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It is not "toxic positivity" to ask people what was good about 2020. I am appalled at a "theologian" suggesting that this is a terrible thing to ask. People are free to respond, "I can't think of anything; it was a terrible year." But -
to argue that an invitation to find ONE good thing in an entire year is somehow erasing pain or ignoring suffering is patently ridiculous. In the depths of sorrow + grief, humans have always looked for moments of beauty + meaning -
To encourage each other to remember the bright spots, the unexpected laughter, the music or artwork or encounter with the natural world or the spiritual moment of grace is hardly toxic. What IS toxic is a commitment to the interpretation of an entire year as unabated misery
For thing, to discourage a recollection of a painful time that includes moment of joy or delight is to perpetuate a lie. NO ONE had an entire year bereft of any light moment. Did you have a good meal? Did you laugh once? Sure you did. Did you watch a cute puppy video? Of course!
Did you have a conversation with a friend that lifted your spirits? Did you watch a sunrise or a sunset? It is not healthy or psychologically sound to berate people who appreciate hearing about grace moments. This is stingy and self-centered counsel.
Toxic positivity is a reality. It happens when people refuse to engage with pain, respond to suffering with cliches and abandon the depths of the human experience in favor of sunny bromides. Asking people what was good in 2020 does none of those things. It acknowledges reality:
that even in the midst of terrible loss, fear, privation there were almost certainly reasons for celebration. Religious people do not counsel turning away from or denying this eternal truth. /sermon
