The new year has already arrived in cities east of my home in Jersey. Our home is prepping for our gathering of four people. Just our small domicile. The unusual nature of this year easily lends itself toward the negative. This year’s post will instead be one of counting the blessing of 2020, the accomplishments, the joy. I spent some time scrolling through my last year of Facebook posts. I laughed hysterically and cried a bit. It was a memorable year. It was a good year.
- I am leaving this year with all the same people that I entered the year. I haven’t lost any immediate family or close friends this year. I am well aware of this blessing.
- As a teacher, I never thought I would get the chance to try work from home. This year was my. year. While I can’t say I’m a fan, at least I got to try it out.
- I spent less time in bras and more time in leggings this year than any other year since puberty.
- I started playing the piano again, and have logged quite a few hours of practice. Results are not important. (Okay, the results haven’t been great, but it’s a marathon not a sprint.)
- I took up baking. I’ve made homemade cannolis, croissants, cupcakes and other treats entirely from scratch. Also, pasta and bagels from scratch.
- I have discovered that I’m more of an introvert than I ever realized, and it turns out not being allowed to see other people was a fantastic excuse to get out of seeing people. If I saw you this year, feel special.
- I completed the final draft of a collection of short stories. (Yet to be published.) I also completed the first draft of a full length novel, submitted it to my editor, and began the second draft. My New Year’s Eve resolution for 2020 was to be completely finished with my novel and already have it published. I didn’t achieve that goal, but rather than be discouraged by missing the mark, I can be proud that I still accomplished giant steps towards it’s completion. By then end of 2021 I should have it published.
- This year was a year of growth. I learned how to use a lot of technology (scanners, document cameras, QuickTime, Zoom, and Google Classroom to name a few). I also put on my big girl pants and went into the creepy, bug filled crawlspace under our house. Sure it was only for a few minutes, but I survived.
- I kayaked with alligators in the Everglades, ate breakfast at a Cuba bakery in Miami, touched the Wagg building (build by my great uncle) in West Palm beach, walked around the old section of St. Augustine, and survived a trip to Florida without once getting covered in sand.
- I attended my last Back-to-School Night as a parent, and I was able to do it from the comfort of my home and dressed like a duck, so win-win.
- I have discovered that wearing masks keeps my nose warm and is especially helpful in keep people you don’t want to talk to from recognizing you in grocery stores.
- I discovered the amazing joy of the shower beer. Of course I don’t like beer, so mine is a ginger beer. It’s a rare after work treat.
- More than any year, I am glad I was a teacher during 2020. Was it hard? Yes. Was it exhausting? Yes. Was I glad I could be the person to help my students walk through these wonky times? Absolutely.
- I completed a major goal for myself: hand copying the entirety of the Bible. It took just over 4 years, and I finished it in June.
- A lot of people adopted pets this year. I wasn’t one of them. Whew!
I cried a lot this year. Tears of laughter. Tears of loss. Tears of frustration. This abundant life is not to be lived from a distance, detached from love and emotion. This year I lived and loved deep enough to hurt. This year the abundant life didn’t look like I imagined, but that didn’t make it any less good.
So, was 2020 a dumpster fire? Of course. When life hand you a dumpster fire, grab some marshmallows and make some s’mores!
Happy New Year!