There are years. Then there are YEARS.

For most of us, the differentiating factor is individual. Job loss? Loss of a family member? Total annihilation of everything you held dear?

These things all make up a YEAR. What makes 2020 so unique is that it was one of the latter for every single person on the planet.

For the first time in…well…as long as anyone living seems to remember, we were all in it together. It was all bad, and we all dealt with it.

We saw a few dozen things we've probably already forgotten. There was Megxit, actual Brexit, that time the mayor of New York City ran for president, that time the OTHER mayor of New York City ran for president, the locust swarms in Africa…oh, just go Google it all…there was a lot.

And then there was the sea of masks, molecules, and misinformation we all mucked about in this year.

We are just about near the end. And for the first time in as many years as I can remember, we have a unique chance to do something together: learn from our YEAR.

So let me get us started, shall I? Let's take a look back at what this YEAR taught us all:

1. We should never, ever say a year can't possibly be worse than the last one.

2. The people you take for granted today may be the ones keeping the entire world running tomorrow.

3. You can do every single thing right, and things may still go wrong. That isn't your fault, and no amount of bootstrap pulling will fix it.

4. It's OK to need help.

5. It's OK to ask for help.

6. If you're in a position to help, you don't need to ask why. You need to do it.

7. The only real difference between people who work from home and people who work in offices is the work/life balance.

8. Sometimes staying away from the people you love is the kindest thing you can do for them.

9. You look a whole lot better alive with a mask on than the alternative.

10. Puppies can't fix pandemics. But pandemics can help give a record number of puppies the perfect place to call home.