Just Last Year ...

Over the past week Facebook has been showing me memories from last year and I struggle with the thought of how much has changed. It feels like a lifetime ago when I was hopping on a plane headed for a fun-filled week in Lisbon with friends and I miss it terribly.

This past year everyone has had to adapt to the "new normal" thanks to the COVID-19 Pandemic and navigating the rules and regulations that go along with it. Gone are the days of spontaneity, today even a necessary trip to the grocery store comes with precise pre-planning and is riddled with anxiety. I miss feeling truly at ease, even at home there is always a cloud of uncertainty that I missed a critical step in disinfecting when returning from the outdoors or that my hand-washing technique is not up to par. I am sure I am not alone in having second thoughts about social activity even when it has been deemed safe. 

With the holiday season soon approaching I find myself feeling nostalgic for the way we used to celebrate with a houseful of loved-ones from near and far sharing good food and laughter. What will Thanksgiving and Christmas look like this year and in the future? Are the little ones in the family going to miss out on the memory making moments that were such a huge part of my childhood?

Then I think that we have to see this as an opportunity to find new ways of making memories and recreating these occasions to allow us to celebrate and enjoy these holidays while keeping everyone safe. Getting the family together to come up with ways to celebrate that involve both in-person, when allowed, and including those who are not able to be there.

• Curbside Dinner Deliveries are always a huge hit and make people feel included.
• Skype or Zoom sessions with family members from afar are a great way to celebrate in the moment.
• Random small drop-offs to those unable to leave their homes are beloved by most and these acts of kindness work for both giver and receiver as mood-boosting activities.

Get everyone involved, young and old, in the prep and creation of these gifts and it can become its own tradition, and instill in the young ones the incomparable gifts of kindness. Think of it as a stripped down, back to basics version of celebrating.

Even though I miss the ways things were, this past year has given me an appreciation for something I may have been overlooking - SIMPLICITY. Less really does mean so much more in the grand scheme of things.

What has this past year taught you?