2020. How do I describe it?
Exhausting. Chaotic. Relentless. Surreal. A dumpster fire. Transformative. Unprecedented. Soul searching. Lonely. Overwhelming. Quarantine. Tumultuous. Pandemic. A monumental election. A devisive county. Civil unrest. Masks. Sports with no fans. Political discord. Toilet paper hoarding.
And with all of that said, our family found it to be one of our best years yet. There were so many blessings in 2020.
We connected with friends and family members in ways that we had not previously done. We enjoyed Zoom happy hours, birthday parties, weddings, game nights and family reunions. We connected with and befriended our neighbors. We even created social bubbles so that we could connect with some family and friends in-person. In a world full of social distancing, we still managed to feel connected and communal.
We were able to reconnect with nature. We hiked all over Arizona, California, Utah and Wyoming. We swam in the ocean and let our toes wiggle in the sand. We allowed one of Arizona's natural hot springs to rejuvenate our souls. We waded through cool springs and mountain lakes. We admired stunning sunrises and magnificent sunsets. And, we enjoyed daily morning walks with the dogs. I had forgotten how beautiful and amazing nature can be.
We bonded as a family. After COVID-19 sequestered us in our home, it took a while to readjust to being with each other all of the time. But after we did, we discovered that we really enjoy our time together as a family. We had family happy hours. We watched movies and constructed puzzles together. There were bike rides and road trips. Fort building and magic shows. This time allowed us to learn so much about each other and from each other. The dogs, especially, loved this newly created family time. They received more love and affection than they had ever. It was a win-win all around.
We also pivoted and persevered. When the world became volatile and uncertain, we all adapted. The kids learned how to learn online through Google Classroom. They may not have always enjoyed this new way of learning, but they continued to work hard at it and attained high grades in doing so. While Josh and I navigated a new work from home and distance learning routine with the kids, we financially thrived and achieved our annual work goals. We never would have thought that we could both accomplish this in the midst of a pandemic. We realized how resilient we all have become.
2020 was not a "normal" year. But for our family, 2020 was a blessing in disguise.
Comments