Here’s to you, 2020. You were nothing like I thought you would be. We started out getting along so well... then you showed your true colors. On the eve of saying goodbye to you forever, I must admit I have mixed feelings about you.
In many ways you were just a deep, deep disappointment. You let me down time after time throughout the year. There were moments of profound hope along the way as we walked together through time, but too often you pulled the rug out from under us. So, in the long run, I guess I am not sad to see you go at all.
On the other hand, I know, if I'm being honest, that there will be so many things I will miss about what we had together. Even though, in the beginning, you offered so much promise and then delivered on so little, we did have our moments. And along the way you taught me a lot about myself. So, I am thankful for you because of that at least. Even as you took away so much, you gave me some unexpected gifts along the way.
You made it so hard to travel, but that gave me time to work on projects often delayed by travel. You tested my patience, but that has given me a greater sense of the importance of patience. Finally, you tried to make me lacking in trust, but that has only made me want to trust more strongly.
So, 2020, goodbye. We will never see each other again. And in spite of the good you did bring into my life, I don’t think I ever want to see you or anyone like you again. I will say thank you for what we had together that was good, or at least ended up being good, but you were not kind, and so I am glad to see you go.
So now, 2021, here’s to you. I am counting on you!
Mark Turner (aka Coach MarkT) is a Houston, Texas Metro area based Coach who is a USA Triathlon Level II and Paratriathlon Certified Coach, IRONMAN University Certified Coach,VFS Certified Bike Fitter, and Mental Strengths Performance Coach. Coach MarkT absolutely loves coaching and helping the athletes achieve their dreams. MarkT is also a US Veteran having served in the United States Marine Corps. He is a graduate of the University of Houston Honors College with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. In addition to endurance sports, his interests include history, science fiction, and cooking. He can be reached at markt@teamMPI.com.