This year is drawing to a close, and so it is time to think about the next. Let’s not fool ourselves: the challenges of 2020 are not just going to disappear as we turn to 2021. But a new year always comes with an opportunity to set an intention, and I would like to suggest we set an intention together:
Let’s make 2021 the year of engagement!
If 2020 has shown anything, it’s that the world has a ton of problems. But it has also shown that we can solve them. How do we solve them? By actively taking part in finding a solution. In this post, I want to give some suggestions on how every one of us can do that.
Engage with politics.
What is politics if not the art of convincing others of your ideas? If you ever had an idea about how something could be improved, then start talking about it! From whether or not your community should build more playgrounds, to how foreign aid should be distributed – all of it is politics.
Politics is done by getting active and outspoken about the things that matter to you. A democracy depends on its citizens engaging with it. Don’t deprive your democracy of your voice!
Engage with your community.
Everyone has a community. The year 2020, with its lock-downs and quarantines, has shown how important these communities are. Communities can be based on where you live, but they can really be anything you identify with.
Thanks to the internet, location is secondary. What isn’t secondary is you taking an active role. Communities don’t build themselves, so join in and get building. Why be content with talking about your values when you can live them every day?
Engage with the environment.
Protect a nest of turtle eggs, get a plant, go out and take walks in nature – there are countless ways of engaging with the environment. Going out and getting in touch with what is around us not only grows our empathy for other living things, it also deeply benefits us as individuals. Next year could be when you feel connected to everything again – and the best way to do that is to actively go out and touch it.
Help bring back the turtles by sponsoring a nest. Thank you very much!
$10.00
Engage with yourself.
Isn’t it weird how easily we can completely neglect ourselves? Sometimes it happens on behalf of others, but more often than not it is just because we simply forget that we have needs, too.
When is the last time you checked in with yourself? Did something to support yourself? Chose to scrap the distractions or excuses and give yourself some space? Why not start 2021 by respecting who you are just a little bit more?
These are just suggestions, of course. The point is: People giving their active attention to things makes the world better. What do you want to give your attention to in 2021?
Happy New Year, everyone!
Markus + Micah 
Happy New Year! Nice post for welcoming 2021.😍
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HI both, Happy New Year. The year got off to a bad start with the ruckus in the USA. Let’s hope this will be a turning point and everyone will start to engage positively as you have suggested.
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It has been a rough start indeed. There is a chance things will change for the better though – and no matter what happens elsewhere, we can always use our own power to engender positive change in small ways, no?
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Absolutely, Micah. I have mentioned your turtle nest community service scheme in my latest post. I hope it brings a few people your way.
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Oh, thank you very much. Thank you for supporting the turtles!
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My pleasure
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I love the intention word of “engagement” for the new year! I especially like the idea of engaging with the environment and ourselves more. What a great idea, thank you for sharing!
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Thank you for your comment! And all the best with putting your intentions into practice.
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Many thanks, Markus +Micah, for your kind words! Oh yes, I’m looking forward to a reasonably sociable and cultural life again, when we can enjoy at least some of the things that are currently “on hold”.
I wish a smooth, joyfull, healthy and very happy new year to yo too.
Rosie from Germany….❄️⛄ ❄️❄️
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Very true. In the meantime, maybe there are ways to adapt so that some elements of a reasonably sociable and cultural life can continue despite the current situation? After all, if there is one thing we humans can do, it’s to adapt!
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😍 That’s also my opinion, Markus + Micah.
Rosie from Germany
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I’ve definitely been focusing on community much more over the last six months – lockdowns have made it hard on local businesses so I’ve been making extra effort to support local restaurants and businesses. Also contributing to food banks – I know I can do more.
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These sound awesome, James. Our efforts really make a difference. Reaching out to our local community makes it easier. What we do has a direct impact and we can see it immediately. All the best to you!
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I love this! I do feel like I have more time to take walks outside in the morning and evenings instead of sitting in my car on a commute to work, which allows me to connect more with the environmental 🌲
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That is a great example of adapting to changes in a positive way! I’ve also been trying to take more walks. It’s been met with varying success, but every time it worked out I was glad I did it.
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A great and very important message – all of it, from politics to engaging with ourselves! I have actually made an intention to be more conscious of the environment and more vocal of what I believe in this new year, especially when it comes to the planet and giving back to people that were not as lucky as I was! Thanks for sharing, it is very inspiring to start the new year on such a positive and encouraging note 😊 And happpy new year to both of you!
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Thank you, a Happy New Year to you, too! That is a great intention to begin the new year with. Do you already have an idea about how you will put it into practice?
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Thank you! For the environment I want to reduce the amount of waste I produce and try to shop more local and in more ethical shops. I’m also planning to find a charity or association to donate to, I’d love to find one that helps young girls with their education and empowerment!
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Those are great ideas that can make a big difference! Wishing you all the best with putting them into practice.
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Politics is a sore point for many especially in the UK and USA. I hear you with making a effort to connect more. And also adapting to sudden changes. I am trying to connect with nature more, by doing regular walks in a local park nearby me. They is going to have a small beehive area in the spring, and other activities in the year when the weather is better and no lockdown restrictions. Great read.
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Thank you! And yes, you’re right. The danger with politics being a sore point is that it can prompt us to connect less – when it should arguably be a cause for us connecting more. It seems you found a great way to connect, despite the difficult times. Keep it up!
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Thank you
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Wow, when you mentioned politics, I thought you were going to discuss voting. I LOVE that you took it further and shared your ideas about engaging with our communities and working together to solve problems. I guess I most enjoy engaging with my community every weekend when I volunteer with a local therapeutic horseback riding center. Also, I must add, I’m a little jealous of your turtle encounters!
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Haha, it’s certainly nice to have turtles around, but I’d also love to see what getting to volunteer at a therapeutic horseback riding center would be like. From how it sounds, it seems like a great way to engage with your community!
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What a wonderful message for the start of 2021. I admit 2020 has exhausted me so this is such an important reminder to never get tired to connect and engage. Happy new year to you both ❤
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Thank you, a Happy New Year to you, too! And yes, one of the reasons why I wrote this post is that when I feel exhausted and like doing nothing all day, the best thing I can do is to go in the opposite direction and engage – with whatever is available right now.
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I love that your post began with setting an intention – more meaningful than a I resolution. Thank you for the engaging post. 😄 Happy New Year!
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Hehe I see what you did there. Thank you, Michele, and a Happy New Year to you, too!
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I love this. It’s so easy to sit back and be a bystander or critic. We all need to embrace life, get off the couch and make a difference.
For, me I look forward to continuing to engage in my lifelong learning journey. I learn a LOT from blogging, and will continue to do so. I’m also taking an online Plain Language program through Simon Fraser University. I’ve set a goal to complete three more courses this year. What I learn there will help me in my “day job” and with my blog.
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It’s great how you are creating synergies between the different aspects of your life! Here’s to tackling those goals, one day at a time.
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Such a great post and very fitting. I personally want to give more attention to my family. It’s something that 2020 showed me I need to do more of. I also want to start helping the needy a whole lot more. It’s something I was raised to do but. It seems to have just drifted away.
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Those are some great intentions to enter 2021 with! It is amazing how much of a difference even changing some small things can make, no?
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I loved that you say engage with yourself: if we start by loving ourselves, I am sure the rest of your points will follow almost automatically!
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Well said! Few things are as powerful as leading by example, no?
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100% agree!
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This is a nice, energetic post to start the new year. Being engaged in life is the only way to live. My number one focus is to take care of my 98 year mother as best as I can. She lives in assisted living, but there is still much I can do. Then there’s the rest of the people in my life who I love, and then all my passions – travel, reading, nature, being creative, writing, my home. Your blogs always make me feel optimistic and gives me ideas and energy. Thank you, and happy engagement in 2021!
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Thank you Betty, it really means a lot to hear this from you! It is super inspiring to see how actively you seem to engage with everything around you. Keep leading by example, and a happy 2021 for you as well!
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How exciting! What a great idea! I kinda feel like 2020 was a big year of engagement and hope to continue with it, although who knows in what form? This post will especially speak to those parts of ourselves that might want to cocoon and stay hidden. But there’s so much we can engage in–even from our small houses.
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Very true, Kathy! Arguably, in times like these, it is particularly important to engage as much as we can – and as you say, there are so many different ways to do it.
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Love this article❤️. 2021 will bring more prosperity in our life😊
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Thank you! Although I will suggest this: Let it be you who brings more prosperity into your life in 2021 – exactly by being more engaged with the things that are important to you.
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Agree on making a better effort to connect with ourselves. Politics is compromised in my opinion, I’m not sure how much change can be affected from any political platform, as we’re essentially dealing with modernized fascism by my observations. But there is a lot of change needed in the political arena everywhere. I think we’re going to find that the lion’s share of the burden of responsibility is on the individual, and that also means going against the law because law isn’t necessarily justice.
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Yes, it is important that we take the responsibility we are able to take. And I agree that the best way to do this is to start with ourselves. Still – a system is determined by the people who make it up. So you could argue that especially in politics, the worse it gets, the more important it becomes to engage with it.
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I was just telling a friend that I intend to love myself a bit more this year, but I like how you have called it an “engagement” with self. 🙂
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That’s a great intention to go into 2021 with!
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Thank you! 🙂
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