26 positive things that happened this year which might stop you being so keen to 'write off' 2020
We all know how awful 2020 has been. Everyone has been affected in different ways, and some more tragically than others, but we're all undoubtedly feeling the weight of the collective grief and sadness that this year has inflicted on the world.
But while it's easy to focus on the bad - because, let's face it, there has been a lot of it - it's really important to also devote time to remembering and appreciating the good.
This year has thrown us so many unexpected curveballs, which has required an enormous level of teamwork and togetherness - both nationally and internationally - in order to get by.
So if you find yourself closing the year with a melancholic sigh, ringing in the new year with a promise to yourself that you'll 'just write off 2020', let us remind you of moments that made us feel something positive. The moments that made us proud, that made us smile, that educated us and gave us hope.
Take Marcus Rashford; the 23-year-old Manchester United star who campaigned tirelessly for free school meals for vulnerable and disadvantaged children, and succeeded in forcing the government to make a major U-turn and support his mission.
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And what about Captain Sir Tom Moore, the former British Army officer who won the nation's hearts as he raised over £38.9m for NHS Charities Together in the run up to his 100th birthday?
Even just this week, there was a landmark change to blood donation criteria which saw the government announce that the rules for gay and bisexual men will be relaxed across the UK in a fundamental shift towards recognising people as individuals.
On an international scale, the environmental impact of global movement restrictions and a significant slowdown of social and economic activities has seen air quality improved in many cities, while the brilliant Lashana Lynch landed the first ever Black female 007 role and COVID-19 vaccines were created and approved in record time.
Scroll down to remind yourself of 26 truly positive moments from a year that felt anything but...
Getty Images- Captain Sir Tom Moore raised £38.9m for NHS Charities Together and won the nation's hearts.
Getty Images- Kamala Harris became the first female, first Black, first South Asian US Vice President-Elect.
Getty Images- Due to movement restrictions and a significant slowdown of social and economic activities, air quality improved in many cities.
- Our priorities were re-established.
Getty Images- We had important conversations and continue to learn crucial lessons about the ongoing impact of institutional racism and white fragility on Black people's daily lives, and how to be actively antiracist.
Getty Images- We all remembered how lucky we are to have the NHS and came together every week to clap their service on a Thursday evening. Here’s hoping 2021 sees these health workers get the funding they deserve.
Getty Images- Weddings became more intimate and reminded us what they're really about.
Getty Images- Africa was declared free of wild polio after four years without a reported case.
- Marcus Rashford succeeded in his campaign for free school meals for vulnerable and disadvantaged children, forcing a major government U-turn.
BBC Pictures- Normal People (Connell's Chain!) connected us.
Getty Images- For the first time ever, the Oscar for Best Picture went to an international feature film (Parasite).
Getty Images- Restaurants shared their secret recipes so that we could make them at home.
Getty Images- Birthdays became less about presents and more about creative ways to connect with loved ones.
- Crayola launched a box of crayons with diverse skin colors for children to "accurately color themselves into the world".
- The government announced that blood donation rules for gay and bisexual men will be relaxed across the UK in a fundamental shift towards recognising people as individuals.
- Lashana Lynch became the first Black female 007.
Getty Images- Drive-in cinemas made a comeback.
Getty Images- Teachers finally got the public recognition they deserve.
- Scotland became the first country in the world to provide free and universal access to period products.
The White Company- Comfy clothes reigned supreme as we removed societal sartorial pressures and rediscovered the art of dressing for ourselves.
Getty Images- Vaccines for COVID-19 were created and approved in record time.
@lizzo / Instagram- Musicians used social media to give us personal concerts from home.
Getty Images- Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to prison for sex crimes giving some sense of justice to his victims.
- Joe Wicks devoted his time to keeping the nation’s youngsters fit throughout lockdown with virtual PE lessons.
Getty Images- We actually had the time to bake/read/cook/exercise.
- Careers were reassessed and horizons were broadened as many companies collectively realised the viability of remote working.
