Healing begins now-Don’t let anyone steal your joy

This has been a year of tremendous pain and joy. I began the year with so much hope and ready to enter a new decade. At the time I was so ready to say goodbye to 2019. I lost my nephew on my birthday and my daughter had significant challenges adjusting to 8th grade and ultimately leaving her school under less-than-ideal circumstances for our family.

When we ushered in 2020, I celebrated on the beach with my husband and cried and let go. I had no idea the year we all had ahead of us. I lost my second mom amid COVID. We transitioned home and I immediately became aware of my new normal. How would I handle and manage this? I was very angry! My husband lost his best friend to COVID and now he could not see his mother. Life became sterile.

But after 9 months I am now at the point of embracing joy. Daily unfettered joy. Uninterrupted joy and hope! My autistic daughter navigated all these challenges well and so will we. She said most appropriately, “do not let anyone steal your joy.” I heard her!

Celebrate life
Celebrate the season
Celebrate the gift of each other
2021 is a new year!