2020 is quickly coming to an end, and for many people, this year was particularly painful and hard.
Covid-19 has turned everyone's lives upside down. Death, illness, job loss, isolation, and a devastating political climate tore holes in the fabric of our society as we watched and were mostly powerless to change any of it.
I'm not trying to downplay anyone's struggles. I cannot know the depth of your pain, just like you cannot know mine...But I have made it a habit to always try to find something positive, no matter how small it may be, to put on as armor after a battle.
This year is no different in that regard. If I don't revel in the beauty that can come from hardship, I am doomed to keep experiencing it the same painful way, over and over again.
Our household, all eight of us, have been in lockdown since March. There have been a few moments where someone we knew quarantined, and we were able to spend time with them, but that has only happened for short periods of time. Otherwise, it's just been us and the few other safe people who are living similarly to how we are through the pandemic.
In the beginning of this year, fear was a constant presence for all of us. There were (and still are) a lot of unknowns. It quickly became clear that we could either panic or figure out a way to take hold of what we COULD control.
And for the most part... We were successful in doing that, and thriving in it.
I overheard my daughters talking about 2020 and how they've seen so much negativity about it on social media. I've never really understood the vilification that every year sees at the end of its life. Every year has had its own share of hard times and beautiful gifts.
So here is a top five list of mine:
5. I learned to garden and can food! I can't wait to pick back up in the Spring.
4. Because Covid-19 kept us all locked in, my daughter used it as a safe time to shave her head. I watched her learn to love herself even more, not because of her appearance, but because it made her realize just how little the outside of us matters.
3. I learned to be really grateful for the ability to zoom and fb call other people. I'm so lucky to still get to see my other kids, even if we can't hold each other right now.
2. We all learned some new skills! Sign language, baking, sewing were just a few of the things we all taught each other this year.
1. I got to not only spend immense amounts of time with some of my kids, and also spend time with my grandkids. I got to see many Niko's firsts and I got the pleasure of teaching Scottie how to read... And well, nothing can ever replace time with the people I love.
