Funny how when you say that it has been a tough, difficult, crappy, overwhelming year—nobody blinks an eye. They used to. They used to ask why but, now there is an unspoken understanding. And as sad as that makes me, this morning I find myself reflecting and smiling. My heart, while heavy, is full at the same time. It is an odd sensation really, but one that I am learning to appreciate.

There is a sense of hope living inside me at this moment. Belief that light has found a way to break through one of the densest, darkest, most far spread, and unrelenting storms, that has ever covered our nation. Maybe it’s wishful thinking, or perhaps I am just being naïve—however, right now, I feel a sense of peace.

I fear that this clam might not last, but that is exactly why I have chosen to write about it now. I pray the words here provide reassurance during the uncertainty that is sure to come again, that somehow we will emerge on the other side of this pandemic better than before. And it is my hope that this message might also land somewhere in your heart today.

Despite the bad—and believe me, I know there is plenty of it—I wonder, have you also not witnessed some unexpected blessings this year? I know I have.

I have seen relationships once drifted apart or broken, now restored. I have heard of projects siting on to-do lists for far too long, now finished. More times than I can count, I have found myself staring in awe at photographs celebrating the beginning of new life. I have had blips of time where I find my faith renewed as I observe an emergence of untapped creativity and rise in unrealized potential; recognize the appreciation that has developed for things that were once taken for granted; as I noted the long-overdue discussions of diversity, inclusion, human rights, and unity transpire; and as I watched self-care, mental health, and wellness become an important topic of conversation. And these are but a few blessings.

So yes, this year has been rough, and to be honest, it does not show signs of letting up any time soon. However, this too shall pass. This too shall find its end. And when it does, I pray that your heart will remember not just the hardships you faced, but that it will also celebrate the goodness that has coincidently happened.

The sooner we begin to shift our focus, the closer we are to healing and finding freedom from our current circumstance. That is not to say that we pretend nothing happened. Because they have. And the loss we have experienced deserves respect. What I mean to say though is that we have suffered enough.

So, I ask… are you ready to be part of the solution to a better tomorrow?

Change is possible. And it begins with something as simple as finding a moment to recognize that there is still beauty among us. There are new blossoms each day—some sprouting in places that have not existed before. So now, it is on us to nurture it. It is on us to drive out the fear, hate, and negativity that has consumed our country. It is on us to spread love, compassion, and to mend all that has been broken.

♥ Mandi A.