Thursday, June 10, 2021

Silver Linings

Anne Middleton

When I reflect on the last year, believe it or not what surprises me is that I don’t immediately think of how difficult it was. I think about the beach days with my girlfriends that were magical moments of normalcy, finally getting to volunteer at my favorite local animal sanctuary, the close-to-home and safe adventures with my parents and the weekend overnights where the 3 of us would just laugh and laugh and watch movies while munching on mom’s homemade popcorn and ice cream. I think of sitting at home for the first time ever on weekends with my dogs and doing puzzles. Cooking. Finally having routines again- like running in the mornings, weeknight Zoom Zumba classes and happy hour facetime meetups with old friends from near and far. I think of the incredible joy I had when I finally saw my family again and how quickly it all felt normal again, and how normal became something wonderful. I think of all the beautiful connections this pause in time created, strengthened and gave me such an amazing appreciation for- family, friends, dogs 😊 and even myself.

I don’t think our lives will ever be the same after this last year. We all have a vulnerability, a weakness we never imagined, and moving forward without fear takes courage. One of my favorite sayings in life is “don’t look back, you’re not going that way”. It was a tough year, a sad year, an often lonely year, but the lights are back on. And they are brilliant. I hold on to those connections and the beauty in a smile, a hug, in being surrounded by my family. Don’t look back, there are just too many wonderful moments lying ahead- and I truly hope that I don’t ever take them for granted again.