Reflections on 2020 and best wishes for 2021 from our readers |30 December 2020

‘May this coming year be different from 2020’

2020 can be described as an exhausting year. Lockdown, quarantine, social-distancing, online meetings, home-schooling. On top of that, Seychelles lived through a historic election seeing a change in power after 43 years. To conclude the year, we asked our readers to make a reflection on 2020 and share their wishes for the New Year 2021.

Daniel Hugelmann: Everything has its good and bad sides. Identify and seize the good ones. Overcome the bad with creativity and perseverance. My wish is that global and local situations improve instead of worsen. That people start to think and behave more sensibly and logically.

Marie-May Esparon: 2020 has been an eye-opener, and most of all managed to achieve major milestones. 2021 is more about consolidating what I have started. Review achievements and stay focused.

Hitcham Hoareau: I learned new ways of doing things...Easier ways and also 2020 taught me how to save money. During the partial lockdown, we spent quality time among the family members and this taught us better communication among family members. My wish for 2021 is that everything goes back to normal financially and also that Seychelles can have UNITY due to the political instability going on.

Shamira Pillay: 2020 has taught me to never give up on your dreams. No matter how many times you fall and you get back up, you are stronger than the ones who never fell. I had to learn ways to adapt to this new Covid-19 lifestyle so going through this has made me more independent and open minded. For 2021, I wish for the world to be free of the Covid-19 virus, so that we can once again live as we used to. I also hope for good health, prosperity and happiness.

Sylvie Ah-Time: 2020 = Love, forgive, learn to unlearn, personal growth, family first, clarity, peace of mind, change is inevitable, time is precious, death, and above all self-love. 2021: To continue on a self-discovery journey, be better at maintaining my life's balance, achieve my goals and aims. After all it's when my ‘life begins at 40’ (that's what they say). I wish 2021 is everything 2020 wasn't and more...in a good way....lol

Jed Doku: The year 2020 has been like no ordinary year, because of the incident of the Covid-19 virus. It has changed entirely what we have viewed as a normal way of life. The year 2020 has taught us to place hygiene on top of everything in life. And has changed the way we interact with each other because of the ease with which diseases can be transmitted. It has also taught us to appreciate people and what they do for us while they are around, because today they are here, tomorrow they are no more. For the first time, the year 2020 has also taught us the impact of diseases on economies of individuals, Nations and the world at large. My wish for 2021 is that an effective vaccine is found to mitigate the effect of the Covid-19 on what we see as a normal way of life, so life could return back to normal. The Seychelles economy has been impacted by the Covid-19. It is my wish that the current situation eases and the economy comes back to life and people get back to work. There were lots of things we wish we could have done in the year 2020 which we couldn't do. It is my wish that we are able to do better in 2021 the things we did in 2020 and do those we were unable to do in 2020.

Winifred Bella Rose: 2020 is being hailed as one of the worst years ever but for me, although it has shown me its fair share of mishaps, I have learned many things not only about the world around me but about myself. It has taught me first of all that 'the battle is real' and only the most courageous can stand to survive to the end. It has taught me that happiness comes when you face your fears, search your soul and make the adjustments necessary so your heart can be free. It has taught me that the universe, God's greatest creation, is powerful indeed and that it reflects only a fraction of God's real power...His greatness.

I have learned that real love is sometimes made known in unexpected circumstances but once you stop fighting and you lay down your guards to love, it is an experience beyond exceptional. I have learned that simple uncensored true love conquers everything beyond unconditional. Last but far from least, it has taught me that God still answers the prayers of His children and because He has chosen us for His glory in this time; He answers quickly and He gives us wisdom and discernment as we surrender to His Will. For 2021 I wish most of all that my family, my children continue to build on the blessings we have been bestowed with as we continue to strive on the road that is right. I wish God’s divine protection over my children, my family, my loved ones, my friends, colleagues, acquaintances and my enemies. I wish peace and love to my People. I wish that God will give me strength and keep me focused in the journey I have decided to undertake to fulfill the place in my heart He created to love someone special. I wish to fulfill the manifestation of God's work in my life so He will be glorified. I wish to be an even better person. More peace. More love and for joyful giving to humanity. I do not wish for 2021 to be a better year for destiny is not for me to dictate but as a humble servant of humanity, I wish that it will come armed with enough empathy and compassion for the world to share so it is a good enough year compared to 2020. One where we would have learned some lessons.

Elna WH Etienne: 2020 has been a year where it really showed me the real meaning of life. It is a year where you realise that nobody is more important than one another. Even a small flu can put the whole world on hold. It's a year to realise how precious our life is and what we have we need to value it. For 2021 my hope is to be what I want to be. Appreciate myself and work to fulfil my destiny.

Colette Brassel Servina: It has taught me not to take anything for granted and to appreciate what we have and in regards to Covid-19 it has shown that indeed we live in a global village and that being small surely has its advantages. I pray and wish for a brighter 2021 very much aware that it is going to be a rocky one but how we embrace will be an individual decision.

Elizette Racombo: I have viewed 2020 as the year where humanity has been tested to the highest level where human is concern. It has also taught me that human has no final say in everything and especially when I saw impact done on the world economy, this can be viewed as a real challenging year. But the part was the family togetherness that created during the lockdown period. I wish that 2021 will be a prosperous year and with the development of vaccine, I am looking forward to see a better year ahead.

Anora Jeannie : An 2020, nou bezwen lav lanmen, met mask e gard zistans avek kanmarad. Selman nou kontinyen kontan kanmarad. Pour 2021 mon anvi tou mon zanmi i ‘happy’ e aprann byen lekol. Mon anvi mon manmi i ‘happy’ li osi.

Sylvie Françoise: The year 2020 will forever go down as one synonymous with pain, hurt, loss and hardships for a lot of people. However, I was able to take the ‘bad’ from the situation and turn them into life-changing experiences and lessons. I am more aware about my limitations and strengths, and from that knowledge, it aided me to focus on how best I can serve humanity. Moreover, since the creation of the Facebook group ‘The Ladies of The Islands (Sey.)’, I had (and still have) a bird's eye view of the tumultuous waves that the Seychellois women are swimming against, but also, how much power we have if we foster true sorority among ourselves. My wishes for 2021 are very simple: reiterating from above, I would wish that all women empower each other on the daily. This can only happen if we come together. I might be thought of as naive or an idealist, but I believe in the capabilities of all women in Seychelles. So my wishes for 2021 is for our women to be more feminine, more self-aware, to love themselves, believe in themselves, be charitable-minded, and to never accept less than they deserve.

Stanio Sally: Generally 2020 has been quite chaotic for the most part. But I wouldn't say it was all bad as I myself have reached greater depths of self-discovery. This year has also showed me that not everything necessarily goes according to plan, hence why flexibility is an important aspect of human existence. Moreover, this year has been a much needed bridge to cross over to adulthood as I managed to finish my degree and feel I have mastered the art of numerous skills and values such as patience, gratitude, humility, meditation, leadership among many others. In a nutshell, I wouldn't change a thing about 2020 as I believe nothing that happened and is happening is a coincidence.

My vision for 2021 is quite ambitious indeed. I am opting to be more financially responsible, meaning to spend less when not necessary and give the largest portion of my income towards savings and investment. I also wish to gain a new skill in the professional landscape. I am also open to really learning how to cook. Basically, I just want a global shift in attitude and mindset following the pandemic that everybody feels a sense of accountability and responsibility.

Sasha-Lee Marivel Alis: Life is a fun yet dangerous game that you must play strategically, regardless of the cards you’ve been dealt. Whatever you give attention to in your life is what will grow. Focus fully on what you desire and you will attract it, even if it’s slow, because direction is always more important than speed. But focus on the problems by worrying, complaining or not being proactive, and that’s all your life will ever have – problems. I’ve also learned that the quality of your life is a result of what you do with what you have, rather than how much you have. Never underestimate the power of even R500 spent on the right thing, whether it’s towards your health, education, personal development, or in helping others.

My wishes for 2021 are: I hope we cultivate kindness and consideration for others. I hope we look further than the tip of our noses to see and care about what’s happening around us by taking bold actions. We must rid ourselves of comfort, complacency, and laziness because that is the stumbling block to excellence. Regardless of what happens or what we do in 2021, I hope we do it right and to the best of our ability. I will continue to work on being my best self and be there for my loved ones.

Amarah Jeannie: 2020 in fer mwan realize ki nou tou nou devret apresye sa ki nou annan e aret kontan demann plis. Mon ti pou kontan vwar dimoun kontan kanmarad e apresye kanmarad plis.

Ellie Laporte : Even with Covid-19, I have been able to complete all my curriculum for this year and did my exams and succeeded. I also had time to spend with my family and I look forward for 2021 as I am going in S1. A big year for me. Wishing you all a Happy New Year.

Compiled by Vidya Gappy