We all can agree that 2020 has been a game changer and not a single one of us knew what it had in store! There has been a crazy mix of the most AWFUL circumstances that people have had to face, as well as the most AMAZING opportunities and achievements that have been presented.
Honestly, 2020 has blown my mind in too many ways.
When covid hit, I remember not worrying about it at all. I was one of those that jumped on the “it’s just a flu!” bandwagon - whoops.. It mainly bothered me that we had to reschedule, and eventually cancel, family vacations and parties with our friends. Don’t get me wrong, I was sad for those that lost loved ones to the virus, but I guess it never struck close enough to me to really hit deep. I will admit that once the toilet paper started vanishing, I got a little more worried! Not so much about the toilet paper (I mean come on, how do we think people way back in the day wiped their butts?! There ARE other resources out there people). But, I did get worried about how the world started to turn.
It was negative, it was scary, it was selfish, it was CRAZY.
Resources were becoming difficult to acquire, riots were breaking out, and people cared more about their own safety than the safety of those around them too. It was just plain SAD to experience. You would hope that in times of need, people would choose to show love towards one another - but 2020 kind of did the exact opposite to people. It was like we went from “it’s okay to have different opinions and live life how you want” to “I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT IS HOW YOU VIEW THE WORLD - WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO GET ALONG. PERIOD.” Like, what even is the world we’re living in?
I truly believe that the end times (talking about the bible here, folks) is nearing. Now, obviously God’s time is completely not like our time and no one can perfectly predict when the world will “end.” BUT, there are clues in the bible that give us an idea of what is coming. I won’t get into it now, but we started to hit a lot of those clues during this pandemic. Which man, that is SO cool and SOOOO terrifying all at the same time!! Looping back around now, it was sad to see people acting so ungodly and so selfishly instead of coming together as a community.
That’s when yet another 2020 curveball came flying in.
I remember I woke up one morning at 5am to my dad calling me - super unusual - I almost didn’t answer, but then I realized how unusual it was. He called to tell me to check the news and facebook about the fires in our HOMETOWN.. I was pretty confused by that because it has never happened here before, but sure enough there was a fire just a few miles from our home. Thankfully my husband hadn’t left for work yet, I probably would have panicked if he wasn’t there with me. So, we started packing our valuables and figured out a temporary plan for all the “what-ifs.”
All in all, I have NEVER witnessed something as stressful as these wildfires.
Not only is it stressful enough to worry about yourself and your own valuables, but then to start thinking of your family and friends you have grown up with who are ALL going through the same thing.. I never could have imagined. It was a rollercoaster of emotions for sure. Having to find somewhere to stay, not knowing when or what you’ll come back to, and wanting to help others but needing to take care of your family first.. It’s insane.
The wildfires provided us with the most beautiful experience when you really think about it. Covid pretty much didn’t seem to exist and everyone came together as a community - IT WAS AMAZING!!! The most beautiful thing was watching God work through the hands of others to help complete strangers in their desperate time of need. It was INSPIRING to see locals working the fire lines, farms opening their gates to care for animals, people donating anything and everything, and even the incredible network of people offering to go towards the fire to rescue valuables and pets.. I am seriously so thankful to have been able to experience all that.
Now we’re back to covid running the world.
I know that the majority of us thought covid would be more under control by now, but it hasn’t, and that’s really dampened the holidays for sure. As much as I missed the social festivities, it has been nice having a slow season and getting the chance to reset before the new year rings in. Last year I started setting “intentions” for myself, rather than resolutions. I feel that I have struggled with overthinking and anxiety this year too much and enough is enough! There is a ton to be thankful for and to look forward to, I don’t want to live in fear and miss out on all the positive things happening around me. In 2021, I intend to accept a slower day-to-day life, enjoy the outdoors with my husband and pups, and focus on the things directly in front of me.
2020 taught me to acknowledge the negative, but focus on the positive. What has it taught you?