Do You Deserve a 2020 Survivor Award? (Yes! Happy Holidays!)

Today I sent newsletter subscribers a special holiday greeting, which included a little souvenir: a 2020 Survivor Award.

Side note: Not a subscriber? You really should become one. In addition to special souvenirs, they get other VIP treatment, including bonus entries for contests and even subscriber-only giveaways. Visit the Newsletter page to sign up.

Anyway, I liked the sentiment so much why not share it with everyone? As well as the 2020 Survivor Award, because yes. We’ve all earned it.

Especially all the frontline workers. Who, you know what? I meant to thank in the newsletter but I didn’t, so I will here.

Thank you, frontline workers! 2020 couldn’t have happened without you!

Thank you to all of the utility workers, food processors and grocery store folks, delivery people, police and firemen, teachers, doctors, nurses, scientists… I’m sure I’m missing people. 2020 has taught me there are a lot more people that make our modern world go ’round than I ever knew. It’s all of you who this thanks is for!

The Newsletter

If you’re not a subscriber but are curious what I wrote or want to get your 2020 Survivor Award too, here it is:

Just hear those “slay” bells jingling, ring tingle tingling too

Let’s take the road before us and sing a chorus or two
Come on, it’s lovely weather for a “slay” ride together with you

Don’t worry. 2020 hasn’t turned me into a serial killer or anything…even though I’m clearly obsessed with using a pun-y word for “sleigh” in the lyrics to the “Sleigh Ride” song. (Which, apologies in advance. You may want to slay me if that tune ends up getting stuck in your head.)

So…should we talk about the elephant in the room? a.k.a. 2020.

Wow. What a year, right?

First and foremost, I hope this missive finds you well.

Second, if you’re reading this, that means you survived the wild ride this year took us on. Congrats!

And the 2020 Survivor Award goes to…YOU!

The Skeleton Crew and I feel we should all be awarded for just showing up this year. Because some days that’s all we could do, right?

This year turned our lives upside down and presented us with challenges we never could’ve ever dreamed of. (Hoarding toilet paper? Really? Talk about a shitty premise for a real-life horror story!)

So make no mistake: whether all you could do was hang in there or you grabbed the bull by the horns and rose to every challenge and obstacle 2020 threw in your way, you slayed this year. (Ah ha! You see what I did there? I snuck that “slay” theme right in there, didn’t I?)

We’re no graphic designers, but ‘tis the season of giving and we wanted to gift you with a little memento. Here it is:

5 things to do with your medal

If you’re like, “Well, that’s sweet, but what am I supposed to do with that?” the Skeleton Crew has some suggestions:

1. Save it on your mobile device to show off to whoever you want, whenever you want.
2. Pass it along to friends & family who helped you survive this year…or who you think it might make smile.
3. Save it and share it on your socials.
4. Print it out and pin it to your refrigerator, laptop, or anywhere else you may want to keep it to remind you that you’re a tough cookie.
5. Print it out and burn it as an effigy to rid yourself of all of 2020’s cooties and to open yourself up to better things to come in 2021.

Whatever you decide to do with your medal, it can’t be emphasized enough: I sure appreciate you.

As John Wayne once said, “Courage is being scared to death —and saddling up anyway.”

So giddyup! We don’t know where we’re going or what’s ahead, but we survived 2020 and are tougher and wiser for it.

From our Crew to yours, Happy Holidays!

Check-In

Which frontline workers are you grateful for this year?