A Life In Review

2019 (not a typo) was a really hard year for us (my health took a huge hit), so when 2020 began we were bright eyed and ready for a fresh, new start. We had just brought our baby home and had so many plans for the coming year. We knew that we would travel and my husband would work hard to complete his schooling (and training), and overall we just had a great outlook.

When March hit, 2020 became a year unknown (just like it did for everyone). Plans were cancelled. Things were changing daily (I literally had to stop watching the news). Even through the daily change, I embraced as much as I could (being someone who HATES change). Like most people, we adapted, and we still made memories and traveled some (though it was VERY different than originally planned *picture being stuck in a hotel room with non of your stuff instead of stuck at home*).

So here we are, it’s 2021. New year, same me. I still hate change, I love having plans, and we are yet again faced with a year of unknowns. This year, we (my husband and I) are focusing less on long term plans (not goals) and clinging to things we can control; Like what we eat (NOT A DIET), what we watch (funny things make us happy) and who we spend our time with (whether that be texting, or socially distanced gatherings of 10 people or less). I can’t say that we are ready for what’s coming, but we have a better idea than we did this time last year.

I figure we have two choices, face 2021 with the same negativity that everyone left 2020 with, or find the good, in a fresh new beginning. *I want to clarify that even though I see this year as a fresh beginning, I understand that not a lot has changed since 2020 (which was like last week)*. However, I am changing my view of this year. My goal is to make this a year of thankfulness. Even in the hardship, even in the heartache, I want to intentionally see the good that is going on (to see the work that the Lord is doing even in the midst of this chaos).

I’m not even sure what the point of this post is (surely I’m not supposed to admit that as a writer). It began as a small thought when I was faced with New Years Eve and spawned into this. If you needed a pep talk to start 2021 year, consider this your pep talk. If you need a kick in the butt, here it is. Bad things are going to happen, things are going to change again, and we are allowed to succumb to those emotions (ignoring them hasn’t and doesn’t work). Feel the pain and the heartbreak and then get up (in a reasonable amount of time depending on the event). Bad moments do not make a bad year. Bad moments do not make a bad life.

Life is full of things we can’t control (like illness, death and loss), but life is also full of choices. There are going to be decisions that you will make this year. Decisions are something that you control. How you react, how you follow through, how you grow (or don’t grow). Face this year knowing that some things are going to be out of your hands, but be ready for the things that are yours to control, because that will be your time to shine.

**I’m going to stop there because I am beginning to feel like I’m writing a segment for one of those Chicken Soup for the Soul books**

So here we are in the face of a new life chapter. What will this chapter say?