Carly's Ramblings Blog - Style

What I Have Learned in 2020

Blog City - DAY 2332 December 21, 2020

Prompt What was your biggest learning experience in 2020?

2020 has been a challenging year. There have been many learning opportunities. The one that runs through all of them is being grateful for what I have - family, friends, my health, my work - teaching and my writing.
Staying close to home has not bothered me overly much. I have probably saved a ton of money not galivanting out and about. I miss exploring various places and people watching. In the spring, I was able to see our neighbourhood antics as I spent a good amount of time on the front stoop watching the neighbour families interact. Across the street, there are two little boys under 6 years. I called them the kindie show! Their antics were priceless!

Being outside, I was also able to greet many people out walking their dogs. Our area is really quite vibrant. I appreciated that.

Writing outside was just lovely.

Now as the weather is colder, I have moved indoors. My writing has moved back into the basement... close to the fireplace.

With Christmas coming at the end of the week... a mere three plus days away, I have begun to close in. I did go out today to spend a few hours wandering around in Indigo. I bought a few gifts, but was not able to find everything I wanted. I have also bought a few things online... including a bee necklace and a bee adoption through ProjectHoneyBees. This is perfect for my aunt as she is studying to be a master Gardener and bees are very important to our survival.

I refuse to go to the mall. So I managed to buy the calendar my mother wanted online. Not sure when it will arrive, but I can always put a wee note in her stocking.

Tomorrow I will pick another store to venture out to... Rexall... to get a few last minute gifts. Then it will be wrapping.

I may also pickup some baking items and make a few cookies I really enjoy. Like whipped shortbread.
Christmas will be a quiet affair. I'll miss the traditions and seeing my extended family, but I will be with my mother and we will make things lovely.

I think it is important to stay positive and look for ways to make anything possible. Patience is also important to develop. Nothing is done in a hurry. Shopping could take two or three times as long, if there are long lines and excessive wait tines.

Then there is the health aspects - handwashing and sanitizing. Wearing a mask. Keeping physical distance, but still interact with others with a smile, a wave or a cheery 'hello'. We still need others.
I look forward to the day I can hug my friends again!