Wow, I can’t believe I am typing these words out. Today is actually the very last day of a year the whole world wishes to forget, although it will be the one it will remember the most. I wish I could say that 2020 will be remembered for good things by the majority of people. I know I am grateful for everything, but I do understand that millions of people worldwide were in so much pain. And I also wish 2021 would miraculously wipe away all this pain and uncertainty, but I will definitely settle for baby steps. I already know 2021 will be better, because December 2020 kind of gave it away:

Covid19 Pandemic: A Vaccine is Finally Here

This news alone is enough to restore hope around the world. It won’t be easy to administer the vaccine to the entire world’s population, and it will surely take months to do so, but at least we are on the right track, so yes!

What 2020 Taught Me

I was already used to spending so much time with my kids at home, but never in my life did I imagine I would be homeschooling them. What that experience taught me is that patience is a virtue. I am an impulsive person and patience was never one of my traits, and it took a lot of work, and I still am a work in progress in this regard.

Another thing that 2020 has taught me is to never take anything for granted. Going out, socializing, and all the other luxuries we thought were basic are actually blessings.

The most important thing that should not be taken for granted is hands down health. If you have all the riches of the world but you are not healthy, it means nothing in my honest opinion. I was shaken to the core when I learned that my parents contracted Covid19 in late October. Being time zones away and unable to do anything to help or even be there really devastated me. On a positive note, I am extremely grateful that my parents fought the virus and are now doing very well (my mom had mild symptoms. My dad, a 74 year old, was hospitalized and had severe symptoms. He was a long time smoker – he quit a few years ago – and he is a long time diabetic with previous lung problems due to smoking). I must have done something good in my life for God to answer my many, many prayers.

On a personal level, so many good things happened in 2020, and this is what I wish to focus on. Since I lived to see the end of it, that’s all that matters really.

May you have a safe, healthy and happy 2021!