Editor's Note:
Mari Rodríguez Ichaso has been a contributor to Vanidades magazine for several decades.
Specialist in fashion, travel, gastronomy, art, architecture and entertainment.
Film producer.
Style columnist for CNN en Español.
The opinions expressed in this column are solely his own.
Read more opinion pieces at cnne.com/opinion.
(CNN Spanish) -
The year 2020 ends
—
finally! —And we do not see the moment when —with the arrival of vaccines— little by little a minimum of normality returns to our lives.
The most optimistic say "Solavaya 2020 and welcome 2021".
I say that turning the page with new hope is, without a doubt, the best attitude!
It's just that 2020 has been a terrible - and tragic - year for millions around the world!
Overnight, our lifestyle changed radically to the point that my own 9-year-old granddaughter recently told me, "I no longer remember how I lived without masks."
Words like "confinement", "lockdown", "de-escalation" "antigens", "physical distance", etc, are part of a new language.
And feeling like "criminals" when we forget to put on the mask - and suddenly we have entered the supermarket - is a very strange feeling.
What a strong feeling of guilt!
OPINION | 2020 does not end on December 31
Having new obligations to ourselves — and to others — is now essential.
And one of the most positive things that we have integrated into our way of living: being disciplined and considerate.
By having more free time — since working from home sets new hours and we have more time for ourselves — we have begun to read more and eventually enjoy long-awaited books and articles.
The same happens with the pleasure of watching movies, documentaries and TV series (many wonderful) that we had ignored.
Confinement was positive about this possibility!
And when we share it "as a family" it can be a very beautiful moment.
And we even notice that we are talking more with our partners, children or grandchildren, opening the door to a warm and new communication.
And —more deeply— this emotional and physical loneliness (even though we are surrounded by family at home) has helped us to get to know ourselves better and to know better the people who are part of our daily lives.
A very comforting experience that has personally helped me a lot.
However, I must confess that I am crazy to be able to travel freely - and, although I watch many travel documentaries on TV, I count the days for when I can see myself in London or in the sun of Miami Beach. enjoy the adventure of a trip!
OPINION | 2020 was a spiritual spring of fragility, reunion and solidarity
In the midst of this new life, it is very nice that a greater and deep rapport between family and friends has been born.
And to understand how much I love — and that I care about — the health of my friend Tal or my friend More Than, has been a beautiful discovery in the middle of this crazy year!
And it's been really nice that we've stayed in touch with them - especially on social media, emails, and phone calls - throughout 2020.
Theaters, cinemas, sporting events and museums are not open in a large number of countries.
In many places, restaurants only allow small seating on terraces and eating indoors is prohibited (as in New York).
Large shopping centers reduce the entry of customers and stores look very empty.
All this has multiplied many times the purchases on the Internet and watching theater or concert performances - by buying virtual tickets - from the living room of our house, and dressed in tracksuits or walking clothes!
This has brought a total change in our consumption and in the world of fashion and beauty.
Why buy anything fancy or new if we're not going anywhere?
And while we don't buy clothes or shoes, we buy all kinds of masks.
And the sale of gigantic HDTVs rose 77% between April and June!
And suddenly we also bought new laptops and tablets (their sales were up 22 and 24% respectively in the first half of the year), and more things for the kitchen, as well as new sheets, towels and decorative objects to make our houses more attractive and nice.
And all for those cooking classes we take on the Internet, just like our children do with their remote school classes.
A very noticeable change in our lifestyle.
OPINION | The covid-19 crisis gave us an opportunity for innovation and change
In short, 2020 has been a terribly fierce, cruel and unexpected year.
And — paradoxically — also the year we learned to appreciate life.
To mature.
To be less frivolous and think of others.
The year we reorganized our values and affections.
Now we are much more prepared to face 2021 with renewed strength and great possibilities.
I hope it is a good year, health and hope return!
