Clearer Vision

It’s the last day of 2020.  My husband and I decide to change up our usual walking routine and opt for a small “mountain” hike near our house.  And of course, Blue is with us. 

After a lovely morning visit to the summit, we work our way down the trail and into our day. 

About halfway down, we pass a couple who are climbing up.  In that friendly, yet still awkward way of 2020,  we step to the side of the trail to let them pass.   As they slowly climb by, jabbing their walking sticks firmly into the leaves and pine needles, I hear the lady say “Goodbye 2020!”  with a sarcastic, exacerbated laugh. 

A few steps further down I confess to my husband.  I have enjoyed 2020!

I actually think it has been a good year. 

I spend these last moments and hours thankful for the many gifts of a seemingly crazy year.

Now, don’t get me wrong.  I do not mean to minimize the struggle and heartache of COVID.  I do not want to skip over the civil unrest.  And I won’t even mention politics. 

But here is the deal.  Life will ALWAYS give us hard.  Every year brings with it unexpected challenges, sickness, death, national and even international unsettledness.  

As I look back on this year, I smile to realize how 2020 has definitely lived up to it’s name - or in this case, it’s number.  

The challenges of this year; quarantine, new rules, new routines and new opportunities, have also made many parts of my life very clear. 

As more and more “urgent” events were removed from my calendar, the important came into focus.  Time to myself, time with my family, precious moments with friends when it was possible.

I learned to get out regularly and enjoy the beauty and change of nature. 

I lived a “do over” year with my Youngest who will head off to college next fall. 

I reconnected with my own siblings and cousins thanks to Zoom. 

Much of my life was distilled down into how I spent a single day.  One day at a time. And I believe over the course of the past year, I have learned to spend them well. 

As this last day of 2020 inches toward a close, I am grateful. 

Grateful for my clearer vision. 

Grateful for the time and opportunity to live with this clearer vision. 

Grateful for the clearer vision I will carry into this New Year.