Welcome 2020 plus 1

We did it! We survived 2020!

If anyone ever needed proof that misery loves company I believe 2020 delivered. It sometimes amazed me to hear an individual bemoaning how hard 2020 had been on that one person. I would gently try to point out that I believed everyone had been affected in some way. But as is so often true many people seemed to find themselves alone in their misery. Perhaps my recognition of the whole world’s misery helped me to find some positives in my 2020 reality.

I don’t know anyone who would argue that 2020 is a year that we would all like to forget. I don’t think that I could have ever dreamed up a scenario in my wildest dreams or nightmares that could have predicted 2020. Can you imagine trying to sell a book or movie idea about our past year? Any sane producer would have said the story would never sell. There was a new virus ravaging China, royal drama as Harry and Megan quit the royal family, Australia was on fire, and suddenly world economies were collapsing as COVID 19 spread around the globe sickening and killing thousands. It started out seemingly familiar to the Spanish Flu. And yet here we are still wearing masks, social distancing, and praying the new vaccine will be effective against a new more contagious strain. We watched politics and racism turn American against American and the idea of a civil war began to feel very real. And while we heard tales of heroism and sacrifice from first responders we also saw the most negative side of humanity as differing opinions could find no middle ground and people found that it was more important to protect their individual rights than to be inconvenienced to help protect their fellow man.

My heart broke for children who had to be schooled over Zoom. Graduations and stock shows and weddings were taken from so many. Babies were born without even fathers being allowed to be present. People died saying goodbye to loved ones over FaceTime. I am grateful I did not experience anything like that. I tried to remind people that whatever was happening to them there was probably someone who had experienced something worse.

I was fortunate. My business is essential. I had COVID. I was very sick but I survived with no permanent issues. My daughter graduated from college in December. It was not the “normal” graduation but she did get to walk the stage.

I want to thank 2020 for the positives that it brought to my life.

I believe 2020 showed people’s true characters. I appreciate the cleansing I was able to do because of this. A lot of negativity was removed from my life.

I appreciate the time my husband and I had together. We reconnected on many levels. We found we are stronger together and I am so grateful I was quarantined with him. I found I value and appreciate our time together more than ever after having our forced quarantine earlier in the year. I frequently find myself at work wishing i could be home with him and playing with our dogs.

Because i appreciate our time together so much I found a way for 2020 to help me make changes to my business to prioritize family time and delivering the best care and service I can at work.

Maybe I learned to slow down and take a breath and really appreciate the small things around me. I learned to take awe walks. Hopefully i also learned to have more awe moments. I know I appreciate time with my mother and daughters more since I was separated from them early in the year. Every moment is precious.

I pray 2021 helps us all to return to some sense of normalcy. I hope our country can find healing. I hope we can remember how to interact with one another. I miss shaking hands, giving hugs, having personal interactions. It will be strange when it returns. I don’t believe it will happen soon. It may not even happen this year. I hope 2021 will find a return of kindness and love for our fellow man. I am still trying to make lemonade wherever I can from 2020. Remember. We are all in this together. You are not alone. Celebrate! We made it through a year no one could have predicted. We’ve got this!

HAPPY 2021! Use that 20/20 vision to learn from it and let’s make 2021 GREAT!