And here we are...

Today is Wednesday, November 18, 2020, and I feel sad. 

I've been feeling sad for a while now. Not depressed. Not miserable. 

Just sad.

I don't think I'm alone in feeling this way. I recognize that a lot of people feel sad.

We have a lot to feel sad about, both large and small. On a grand scale I feel sad when I think about how divided we are as a nation. I see it even with friends, and I know some of them don't understand me, and I don't understand them. I see it with covid-19, although it hasn't directly affected me in large ways. I see it with cancellations and closings, with mask-wearing, and with the lack of gatherings. We spent Easter alone, attending masses online. Now we're going to do that with Thanksgiving, and then perhaps with Christmas? I miss seeing my family, people I love. I miss hugs. 

It's a lot to feel sad about. 

Yet, I'm tired of being sad. There's too much of it around me, and I just want to see hope. I want to see joy. 

Now this part is scary, because I'm really bad at starting something new and following through with it! But I need to find hope and joy again. So I'm going to write about it. Over the next 6 weeks I'm going to look for HOPE in everything. And I'm going to write it all down so I can look back at November and December of 2020 and not say that it was depressing and that I was miserable, but instead say that I felt joy and hope even in the midst of the toughest times. 

And if you want to join me on this journey, please do so. In my heart I believe there is much to be hopeful for. In my heart I believe we should live with joy. 

Let's begin.