Reviewing The Year
To say a lot has happened this year is most likely a gross understatement. It’s easy to focus on all the negative things, and quite frankly, hard not to ignore. I pride myself on always trying to find the positive in any given situation, but I do on occasion buy into the negative from time to time. I work hard to quickly pull away from negative situations, persons and thinking though.
Rona by far has been the biggest impact for most of us. I will not belittle the pandemic, but there is plenty of positive to be found in the fallout of pandemic policies. No one likes to be cooped up, but we were forced to spend time with our family although our lives rush by at 100 miles per hour. A majority of people have more conversations on social media then with friends in person. In the years to come most families will look back at all the precious memories that where made while forced to hunker down with each other at home. Some will look back with sadness having lost loved ones to Rona. It seems life is all about the balance of good and bad.
The second big item on the list was all the riots - looting and burning down of businesses by peaceful protesters. I am still trying to find the positive in that situation. I will just scratch my head and wait for that answer when I meet my Savior who will answer all my questions (if I even remember or care at that point).
The third item on the list for me is the shutting down of businesses. A lot of small businesses did not make it through that one. There is a positive though: I witnessed our small community come together to make sure our hometown businesses, that we love and support, would make it through this difficult time. We purchased gift cards we might not have needed but of course could be used later. We had lunch or coffee a few more times a week. We purchased goods and services and came together in support of our local businesses.
There was a lot of problems with healthcare and our elderly isolated in senior community living centers. Definitely a negative, I won’t argue that point. The positive, the community came together and formed a parade as our seniors sat outside the senior living center to let them know we have not forgotten them. It was one of my favorite moments of the year, heck the whole decade!
I am sure there are many more examples of good and bad for the year but these are what come to mind. People look at the world, scratch their heads and throw up their hands in disbelief and frustration over all that is wrong with the times we live in. If you look hard enough, or from a different perspective, there is almost always a positive for the negative. I look back at the community of Olney this past year and swell with pride at how our little community handled this year of turmoil. They came together to help their neighbors, friends and family make it through a tough time. This is Will B. saying look for that ray of sunshine on a cloudy day.