Surprised by the fruit hanging on the tree covered with maroon leaves, I stopped to consider whether this tree has been there all along. I haven’t seen these cherry-like fruit before. I knew of course that the tree has been standing guard next to the entrance since I moved into this house some 5 years (!) ago. Now I can say I have a purple leaf sand cherry tree :-).
This little incident is much like 2020 – it takes something different and perhaps drastic to make us see what we’ve been blind to or missing.
This year has been a challenging year in many aspects, from adapting to different and often difficult work situations to increased demand in our homes and relationships.
Yet 2020 is also the year for which we can be grateful. This year helped us to
- acknowledge the importance of stepping off the productivity wagon
- embrace our capacity to live with uncertainty
- rediscover the joys, great and small, our family and other relationships bring
- appreciate the meaning of missing someone
- reconnect with our passions and desires
- realise the significance of our solitude and reflection
- be aware of how little we actually need to be happy
- reinforce the power of kind words and a smile.
Thank you for your community, the sharing of a common spirit and purpose.
You may wish to light a candle for the year passed and set an intention for the year ahead.
As we head to the final days of 2020 with hope that 2021 will be a better year, I ask myself this:
What does “better” mean? What does “a better year” look like?
Let us resolve to retain the positive changes 2021 has brought into our lives, and usher in a better 2021.
~ FlorenceT