Yikes, what a year. We can’t pretend that millions of people around the world don’t suffer consistently throughout their lives. But what we can agree is that 2020 has been a shit year all round. Whether it’s been the loss of a job, isolation, physical or mental health issues, we can collectively say that this year has been unprecedented. Yes, coronavirus wasn’t the only thing to happen in 2020, but my word was every single day led by it.

I’ve had a tough year. Not only have I struggled with my mental health, but I’ve also had a renewed disappointment in the society we live in. I won’t get into the rest, but believe me - choosing to write an article about the good that has come out of this, a hell of all years was a challenge. I’m also a self-proclaimed pessimist, so while I tried - you’re best to be prepared for the glass a quarter full kind of vibe.

But here it is. Five good things to come out of 2020:

The divide in America has never been so prevalent as it has since Trump was inaugurated into The White House. While I’m not from the U.S.A, his venomous, hate-filled four years as “President” to the white supremacist, right-wing percentage of the states has devastated marginalised people’s rights and safety since the moment he went on his rampage. Seeing Biden win was probably the biggest highlight of the year. While I don’t believe Biden will fix it all, the day Trump’s fake-tanned, immoral, reprobate, nefarious arse is kicked out officially will be one worthy of history and should become a public holiday in my opinion.

There's a myriad of opinions when it comes to coronavirus. But no matter whether you’ve taken to wearing everything but a hazmat suit, you’ve taken to the streets on anti-mask protests, or you sit somewhere in between, the pandemic has brought an opportunity for reevaluation. My dad has lived in Switzerland for over 10 years and I’ve never made the short trip to visit him. When the first lockdown began, we started having weekly calls, and now I feel closer than ever to him, my stepmother and my little brother. Maybe you’ve recognised the importance of your loved ones. Maybe you’ve left an unhealthy relationship. Maybe you’ve even been fortunate enough to choose a different career path. The impacts of COVID-19 have given us a lot to reflect on.

If but for a moment, and on the back of yet another murder, the world took notice of the grave injustices and unjust killings of Black people. George Floyd’s murder felt like a turning point for the Black Lives Matter movement. Like people, white people might be ready to put in the work to change. And I think some people meant it, and that still do. Statements were released, black squares were posted, and protests were marched. Most of it was performative, many marginalised people are still expected to do most of the work, and Karens are still crawling out of the woodwork all over the place so I for one am tired of remaining polite about the entire sordid affair. But I know that, while I’ll keep shouting about Black lives mattering, I won’t be forced to convince white people that they do.