Old Year–New Hope

OLD YEAR—NEW HOPE

I’m sure you’ll hear this over and over again this week—the horrible year of 2020 is over, and now we can return to “normal” in 2021.  Though that’s true enough, I’d like for us to look for a little bit of gold at the end of this last year’s stormy rainbow.

We all have been bombarded this past year with the doom and gloom of this pandemic and the changes it brought to our world.  But can I also remind you a few gifts it brought as well?

Yes, it was unfortunate that restaurants and theaters and arenas and events were locked down for a good portion of the year.  Recitals and soccer games and baseball practice and karate classes were cancelled.  However, because of it, children have been forced from the chaos of their over-busy schedules to stay at home with their families, forced to play with siblings instead of strangers.  Families are forced to eat together on a regular basis rather than go their separate ways.  Parents were forced to work from home, and in doing so spent more time with their kids than ever before, hanging out, listening to them, playing with them, enjoying their living legacies.  Extended families felt the absence of their loved ones and developed new ways to connect with each other, finally realizing the importance of doing so.

People have been forced to get creative with their lives and entertainment, giving them an abundance of time and opportunity to imagine and try new hobbies that they’ve put off year after year.  Adults and children are now trying their hands at sketching and painting and photography and writing and music.  New talents are being discovered for the first time.  Passions are being explored and enjoyed as they should.

If one thing the lockdowns of 2020 have taught us, none of us should ever sadly wait for that ever-elusive retirement date to finally enjoy all the gifts life has to offer.  We should treat each new golden day as if it were our last, and look forward to every new one in 2021 with a full measure of love and hope.

Happy New Year, my lovelies.  I wish you love and life and laughter in 2021 and beyond!

Best Wishes,

ADDISON CARMICHAEL