2020: The Great Detox

Here we are, nearing the end of a year that has felt like an eternity. We made it. Together.

Traditionally, the end of a year is very symbolic but this year has been historic.

In one year, the world has been challenged with an uproar of events. We began this year with the Australian bushfires, lost the legendary athlete and icon, Kobe Bryant, to a horrific accident, the president of the United States faced an impeachment trial, Harvey Weinstein was convicted, proving to be a watershed moment for the #MeToo movement, the world shut down in what felt like a matter of seconds due to an uncontrollable, deadly virus, triggering a global recession, inspirational demonstrations across the world vocalized the need to end police brutality and racial injustice, a massive, deadly explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, millions of acres from California to Washington erupting in flame, the passing of the influential Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the iconic guitarist, Eddie Van Halen, losing his battle to cancer, and last, Joe Biden becoming president-elect of the United States.

As I reflect on these events I cannot help but feel sadness and loss for a number of reasons. Yet, as an optimist, I believe the new year can bring healing and growth.

I have made the decision to view this year as an opportunity for detox, guiding all the “junk” of our lives to surface, while forcing society as a whole to address the issues head on before starting fresh and new.

Through this viewpoint, I have termed 2020 as “The Great Detox”.

Personally, 2020 has been an incredible year of self awareness, self discovery, as well as an opportunity to take risks. What began as the slowness of quarantine, the uncomfortable moments of silence, resulted in allowing myself to see what was valuable in my life, personally and professionally.

Although I have always been a big fan of change, changing up your business is never an easy thing to do, as there are many moving pieces keeping your business running. If you change one aspect, you must change another.

The unrequested disruption, the forced break of routine in addition to the slowness of quarantine, provided me the opportunity to make the desired small shifts in my career. I narrowed down what it is I really want for my firm and what I envision BYoung Design becoming in the next five, ten, twenty years.

This opportunity to be honest with myself and my goals has allowed me to gain a more detailed, narrow understanding of what I want to spend my time and energy on. As of this year, I accomplished one of my longest goals and am officially a licensed architect, meaning BYoung Design is now an architecture firm.

While I have achieved this goal, 2020 has given me a new perspective of the kind of architect, and woman, I strive to be. I have taken on new projects, like Design Create Inspire, which although have no monetary benefit at the moment, has fulfilled me in other ways, providing happiness and human interaction in a time of forced isolation. The conversations I have been a part of have sparked creativity and passion, ultimately leading to new business ideas.

This mindset of filing your life with nourishment has sparked passion in many, igniting a great awakening. People all over the world are being forced to change their lives, learning the value in finding out what it is that activates love and joy in your life, which has in turn created a time of compassion for others to change and pivot the direction of their lives.

The pandemic has forced society to think differently, to innovate, as well as valuing the importance of flexibility. While many may call me an extreme optimist, I choose to view the global pandemic as an opportunity. Without this mindset, the past twelve months can seem very bleak.

This mindset took time to achieve, but I have learned that teaching yourself to view difficult opportunities as an opening for education will bring incredible things.

I understand that many of my listeners are here for business and design tips, but I believe an individual's mindset is the key to success, in and outside the workplace. I hope these conversations bring you value and encourage you to break through the limiting beliefs that society has created for you, specifically in 2020.

As 2020 comes to a close, I invite you to reflect on how the events of this year have educated you or provided you with an opportunity you may not have otherwise taken. Despite the many lows, this year has been an incredible year, one that will be talked about and learned from for generations to come.

We have the choice to view each opportunity from different perspectives, I choose the optimistic route and I invite you to join me.