As 2020 draws to a close, it leaves much for us to reflect on in its wake.
This has not been a particularly happy time for many reasons. It was a year of seemingly unending economic, social, environmental, and climate-related disruptions.
We saw wildfires, hurricanes, floods, drought, and other extreme weather events that devastated communities across the nation and that took far too many lives. Homes, businesses, and communities suffered greatly … but we persevered.
We saw racial tensions and other social unrest that brought unparalleled violence to many of our cities and towns. But we came together to deal with the injustices.
We witnessed political discord and division, which challenges our confidence in our democratic institutions. But we are reaffirming the foundations of our union.
But most challenging was the utterly unexpected pandemic caused by the COVID-19 virus, which has caused unprecedented medical, social, and economic upheaval around the world.
The rapid spread of this highly contagious disease has inflicted profound psychological pain on many people creating a plethora of mental health consequences: sleep disturbances, feelings of uncertainty, anxiety, distress, and depression.
The broad adoption of restrictive measures, under the assumption of controlling the spread of the virus, inevitably resulted in psychological as well as financial costs that will indeed have long-term psychological effects on us all.
Many of us, sadly, have felt the pain from the loss of a family member or a friend. And the grieving continues even as potential vaccines are being developed and approved for distribution.
We are being challenged from so many directions! Factories closing, businesses shuttered, jobs lost, and incomes and savings destroyed.
But we are surviving. And the key to our survival is that we come together to support one another and to do whatever is necessary to overcome the dangers and the suffering.
Our political leaders at the local, regional, and national levels responded to the many challenges that came with the pandemic, and they made the hard decisions that were necessary. They were not always the best decisions – but we acted nonetheless to meet each and every crisis in order to keep our society functioning.
As we look forward to the new year, we do so with hope and determination to rebuild better, to rebuild stronger, and to build and rebuild for resilience.
Of course, changing the calendar does not reset the reality that we have faced this year, and which will follow us into 2021.
For those of us engaged in building the cities, towns, and communities that sustain our way of life, the pandemic did not stop us. Our work continues day and night – building a more resilient future.
What the year 2020 has done is to reinforce the importance of resiliency, which is at the heart of our mission.
But what the pandemic has shown us is that resiliency is more than making our buildings and infrastructure more durable in the face of extreme weather events.
Resiliency means more than bricks and mortar. It is also a state of mind, and the resolve to be better prepared, and to be less vulnerable to the shocks that shook the foundations of our economy this past year.
The pandemic will leave a mark on how we work, learn, play, and develop as individuals, as companies and as communities going forward.
But most importantly, it has brought us closer together.
Thank you all for your support, understanding, and willingness to do what was necessary to protect your loved ones, your co-workers, your communities, and our way of life.
This very trying year has made each one of you a very special person.
