Good morning and happy holidays! Today's newsletter is going to be a little different. We're going to take a look back at 2020 and give you a few ways to rest and recharge. 

Breaking news stories will still be here next week, and so will our usual format. Until then, enjoy this special edition of Civil.

Happy holidays, from our team to yours 💜

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Roshaan Khan and Katherine Chuang

Before diving into this issue, we want to take a moment to remember the immense loss of life and livelihood this year. We’ve lived through the kind of year that’ll fill multiple chapters in future history books. The above image of Google Search Trends, for example, gives you a glimpse into the intense content those chapters may hold. We recognize your sacrifices, and regardless of what you believe, our thoughts are with you.

However, despite a debilitating pandemic that has claimed so many of us already, it's also important to acknowledge humankind’s incredible resilience. Teachers are still engaging students in virtual classrooms, companies are still operating across time zones, and vaccines are on their way in record time. There are still so many things to be grateful for.

Here’s what we mean.

• Just 11 months after COVID-19 was discovered, the FDA authorized a vaccine. Successful vaccines usually take 10-15 years to develop and approve for public use. (History of Vaccines)

• While mandatory lockdowns were extremely controversial, their positive environmental impact is clear. The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions was significant; compared to last year, air pollution in New York decreased by 50%(for example). (BBC)

• We learned that real heroes wear scrubs, not capes. Thank you, front-line responders and essential workers. (Brookings Institute)

• SpaceX launched two astronauts into space for the first time, marking the first time a private company has successfully entered the crewed race to space. (Fox 29)

• 34 million people watched Tiger King in the 10 days after its release. The memes alone were worth the price of admission. (Forbes)

• Drive-in movies are back in style! Say hello to the rebirth of the 1950’s Golden Age. (Bloomberg)

GIPHY

In the midst of a car-crash-in-slow-motion-except-you-are-in-both-of-the-crashing-cars kind of year, it’s been hard to look away. Remaining up to date on current events has been, and continues to be, very important.

That being said, it's also healthy to take a break from the news. Here are three ways to "productively" rest this holiday season.

• Reach out to a few people you love. Between stress and hectic schedules, it's easy to fall behind on maintaining certain relationships. Even if you haven't talked in a while, reaching out will probably be much less awkward than you think.
• Write down things you're thankful for. It’s been easier than ever to allow negatives to overshadow the positives in our lives. However, studies have shown that increased gratitude can improve sleep, lower stress, improve relationships, and even decrease materialism.
• Reflect on the past year and look forward to the next. What did you do well? How will you improve next year? This shouldn't be a chore, but instead, a time to give yourself a pat on the back and set manageable goals.

Try the three things above, or don't. It's your time, so feel free to do whatever is best for you!

Finally, we leave you with our ten favorite videos of the year. 

• The dogs of 2020 (Youtube)

• Acts of kindness 2020 (YouTube)

• Best news bloopers 2020: (Youtube)

• Most popular TikToks of 2020: (Youtube)

• The cats of 2020 (YouTube)

• Most beautiful places in the world (YouTube)

• Squirrel masters ninja obstacle course (YouTube)

• The Swish Machine: 70-step Rube Goldberg Machine (YouTube)

• An impossible and incredibly impressive shot in something called, “The World Indoor Bowls Championship” (Twitter)

• Man pleads with Lincoln, NE City Council: Boneless wings are “just chicken tenders” (Mashable)

Have a safe, restful, and civil weekend. You deserve it!

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We'll see you next Wednesday!