![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.cooking2thrive.com\/blog\/c2tblog-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/rare-steak-565x450.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nI remember the smell of the fire burning before my mom\nswitched the fireplace from wood to gas logs. Christmas never felt the same\nafter that. I remember putting up the Christmas tree and decorating it alone while\nmy parents were at work, then wrapping all the Christmas gifts for the entire\nfamily without ever peeking in the boxes for me. Perhaps it\u2019s the similarities\nbetween Christmas 2020 and many from my childhood that have taken me back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For whatever reason, everything seems to remind me of something from the way way back. A food poll published by FiveThirtyEight<\/a> triggered the memory of an oft told family story reflecting upon an incident in which a relative\u2019s girlfriend was dumped for nothing more than ordering steak well-done (with steak sauce, gasp). I don\u2019t know if that story is true or just a way to elevate the teller\u2019s and listeners\u2019 reputations as a discerning diners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What does feel familiar is a comparison<\/a> between the percent of poll respondents who said they prefer their steak medium-rare (38%) to the number of people who, according to Longhorn Steakhouse, ordered it that way from May 30, 2016 \u2013 May 21, 2017 (22%). One could argue that this is because Longhorn Steakhouse orders do not accurately reflect the orders of those polled. That is certainly possible but saying one thing and doing another also rings true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If 2020 has made anything clear, it is that as a culture we\u2019re\nmore than comfortable seeing evidence of something and behaving as if it were\nsomething else than dealing with difficult truths. Unfortunately, this doesn\u2019t\njust keep us from getting the steak we prefer, it can lead to victim blaming, risky\nhealth choices, escalating violence, political chaos, and continued social injustice.\nBecause we must first see a problem before we can solve it, denial will forever\nkeep us from making forward progress \u2013 personally, professionally, and as a community.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Denial is a powerful tool for maintaining the status quo.\nBut as 2020 has also shown us, change is inevitable. When we face change by\nholding onto the past with white knuckles, we miss the opportunity to make the\nfuture better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We already know that much of 2021 will be similar to 2020. Given that, it seems foolish to develop a long list of intentions<\/a> for the New Year. Instead, I intend to let myself see what is and face difficult truths. That is enough. From that pivot point, I can address any problems that arise in informed, prudent, and productive ways. If we use this approach collectively, we can improve all our lives. This is where I intend to put a steak in the ground (and yes, I know it\u2019s stake). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Wishing all of us the strength, clarity, and the insight to improve individually and as a whole in 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n