What a Year!
SEEING THE END of this year coming up is one of the happiest parts of this year! I haven’t thought about wishing for time to go faster since I was a child — either while waiting for Christmas to finally get here or during those last two months before I was old enough to get a driver’s license. Patience is not one of my strong suits, and waiting to get through this pandemic so I can hug and visit family and friends has been wearing on what little patience I have. It is also my nature to look for the silver lining in every situation. On that front, there were some amazing ideas and ways to communicate that have come out of this year. The best part is that we can keep using those tools, such as Zoom and Skype and FaceTime, even after social distancing. This is an addition to our lives and not merely a one-time opportunity. Even two years ago we couldn’t imagine working from home being a viable option for many jobs. Now it is becoming a standard practice. Families are finding new ways to stay connected. These platforms allow people to gather safely. We are social animals at heart, and this has been a difficult time. It has been heartwarming to see all the new virtual faces, as well as old friends, at the variety of events our intrepid members have put together. Amid the chaos, we are heading into the holiday season, one of my favorite times of the year. Decorating the house takes weeks of delight and joy as I carefully place each item special to me in its proper place. It is a time of celebration for all religions and persuasions. It is the season that is supposed to represent kindness and understanding and coming together. So even though we may not be able to gather IRL (in real life) during this season, we can still stay connected and continue to make new connections. Because it is the season of kindness, there are many opportunities to share your heart, your help, and your understanding. As the old AT&T commercial said, “Reach out and touch someone” — OK, not literally, especially not now. But you can reach out and talk to someone on the phone if they are alone. Check in with your Local Group and see if there is a member or two who could use a 10-minute phone call or someone to shop for them; you could even drop off some flowers picked from your garden just to make them smile. There might be someone who could use that human interaction, especially now, because they might not have anyone to help them or no connections to family. Remember, this time is difficult for many of our members. We have an opportunity to practice our patience and kindness and to take a step back and realize it isn’t all about us. I have always believed you receive more when you give, and what you receive is joy and a better understanding of those around you. So, to all of you, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Wishing you a Warm Kwanzaa, Happy Solstice, Happy Festivus, and, no matter what you celebrate, Happy Holidays! Thank you for reading and, as always, I’m listening.