Well, it’s safe to say this year flew right past us faster than we expected. In the beginning of this year, we were excited to have made it to a new decade. We thought there was nothing but greatness in store. We anticipated lots of events and lots of fun.
In reality, this year was in shambles. People died right and left. COVID made a lot of people sick and killed a lot of people. In Milwaukee, we broke a record in homicides. The US Presidential Election was something we’ve never seen. Families had to celebrate virtually for holidays this year. Everyone’s wearing masks, working and attending school from home. The list goes on.
This was a year where many people went to therapy because the amount of chaotic events that have transpired have truly been out of control. It’s been one things after another no matter who you are or where you’ve been. I can say that through it all, there’s still quite a few things to be thankful for.
2020 has forced us to really take a look at the life we live. It’s caused us to sit down with ourselves more. It’s caused us to see blessings that we’ve always had, such as health, stability, and family in another light. It’s taught us that we could be taken from this earth at any given time.
And with that, I feel there’s so many positives. For instance, because of the state we’re in, we have to focus on what matters. We have to be safe and take all precautions possible to stay healthy. Because of the state we’re in, we have to prioritize the things that matter most. Because of the state we’re in, we have to be more aware of the decisions we make.
But there’s a flip side to it all as well. We have been forced to come up with safe ways to enjoy life. We may have to travel less than usual, but we can make it up by creating fun experiences right at home. We may not be able to gather with lots of family and friends but we could still Zoom with each other and play games with one another. Even date night has had some adjustments. We can go out and do the things we want but we can create an experience that we will never forget.
The entire dynamic of school has change while being virtual but it gives us, as parents, more opportunity to be involved in what our kids are learning. It’s been rough but worth it. It’s tough, as an education professional, to encourage the kids to keep going but it’s worth it.
This year has truly been something else but all in all we are learning together. Although change has come, it doesn’t have to be bad. It can be for the better. We just have to continue to push. We have to continue to put our minds together. We have to find a way to build a new culture and a new community. We want to keep things safe and fun but we also want to prioritize our lives. Health is the number one priority and by working together to stay healthy and stay active whether in school, in the community, or in our house holds, we can make a difference in the midst of change.