Thursday, November 26, 2020

Being Thankful in 2020

 

 
As we are approaching the end of 2020, I have a lot to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day. There have been many ups and downs and all arounds in 2020 for all of us, and this year unlike most years the world has collectively suffered in ways that for most of us seemed unimaginable in our days. What we have gone through in 2020 is what we would normally read about in history books and say, "Wow, crazy stuff went on the world in such and such a year." And though there are many people in the world who have suffered things far worse than me in 2020, personally I would rate this year as being more positive than negative. Basically, I've had worse. Some highlights for which I'm thankful for in 2020 were the following: 
 
- I was always able to work when many weren't and thus pay all my bills and keep a roof over my head and completely pay off my credit card debt.
 
- In difficult times many people were still able to support and appreciate the work of the Mystagogy Resource Center.

- I never locked myself down and quarantined, but took the opportunity to travel throughout New England on a daily basis, supporting many restaurants all over by trying new places for take-out, revolving around a dozen drive-in theaters and more recently indoor theaters nightly, and exploring new places I never took the opportunity to explore in the past.

- Being completely alone like I never have been before over the course of many months helped me reconnect with myself and prioritize things I needed to, being productive and better preparing myself for future endeavors.

- I have been healthy for the most part (except for one little incident that landed me in the hospital for a few days, as well as putting on a few extra pounds due to a decrease in physical activity and eating out on a daily basis), and all my family and friends are healthy and prospering as well.
 
- Hopeful news is on the horizon with a vaccine and therapeutics to get things back to normal.

- ... and so much more.

What for many has been the worst year of their lives, for me has been good, very different, but good. I always try to make lemonade out of lemons, and 2020 was no different. Even if things were to take a turn for the worse, it is my hope that I will always be thankful and look at the bright side of everything. 2020 is for most a hard dose of reality in a fallen and broken world, but the goal is to never allow any circumstance to bring you down and break you as well. Life is a gift that should be appreciated for what it is, even when you are dealt a bad hand. Even in the worst of times, the best of times can be found somewhere as well, as long as you seek it out.

Now it's time for a rare home cooked meal with family.

Happy Thanksgiving!