I had big plans for 2020.

I had “goals”. In my mind that meant writing regularly, pitching more articles to editors, growing my social media following, and self-publishing an anthology of essays. (I had a book outline and everything!) But then a global pandemic hit, and these things didn’t feel like priorities anymore.

Surviving became the priority – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We all had our worlds turned upside down and found ourselves living lives we thought only existed in science fiction films. We were forced to isolate and stay home. Our school, work, and social lives were completely reimagined. We endured personal losses, heartbreak, and setbacks. We worked to find a new normal.

And we did it all alone, together.

Yes, 2020 threw us for a loop bigger than we could have ever expected. But we are here now. We are SURVIVING. And as I look back over the past 12 months, I can see the good that was mixed in amongst the bad. I can recognize the wins in the face of our losses. I can appreciate the healing that occurred after the times of hurt.

2020 has taught us so much. It forced us to discover different ways to reconnect and stay connected with those we care about.

It showed us that good still exists in people’s hearts, from the dedication of our frontline workers to thoughtful gestures of friends and strangers.

It showed us who we matter to, and quite literally who will stick by us when the world stops.

It showed us how strong we are – in every way – when we need to be.

So, maybe I did not meet those “goals” I set out to accomplish, but in many ways I accomplished so much more.

We all did.

Happy New Year, friends. We are doing this – maybe alone, but always together.