A Reflection of 2020

2020 has been unique in many ways. It definitely has not been the year to say you achieved this goal or that goal; took the vacation you wanted and planned for, got the new job or promotion you were working toward, or now have the new relationship you were hoping you'd have (unless you managed to pull off an outdoor Covid wedding).

Looking back as we get ready to close out 2020 you'll see it has been a year when we learned to appreciate the milestones. 

• Working from home and adapting to a new schedule that involved virtual learning for your children or working at your office (often alone) and finding ways to accept the new sense of loneliness.
• You mastered zoom meetings and online family gatherings.
• You learned not to take time for granted, but appreciate the moments more.
• You may have realized and had to accept some friendships/relationships for what they were and more importantly what they weren't.

2020 has been the year when I learned to paint, people found and invested time in new hobbies, and we arranged garage and backyard socially-distanced small gatherings. Many people learned to look beyond themselves and do things not just for themselves, but for the greater good of those around them. We learned to deal with our sense of patience and understanding (or lack of) when we discovered we had to be more creative in the ways we saw and did things.

Maybe we will look back at 2020 as a year filled with self-discovery; a time when we what saw what depths of strength we really had.

Flipping the calendar to 2021 won't change life overnight - it won't eliminate any losses we've faced, lessen any grieving, or miraculously make things 'normal' again. It will be a sign that we are survivors and ready for a new year, hopefully one filled with newfound hope, resilience, and a renewed faith.

What is something you discovered about yourself during 2020?

You Can't Force Creativity

Lately LIFE has kept me busy, but then I always seem to be busy. I try to blog at least every other week, but sometimes even that is a stretch. Don't get me wrong, the ideas and thoughts are there (I have the scribbled notes on restaurant napkins and post it notes to prove it) ... it's the lack of time that can get in the way. For those that don't know, my full time job is an Administrative Associate at a church. Those in the church environment know that Advent and Lent are our two busiest times of the year; extra services and events, lots of extra prep work and logistics, calendar monitoring, setting up and rearranging rooms, extra PowerPoint presentations for the services, flower deliveries, etc. In the Lutheran church, Easter Monday is the day after Easter. For the staff that relates to a well-deserved day off. 

When I take a personal day I usually spend it running to doctor or dentist appointments, grocery shopping, visiting my mom at the nursing home, etc. Vacation days are sometimes blessed with a day away somewhere doing something fun, but this month it will be to have new windows installed at our home (which will be a really good thing). So when Easter Monday rolls around I usually try to take the day for myself; I try to make sure I have no place to be at a certain time, no one to meet up with, and no major TO DO list. Although this morning I did get all of my MUST DO items done in an hour before I left the house. I am feeling quite accomplished about that. What does the rest of my day look like? I'm not totally sure yet, I'm attempting to go with the flow (which honestly is pretty tough for me).

I packed up my bag this morning with a book that I'm hoping to finish up for a six-week book study I am starting tomorrow, along with my laptop. I have my scraps of paper with me with thoughts and titles and half thought-out blog ideas. I have the time set aside today so naturally I feel the need to commit words to my blog. But guess what? You can't force creativity. Just because I have the time available doesn't mean the best blog posts will take shape, so instead I will write about where I am at ... right here, right now. And that is okay too. Because what I am writing is real and exactly where I am at this moment. The great ideas? They'll come when they're ready and when they're supposed to; usually at 3 a.m. But I'm usually not sleeping then anyway, so that's okay.

Today I am going to start taking a crack at something I've had on the back burner for literally years. Something personal and meaningful for me. What is it? Sorry, I can't say yet. If I tell you I'll have too much pressure to rush it and finish it. No, for now this project will be for me and it will be therapeutic and it will be good. At some point I may share it; we'll have to wait and see. The important thing is that I am actually going to spend some time today celebrating me.

I hope you are able to carve out the time you need for YOU, doing whatever YOU need to do. The To Do lists and everyone else's needs will still be there when you're done taking care of you. That I can promise. So today, just let go and celebrate YOU.

What Do People See?

Christmas was about many meaningful things, lots of time for reflecting and making memories, and if you're like me ... watching as many Hallmark movies as possible. Sure, we all know they will have a predictable ending, but that's o.k. With all of the surprises and chaos life can sometimes throw at us a little predictability can be a good thing.

There was one movie that was about 2 young people competing for a job at a department store as window dressers (not sure if that's the appropriate professional term or not). Decorating store windows can be the deciding factor of whether someone enters a store or not. It's meant to grasp their attention. Holidays tend to make good themes ... spring & autumn, Easter & Christmas, back to school, etc. But trust me, it's not an easy job. You've got to have a high level of creativity and be able to think of and understand what strangers will like. Store windows are merely facades. If done well they will tell a story and entice the customer to go in to see what comes next.

Here's a little known fact that may or may not surprise you. When I was in high school I was offered a full 4-year free ride to a design school. You've probably guessed by now that I didn't take it. Why? Because when the school's rep came to see me I learned that it was in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. For someone like me who had never been north of Cheboygen I had no idea just what their winters were like. When I looked at the housing brochures I didn't understand about the snow tunnels and the need for exit doors on the second floors. When she explained the concept and the amount of snow they got in the winter I had to accept the fact that I was not up to the challenge of becoming a Yooper (no offense to anyone who has thicker blood than me).

Yes, I was of the creative type. I had dabbled in many art styles and was bound and determined to become a highly respected store window designer. Life challenges us and sometimes we just need to decide which route is best for us and how we want to tackle the challenge. I've done many things so far in my life. Have I dressed any big store windows? No, but I have done a enormous amount of successful, creative wall displays and bulletin boards for my children's teachers (just ask them). Instead I tell my stories through words. I've written newsletters and had articles published. I've written speeches and I write a blog. Some day I may even write and illustrate a children's book. We will have to wait and see.

When have you ever been presented with a challenge that seemed bigger than you and did you decide to take a different route to achieve it?