A Reflection on 2020

For many it was such a difficult year that impacted lives, health, finances, faith and it truly is a historic unprecedented time and the hardest year of our lifetime collectively. My heart aches for those that were lost, those that lost someone and those that are either isolated, lonely or challenged emotionally, financially and are strained. It is difficult, and my hope and prayer is that there was silver linings, and that you experienced the love, the gifts and the comfort in the small things, because they really are the big things.

For me personally, 2020 was HARD. As I grow each year, I learn more about myself and what works and does not work for me—throw in disruption and it triggers emotions. This past year, moving to our new home was such a blessing and gift and we absolutely love it here—going from that excitement to a Pandemic was unexpected (like all of us have experienced in some way). I was just settling in and we got hit with Covid and lockdown. As a Home Body, part of me LOVED some of quarentine, I loved having my babies home (for the most part) and I loved the simplicity, the gift of time was just that, a gift. Even with the gifts, I felt isolated at different points, I missed my old life, I missed the freedom to just go out, do the things I like to do, and small things like that can take their toll on me emotionally. When we are stuck (be it at home, or with less to do) we are stuck in our emotions (that is not easy, it is hard and it is hard work which can’t be replaced by the things we tend to replace it with when we are in auto pilot). Underneath it all, was an uptick in anxiety, and when my anxiety is heightened, it invites it’s friend depression, and the past year has been a cycle of all of these things, and trying to cope, and also trying to be there for others, all the while, feeling weighed down myself. I know I am not alone, and I know so many struggle with this, and especially in a year of Pandemic we just need to give ourselves a break, when we feel ourselves heading for a breakdown (no, not the full breakdown, I would argue most of us have the breakdown which is not seen on the outside, we look fine, but we feel depleted, we are exhausted and we need rest and extreme self care). Some other things happened in the year that were a challenge, and that too made me sad, made me mad and also made me question myself and others. So, if you felt kicked down a few times, or on your knees this past year, you are not alone, I did too. However, it was not all down, there were moments that were amazing and while 2020 was hard, I know I will look back at this time as the greatest gift. I loved the time home with my kids, I loved that our schedule was less busy, I loved that I did not have to travel anywhere (yes, I am looking forward to getting back to it, but how nice to be grounded)! The being kicked, brought to our knee’s, feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, mad, sad, frustrated, it all leads to growth. These challenging things in our life are just that, a challenge, and challenges are also teachers and gifts. The question is this: what is there here to teach me?

I don’t have all the answers, but I do know that each obstacle is a lesson and an opportunity—and it is my job (and your job) to pick ourselves up and continue on our path.

If 2020 has taught us anything, it has taught us this…

—Be grateful for the gift of life, for it is not guaranteed, and life is a gift

—Be grateful for those you love, we are truly blessed with our people

—Time is precious, it should not be wasted being busy and over scheduled

—Simplicity is the key, less really is more, embrace it

—Pause, pause every day in gratitude, reflection and blessings

—Good Health is everything, lets not take it for granted, ever (self talk here)

—Attitude is everything. It’s okay to be down, but we must always look up.

—The Kindest things happen when people are kind. Always be Kind.

—The human spirit is much more powerful than the plague(s) out there.

—We need to build our work around our lives, we had it backwards

—We need to be the architects of change and of our lives.

—You are not alone, you may feel isolated in your own head, but others feel this way too, ask for help.

— Let go of what you can’ control, and take action on the things you can

—God and the Universe is with us always and leading us (as are our Angels).

It is my belief that God has reminded us and led us back to what is important. A simple way of living, being with family, being at home, having less on our schedule, focusing on the important things, keeping things simple, having conversations, perhaps going inside ourselves and seeing how over scheduled, over burdened, over taxed and over stressed we have been living. There is a lesson and a gift in all of this…. Do Less, Be More Present (write that down)!

As we had our coffee this morning, my husband and I reflected on the year. His experience was a good one, given the bigger problems in the world. I (like many times) had a balance of both blessings and burdens, and as I move into the New Year, I am taking those blessings with me, and the burdens, they can just roll off as a memory and some I can carry as an opportunity as I walk into the New Year—an opportunity to grow. What ever burdens you had in 2020, my wish for you is that you leave them behind (the ones that you can), and carry your blessings (currently disguised as burdens) with you into 2021. Cheers to abundant blessings, they are right in front of us, when we pause and look up, we see the light! XO