I don’t know if what I’ve been experiencing is writer’s block or if this is all part and parcel of living through a global pandemic. Juggling my daughter’s kidney transplant (which was followed by several life threatening complications), “living” at the hospital for several weeks, supporting my children in distance learning, trying to re-invent their social lives, comforting them as they mourned the loss of normalcy, scrubbing groceries, cleaning obsessively, researching the threat posed by COVID-19, scouring the news for some sign of hope, all while teaching my university courses online was no small feat. Throw in the nagging distraction of eroding social and political norms, which increased the fear and anxiety I’ve been feeling for my family, and there you have it. I could not quiet my mind long enough to write amid all that chaos and uncertainty.
Sadly, I’m sure you can relate.
This was a brutal year for all of us, a year marked by sadness and fear, hardship and loss. But it is my sincerest hope that we can all put these hardships in perspective by reflecting on the unique and astounding challenges we faced, on our resilience, on the kindness of others, the courage and self-sacrifice shown by essential workers, by acknowledging the faith, hope, and love that carried us through this time. Rest assured I am not giving up on my New Year’s resolution to write two books in 2020. I’m simply extending the deadline. I look forward to sharing those books with you in 2021. Until then, stay healthy, be safe, and be kind to yourself. Please, rest in this thought…
You are a gift, and that gift is enough.