The Last Moon of 2020
During times both good and challenging, I always return to the moon. Maybe it’s something about the permanence and predictability that’s helped make the moon my anchor. No matter what’s happening in my life or in the world, the moon rises. It’s no surprise that in 2020 I spent even more time looking at the moon.
So, last night on New Year’s Eve, I visited the moon one last time for 2020, about an hour before midnight. It’s the big bright ball that never drops, and that helps keep me going.
What are your anchors, the people, places, or things you return to in good and challenging times?
Follow me on Instagram to see more of my moon photos (and dog photos and food photos…).
The moon over East Dundee, Illinois, December 31, 2020.
A New Year's Prediction: Who Knew? Who Knows?
As we get ready to say, “goodbye" (good riddance?)" to 2020, it’s tempting to make predictions about what 2021 holds in store. But one year ago, could any of us have imagined most of what’s taken place the past 364 days?
On a call with colleagues earlier this year, we reflected on six months of remote work and speculated on what might be next. I summed up my feelings by saying, “Who knew? Who knows?”
I’ll stand by that statement as my prediction for 2021. While I can’t control what will happen, I do have a say in how I’ll handle what’s next. I intend to meet the new year with an open heart and an open mind. Kindness, resilience, empathy, and patience will be my guide words.
And I’ll start with a new year’s wish to you for peace, comfort, health, and loving-kindness.
2020: My Year in Remedies
What’s helped you get through this year? I came up with a number of coping tactics and escapes in 2020. I call them my remedies. I started to seek some of these remedies before I knew about COVID-19. in November 2019, my mom died after more than 101 beautiful and graceful years on this planet. A few weeks later, we said “goodbye” to Daisy, our beloved dog of 14 years. The remedies that helped me through those losses were familiar ones: family, music, and poetry.
While still dealing with the losses of late 2019, COVID-19 began its spread and we hunkered into quarantine. I knew I would need to seek more remedies. Here’s a list of the people, places, and things that helped get me through 2020. I suspect many will help me through a good portion of 2021 too. As we wrap up this year and unwrap the next one, I’ll share details about some of these remedies — favorite books, favorite music, and favorite memories of 2020 — in the days ahead.
Mike’s 2020 Remedies
Dogs
Books
Music
Drawing
Writing
Local businesses
Farmer’s market trips
Food
Nature
The moon
Bird watching
And most of all, my family
Despite changes and challenges, I’ve been fortunate and I’m very grateful to be where I am at the end of this unusual year. I hope you are doing well, all craziness considered. I’d love to hear what’s helped you get through 2020.
Dogs, one of my 2020 remedies. What helped get you through this year?