The year I've had

In a 365-day story of beauty, pain, resilience, and triumph, my year has not been much different from yours. With highs of unbridled excitement, discovery, and success, I had some good days. I gained perspective in ways I had never known, and I let go of unworthy pursuits. I lived. 

Like you, I found myself hoping for a return to normal in a year that rocked us with unexpected news of death and disaster. Amid my wish to return to this "normal," the pain of loss arrived at my doorstep, taking with it the matriarch of my family. Suddenly this widespread dismay had coiled itself upon the chambers of my heart as I sat in silence and awe of its power. There's an absolute stillness that comes with loss. Yet in it, I found joy and fond memories. I found hope. 

If I have learned anything from this year, it's that we cannot limit our experiences to any period or single event. Hope allows us to look beyond the present moment. It teaches us that love and life can be both dismal and rewarding. It reminds us that the bad moments don't disqualify the good ones. And that the hopelessness we feel is merely temporal because here we are, having survived what we thought to be the worst. 

The year we've had is a mere collection of survivor stories, and tomorrow just means we get to keep telling them.  

Happy 2021!