Farewell 2020

2020. You were not the year we planned. Yet in so many ways, you were the year we needed. We found ourselves isolated from friends and family. We had to learn to maneuver through Shelter In Place, distance learning & working from home. My kids never got to say goodbye to friends. Ultimately, they had to say goodbye to their school which was a hard thing to do.

In return, we found ourselves going back to basics. We opened the doors of our home and they learned to enjoy childhood through natural discovery, unplugged entertainment, and unbridled imagination. The kids learned to ride their bikes. We went on more hikes and explored new trails. The smell of fresh baked cookies and the chill of ice cold lemonade were constant through the hot summer months. As summer came to a close, I found myself reveling in the fact that the kids were enjoying my childhood. The nostalgia was heart warming & fulfilling as a parent trying to survive in 2020.

As for myself, I found myself enjoying our home more. We purged, re-decorated and found joy in the spaces we brought to life. For once, I managed to get the garden to grow. And to the surprise of everyone, discovered a love for house plants. The obsession has since grown, but has provided me with unexpected joy in the comforts of home.

While working from home had its own set of challenges, it also provided me with an opportunity to find that elusive “balance” in life. While it was harder for me draw the boundaries of work and home & my hours were longer than a normal day – I still had more opportunities to find quality time with my family.

Ultimately, 2020 allowed our family to simplify. Stripped down we realized we didn’t need much and got rid of a lot of excess. So while the year has had it’s struggles, the good far outweighed the bad.

Looking Ahead to 2021

For the new year, I hope to continue on the simplified path. Maybe I’m eyeing retirement more & not searching so much for the next big thing. Who knows? But I hope to continue enjoying my time with the family and spending less time getting pulled into so many directions.

So Thank you 2020 for the lessons you gave. Here’s to 2021!

How was your 2020 and what are you looking forward to in 2021?