remotely, and we’ve maintained our overall health and wellbeing.
The pandemic has helped us hone in on what is important to us. Connections to loved ones and nature, helping those we care about, and doing work that we love. We, like so many families I know, are looking at all of the things we have accumulated over the years and have begun a major purge – emptying closets, the garage, the attic. We’re trying to eat, shop and exercise in a way that is more intentional. We take the time to call or message loved ones and tell them that they matter to us. We have also begun envisioning a more sustainable and harmonious life away from the endemic stress of the US. We hope to spend a good part of this decade (2020s) living in South / Southeast Asia and Germany where we have family and where life moves at a slower pace.
By many measurements, the US is one of the most stressful countries due to many factors including our economic and employment policies, and our cultural obsession with productivity and efficiency. The American Psychological Association (APA) released its Stress in America 2021 findings and the results aren’t pretty. And the ‘Great Resignation’ is evidence that many people have had enough and are making major transitions in their careers and lifestyle choices in the pursuit of a more balanced and meaningful life.
I find these future-focused conversations with my clients very stimulating and meaningful, helping them sort through what they are coming to know about their values and preferences. I am noticing that many of my clients are exploring options (i.e. careers, relocations, etc.) that they had never considered before.. It’s exciting to explore these possibilities and re-imagine what their lives could be like.
So my question for you is, what do the 2020s have in store for you? How will you apply what you have learned during the pandemic about what matters most to you and create a life worth living?
More on my pandemic life here.
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