Closure or New Beginning?

I know many people are happy to see 2020 end. I prefer to think of all the blessings, positive moments and good things that came from the past year. If only the negative is seen, do we really learn anything? While many have complained, I know its been a different year, there has been loss, there is fear but that is part of life. It is not the events that happen that shape us, but how we handle them and adjust our life that shapes our day.

2020 was a new way of life, full of adjustments and not agreeing with how everything was handled, I can choose to reflect on the year and see the good or the bad? My first experience being through a pandemic, or was it? I do recall hype over other viruses and scares. Maybe the year did not play out as planned, but if we adapt and learn to be creative in our thinking, anything is manageable. I have heard others describe Covid as "unnecessary deaths", not really sure when death was necessary but none of us get off the Earth alive, so those comments don't really make sense.

The shut downs cramped my travel and camping plans, we planned to vacation while kids were in school and places less crowded, so "self isolation and stay at home" was not that difficult and at times more enjoyable for peace and quiet. Goals for 2020 were 52 hikes in the year, one a week. Which my son by the way did let me know that should be an easy obtainable goal since I am retired, ok now I need to exceed my own goal. 57 hikes this year! Sometimes the hikes were creative since trails were shut down for a month, thankful I live in the woods! There is always something to be thankful for, we just have to open our hearts and minds.

When it was not a hiking day, there were still daily walks, adding up 1640 miles on the treads and soul. Finished the year out with 5 miles today and love walking my road in the forest. But, not being able to go shopping in the midst of the shut downs, on line ordering became a new route. Not being a big shopper, this was easier but I prefer to shop local and support businesses. Continuing to count the blessings, with every life that leaves the Earth, it is to make room for new life. We welcomed our new grand daughter before Christmas, a true blessing and the best gift for the season. Life changes every day, but with faith in our hearts even on a cloudy or foggy day we know the sun came up and is just filtered by the clouds. Keeping faith, 2020 like really every year is an adjustment, there is change and there is consistency.

2020 comes to a closure and I hope everyone can look back with open heart and eyes and find the good, the blessings and be thankful to enter a new year with the same. We can not control the world around us, but we can control our own hearts and attitudes to find simple joy and things to be thankful for every day. Don't let a little rain or foggy day cloud your perception, the world is still there and the Earth is turning.

Happy New Year to my family and friends and God Bless, and God Bless America!