Has 2020, as awful as it was, given you any gifts?
Because I have to admit that for me, 2020 wasn’t all bad.
Ok, wait. Before you go nuts on me, let me finish. Of course 2020 was awful. It was the worst. It was THE. MOST. DIFFICULT. YEAR. OF. MY. LIFE.
Everyone I know lost something. Or many somethings.
But if I look beyond the isolation, and angst, and cancellation of plans, and loss of jobs, there was a silver lining.
2020 gave me one gift I don’t usually have: time.
Time to think. Time to create. And time to spend with the people I love most. (Even if it was by phone and zoom.)
I had time to walk almost every day.
I read about 30 books.
I painted a lot more than usual.
I was able to spend a month with my mother before she died. And two weeks helping my father get organized after she passed. (After quarantining in the Residence Inn of San Mateo for a week and passing a COVID test, my father finally let me into the house.)
And finally, I had the time to sit down and figure out how to make creative living a priority for 2021. How to ensure that instead of thinking about making art and writing—I actually AM making art and writing.
I’m going to have to make some changes in how I schedule my days. And I’m going to have to prioritize the time I spend creating as highly as I do fulfilling my work commitments. But I think it’s worth it.
What gifts has 2020 given you?