Big Little Joys

2020 has been the year of the COVID19 Pandemic. The year of the Presidential Election. The year of addressing deep-seated racial prejudice and human rights issues. It has been a year fueled by fear, anger, sadness, hopelessness, and utter confusion about where our lives our headed. The most troubling thing of all - this year has finally woken us up to the brokenness of human society that existed long before this virus.

But above all else, it is a year of big little joys.

Amid the whirlwind of trauma, beams of light have managed to shine through the clouds and remind us of just how resilient the human spirit really is. Maybe we decided to go on a walk and have a meaningful discussion with family and friends when we would ordinarily be commuting from the office. Maybe we finally had the time to read that book, use that paint set, or write that journal entry.

Maybe we FINALLY began to relish the little moments that constitute a joyous life. After all, the "big" moments are so few and far between in comparison.

Choosing to be present versus getting swept away in fear of the unknown is liberating in that it allows us to reshape our worldview, relinquish control, and further develop aspects of our character we are most proud of.

Has this been a profoundly stressful year for all? Yes.

I fully acknowledge that my experience pales in comparison to those who have lost loved ones, their jobs, or who have had to go through this experience alone. However, the purpose of this entry is not to belittle their realities, but rather to shift the narrative surrounding 2020 from one of mass loss to great change, reconnection, and big little joys that have allowed us to push through the sometimes paralyzing darkness.