It’s difficult to put into words how 2020 has tested, laid bare, inspired and redefined our humanity.

The bushfires in Australia. Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi. Brexit. Harvey Weinstein and #MeToo. Breonna Taylor, Regis Korchinski-Paquet, George Floyd. UFOs. Murder hornets. Earthquakes and hurricanes. Locust swarms in Africa and Asia. The killing spree in Nova Scotia. Protests, marches, and riots across the world. First Nation evacuations in Ontario. Amazon and online shopping. Jacinda Ardern. Sean Connery. Alex Trebek. Joyce Echaquan. Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Joe Biden. Kamala Harris. Prince Harry and Megan Markle. Dr. Bonnie Henry saying, “Be kind, be calm, be safe.”

Not to mention, the pandemic that caused well over a million deaths around the world, overwhelmed healthcare systems and brought about an economic crisis not seen since the Great Depression. Fear, frustration, worry, job insecurity, housing insecurity, food insecurity — all take a toll. Even our language changed: lockdown, social distancing, flatten the curve, social bubbles, Zoom and Teams and Google Meet.

And yet, even in our darkest hours, life goes on. 

A baby is born. A son plays the guitar. You hike through a beautiful spring forest budding with life. A child’s first day at school. Your daughter learns to code. You sled down a snow-covered hill. You call a grandparent for advice, and listen as they describe their remarkable life. Your partner holds you tight, the sound of his or her voice. Your mom rubs coconut oil into your hair. Your dad makes breakfast for dinner. You sit in a garden you created. You find baby rabbits. A sister helps you practice for a big interview. You cannonball into a pool with your daughter. You pull out the games you used to play as a kid to entertain your kids. You look up into the stars one dark night.

You help a stranger. A stranger helps you. We survive together.

Whatever happens outside your door, honour those moments. Because every second of those moments is your life. And it’s a life worth living well, no matter how big or small or loud or quiet. 

Goodbye 2020. Hello 2021.