It’s been quite some time since I penned a proper ‘column,’ at least one that wasn’t resurrected from the archives of days gone by. I suppose that 2020, while it may have provided a wealth of material to draw from, didn’t seem like a suitable year to be adding to the avalanche of thoughts and emotions—at least, not without allowing space to develop a bit of perspective.

And now that hindsight truly is ‘2020,’ what of it? Is 2021 destined to be better? Is any single year truly all good or bad, or simply a collection of days that affects us each differently ... moment to moment, one milestone at a time?

I personally know many who celebrated various achievements—buying homes, launching business ventures, enjoying well-deserved promotions. And let’s not forget those who marked weddings and engagements, births and baptisms. For them, and countless others, 2020 was a year to be grateful.

While the rest of the world feverishly wished time away, there were ample reasons to give pause, and thanks. Perhaps this is the greatest lesson to take with us into the new year. Regardless of the hopes and dreams of better tomorrows which each of us holds, there is always only this moment.

2021 will undoubtedly bring its own challenges to each and every one of us. But rather than focus on fast forwarding to ‘better times’ ahead, let’s not be so quick to discard what lies squarely in front of us—for one day, these may be the good old days we long to recapture.

Published: January 9, 2021