Twinkle Lights

Like every American right now….I feel a desperate need for hope and happiness that I have never felt or longed for in my country ever. As an American , I have always felt safe and content…and proud of my country. Now today, I weep as we seek more lost and alone than ever before. I’m tired of hearing the words Covid, election, and looting…I’m over it.

I voted, I did my part…and now…we all just wait. I long for peace. I long to see smiles on faces, and hug people. I’m not a hugger and even I long for it now. I long to see children’s faces and be in large crowds…but for now…that remains off limits.

For days….I have felt so anxious. Not sure what was happening in my country. I was grieving for my community as more and more people were getting sick…and finally….I just turned everything off.

I chose to choose hope. I chose to put down fear. There is nothing that my worry will fix or my anxious heart…it was only making those around me miserable. I have children…and I cannot make them feel that all is lost…all is NOT lost…or NEVER is…even though it very much feels that way. There is always hope in the darkness…you just have to be the light in the darkness.

So, I did what many of you have done….and I turned on the twinkle lights….two weeks early….

It is so easy to get caught up in the hysteria. To read the headlines and feel that we are all headed for disaster…but one day we will all look back on this year…and be so glad it’s behind us…but more grateful that we lived through it and all the lessons we learned.

As many things as Covid has ruined…there have been some bright spots…last week we were able to go on another outdoor Covid free adventure…

This is the year I have dubbed “simple pleasures” because absolutely nothing about it has been exciting…but instead has given us a front row seat to simple. To getting back to basics…to loving our homes and spaces and making them work better for us…and that can’t all be bad.

I encourage you to turn off the noise…embrace some twinkle lights…and get creative in how you share joy….and lets find a way to be merry once again!