Reflections on 2020

Last night we ate the last of the Christmas cookie crumbs and finished off the Christmas candy. We have packed away the ornaments and the tree. And because we knew we wouldn’t be back home for weeks, we put every Christmas decoration away much earlier than usual.

Then we got in the car and drove. And driving has given me time to reflect on the Christmas holiday and the end of 2020. 

2020 has been a strange year. We had planned an amazing trip with friends to Australia and New Zealand for April. Our tickets were purchased, hotel rooms were booked, and the itinerary was set. Who could’ve guessed that by March we would be canceling, with no reschedule date in mind. 

Like everybody, we felt the crazy changes that covid brought to our lives. Isolating. Quarantine. Mask-wearing. Social distancing. 

We traveled less. We ate out less. We gathered with friends much less.

We took more walks. We spent more time on the lake. We appreciated the fall colors more than we ever have before (in my memory). 

I went in to work less, but worked much more - taking advantage of Google Meet and Zoom. 

I attended a lot of meetings over Zoom, and I realized that I am a “worker bee”. I don’t like small talk during meetings. I don’t like to come early or leave late because we’re visiting. I want business to be all business (with polite and friendly conversation), but come on, People! If there’s work to be done, let’s get it done, and if there isn’t, then we shouldn’t be wasting our time meeting. Sheesh!

And I learned something surprising about myself. By fall I learned that I actually was missing people. I began to accept invitations for “zoom coffee” just to chitchat. I popped in early to meeting rooms just to be able to visit. I didn’t want our book club Zooms to end; let’s just keep the conversation going.

I learned that I actually do enjoy being social. 

And when Christmas came and it was a quiet Christmas with just our kids for the first time ever, I thought it was beautiful! I stressed out less. I baked more. I completely decked out the house in Christmas, knowing I’d be taking it all down in just a few weeks. And I turned on those Christmas lights, and ate off the Christmas dishes, as often as I could. 

Tom and I participated in an Advent retreat, which lead to deep conversation and consistent prayer. We missed being with our loved ones. I haven’t seen my sister in almost a Two of our nieces have new babies and we would’ve loved to be able to see them. However, I know there are so many people who have suffered through 2020, emotionally, financially, and medically. It’s been a tough year - and to say it was wonderful for me minimizes the challenges others have faced. 

And now we turn the calendar and it’s 2021. A new year, full of hope! Will everything be perfect this year? Of course not.

Will 2021 be better than 2020 was? Hopefully, but not necessarily. 

So I will take the lessons I’ve learned from 2020:

• Enjoy the chance to socialize.
• Appreciate my friends.
• Continue to be active outdoors.
• Hold my loved ones near.
• Pray constantly.

And keep hoping.