Let’s face it, 2020 has been a difficult year. As a nation, we find ourselves divided by our politics, our beliefs, and even science. We find ourselves facing a pandemic of epic proportions, and many of us have not seen family or friends for months. Worse yet, some of us have lived in near solitary confinement because of health reasons, local restrictions, or both. Sadly, the oldest and most vulnerable among us have suffered the greatest, with many dying alone. And yet, as the new year dawns, most of us still find reasons to hope.
We hope that 2021 will restore some sense of normalcy, although we do not know what our new “normal” will look like. At a minimum, we hope that we will be able to spend time with friends and loved ones without fear. At best, we hope to travel freely once again, and to go to movies, plays, sport events, or concerts with our friends and thousands of our fellow fans. The reality is that it will probably be several years before all those things are true, but that is no reason to give up hope. Even when confronted with so much difficulty and despair, we must hold on to the time-tested adage that “this too shall pass” and the optimistic belief that our “our best days lie ahead”.
Happy New Year to you and yours, and may 2021 bring you all the health and happiness you deserve and more.