CLAY COUNTY – This year has been a year full of hardships for many and in many different ways, but it’s in times like these that life lessons are revealed.

We asked Clay Today readers what they learned through the ups and down, the highs and lows, of 2020. We asked them what they learned about themselves, what they learned about their family and what they learned about anything at all this year. Many responders seem to be reeling with the political and health-related effects of 2020.

“[I learned that] people who have no training in medicine and/or politics need to keep their mouths shut about them both, and hide said mouths behind a mask,” resident Karen Fey said.

Joe Colley said he learned this year it’s not necessary for many Facebook posts to be about politics and COVID-19. Others, though, still have politics on their mind when browsing the feeds of Facebook.

“[I learned that] socialists will lie, cheat, steal and anything else necessary to stay in power,” Susan Jones said.

Clarise Keegan said she learned not to trust any kind of media, although Facebook is considered to be a form of media. And many use social media as their only news source.

Missy Leilani said she learned this year that journalists are nothing more than activists pushing a narrative, which is a painting made with quite a broad brush.

“And that the media as a whole now functions as the propaganda wing of the leftist globalist party we call the Democrats,” Leilani said.

Others used their response to the Clay Today Facebook Question of the Week to touch on more local matters.

“[I learned that] the Town of Orange Park Council needs an upgrade,” Beverly Valliere said.

Orange Park has found itself as the center of attention this year in more ways than one. Citizens clashed over the approval of the Orange Park Plaza, a large commercial project that is expected to bring new housing and new businesses to Orange Park. And just last week, a council member announced he’s suing the town’s insurance after it said it would not cover the cost of his lawsuit with two residents in the town. This prompted further dissension in the town.

Of all the responses Clay Today received on this week’s Facebook Question of the Week, none were more poignant than that of Teresa Sanday, though, as she learned something everyone deserves to learn and know.

“I love my family,” Sanday said. “And, I am forever grateful they aren’t hateful.”

What have you learned during the 2020 experience? Let us know in the comments of last week’s Facebook Question of the Week and be sure to check out the Clay Today Newspaper Facebook page to see this week’s question of the week.