In a few more days, 2020 will officially be down in the books, phew....While it would be easy to focus on just how awful this year has been in so many ways, I've found that the smallest acts of kindness have truly shed light on the power of love. When faced with incredible amounts of dire and need, communities come together and become stronger, refusing to allow anymore darkness to penetrate the soul. Those little bleeps of light are the one thing that have kept me going and allowed me to focus on what is truly important. I've long since forgotten those overwhelming feelings of moving my shop, the hours spent sorting and organizing not only inventory but emotions. I have said repeatedly that the best thing to come from COVID was forcing me to make the decision to move, honestly I've been a bit obsessive about it.
You all know how much I hate being wrong, I've had to convince myself and ignore the mental chatter that I'm in a better space and will be ok. The defense mechanisms kick into high gear, it's too late to fail, the only way forward is forward. Recognizing my success is always difficult, I chalk most of my accomplishments up to dumb luck, the result of flying by the seat of my pants. For the first time in a long time, I finally feel in control of my destiny, if I can survive this past year, I can do anything. Sometimes the hardest knocks in life teach us the best lessons, and sometimes the smallest acts of kindness truly warm the soul. I wrote in my newsletter last week about my Mimi making gingerbread men for all her grandkids, our names piped in icing, another holiday tradition that was just a memory for me. Imagine my surprise when Shelagh came to my door with a box of gingerbread men for not only me, but for Jon & Addie each with our names, tears....
So I will leave you with a bit of advice that you already know, so it should be easy to follow. Life is so much better when you focus on the good. The bad is there to allow you to better appreciate what you actually have. This is the lesson that 2020 has taught me, most of it really did suck, but I was able to take two fabulous trips to Colorado, make my business better, and finally start feeling like my old self again. My Mimi always said, "that which doesn't kill you, makes your stronger." She was right as usual, mix in my stubborn streak and I'm whistling dixie.
I hope you all have a wonderful New Years Celebration, and you should definitely celebrate the end of this year like never before, what an accomplishment. Make it a great day and I hope to see you soon!
Katy