New! Year! Although also kind of the exact same for now (here in California, at least). But fear not: Many of us are wiser, stronger, more awake than ever… aside from being absolutely desperate for a stupidly-fancy craft cocktail and fabulous dinner inside any kind of a restaurant that might have draping crystal chandelier things and sexy candlelit tables. God bless the frivolities of the old days. Damn we had it all so good.
But — despite the absence of draping crystal chandelier things and sexy candlelit tables — it would be rude of me to not acknowledge what 2020 personally gifted me as a mom + woman + proud citizen of our USA. With deep gratitude, I now bring the following unexpectedly-concentrated 2020-spawned traits with me into this new (although, still dark) year:
CAPABLE CONFIDENCE. CENTERED CONVICTION. CALM COURAGE.
In 2020, many of us (me specifically, lol) learned that….
- Too many folks opt to behave out of fear rather than reasonability and scientific data
- Many of our public and private schools are facing a disturbing reality of deeply-rooted agendas created to divide us and threaten our children’s innocence and ability to learn and think critically
- Freedom of speech & expression, and the right to civil debate, is actively being shamed and censored in communities, schools and workplaces… unless one agrees with one particular side
- California is a total mess — our priorities, our policies, our people
Through so much stupidity, slanted and suspicious information and rampantly-crazy folks (in real life and on social media) 2020 taught me who I was — who I now am.
- I’m a mom hell-bent on teaching my kids to think clearly, speak up, ask valid questions and interact with confidence.
- I’m a woman who’s no longer afraid to discuss topics that I was once afraid to broach, while also respecting that we might not agree.
- I’m a wife who continues to learn when to let things go.
- I’m a person who opts out of being ‘hurt’ by strangers or acquaintances who launch unfounded accusations, slander and/or intimidation at me via social media.
- I’m a citizen who now cherishes the values and rarity of what it means to be free and brave in America (a new ‘fab’ if you will).
2020 found me praying a lot more, cleaning a lot more and loving [those who are worth it] a lot more.
I’m not a resolution-type gal (never have been) but, for 2021… I’m crossing my heart, promising out loud and slapping it here in online print that I will continue to lead and act with the traits that smacked me on my own bum to grow me up a bit more in 2020:
CAPABLE CONFIDENCE. CENTERED CONVICTION. CALM COURAGE.
For family. For work. For living. For home. For education. For friends. For community. For faith. For love.
Lots of things coming soon… cheers to jumping into the 2021. For me. For you. For all of us.
(Together. In person.)
