What will define your year?



You may remember last year at this time I was in a really sad place. I was taking care of my Baylee girl as her health just got worse and worse ( yet I had hope). 
The sad times started at the end of January and continued until she passed at the end of June.  Really, her care is what consumed my life. I was worried that the loss of Baylee and how sad I felt was what was going to define my 2019. I didn't want to look back on that year and remember it for how sad it was.


However, the second half of that year ended up going really well. I had an awesome vacation with my family, work went well, I ran a really fun race with my mom, and best of all, we added Sybil to our family. So in the end, 2019 was not as horrible as I thought it would be.

I tell you all this because I think a lot of us are in the same situation for 2020. Maybe it didn't start out well for you, I don't know but I think everyone can agree that 2020 will always be remembered as the year of COVID-19.  Some people may have loss their jobs, their loved ones, or have even been ill themselves. Some people may have had to work from home, and some may have had to home school children. Events have been cancelled, and basically life as we know it had been put on hiatus.

But hopefully the year is not a loss. Some of us (like myself) may have passed on opportunities in the beginning of the year (like races), because we thought we'd have another chance (and in some cases, we may not). But let's think of some things that have happened early in 2020 that we can be thankful that we didn't miss out on.


I know for my family,  we are extremely grateful that we were able to get our puppies (our Willow and my mom's Libby) right before the shut down.  So that is something positive that we will remember 2020 for already. I 'm not sure if 2020 will allow for any vacations or getaways, so I am also thankful that I was able to take the spring break trip with my friend literally days before the shut down.

So as they may only be two things that I will remember 2020 for (in addition to COVID -19), I am hopeful that there will be many more things that will define my year instead of this horrible virus that disrupted all of our lives.

Tell me something good you will remember this year for? What are you hoping for in the rest of 2020?  -M


18 comments:

  1. Thank you for this amazing reminder that I am what makes or breaks my year, not Covid-19!

    This year...I have been blessed to be able to spend more time with the love of my life! Being together for longer periods of time has just deepened our love.

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  2. Like you, I'm focusing on all the good that will come of this. I'm not in denial of all the scary unknowns, nor all the heartache some are enduring, but I also know it will not last forever. Why not look to the future? ;-)

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  3. I like the idea of focusing on the good stuff to remember for this year, rather than the negatives. The puppies are adorable! Luckily, 2 of my favorite races are in January (CJ's Challenge and Phunt) and I got to do both of them, which were really fun. We had a bunch of trips and races canceled but we did get to drive down to visit my sister in Florida in January, where we ran an excellent 8-mile trail race, plus we stopped in Asheville, which we had never visited before, Richmond, and Savannah, which we both love. Lots of good things to be thankful for.

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    1. That is awesome that you got to do so much in the beginning of the year!

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  4. 2020 did not start well for a lot of us. So I figure there's no way but up, right? I hope there will be travel this fall--I want to go back to Florida to get a complete vacation (mine was cut short by my son's accident) and I want to go see Holly, as my planned trip for May was canceled. I want for my son to be able to go back to college and have classes and labs in a classroom, not online. And of course, I want to run my trail race in September. Just a few things on the wish list....

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    1. Right! We will be so thankful when we get back to doing the things that we've planned !

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  5. Your pups bring me joy! Love seeing all the pics! I will always be grateful for an amazing runcation with friends to ZOOMA Bermuda. We snuck that in right under the wire! Who knew then how things would hit the fan?

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    1. Aww, I am so glad that the puppies bring you joy! You did get that Bermuda trip in just in time!

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  6. In many ways this spring has been one of the happiest times of my life. Being "shut in" with my family is a dream come true and the kids are thriving. I did get to run a "real" race in February and then PR'd my virtual race series. So lots of good things are happening right now.

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    1. That is awesome! I am glad you are finding so much joy with your family during this time. I have to say my time at home has not been terrible!

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  7. I love this post. Thank you, Meranda! I started the year off great with a runcation to Mexico City and a trip to Chile with Neal for a wedding. I also ran a half marathon in January and did some fun events in Chicago including Cycle for Survival. Thanks for the reminders of all the good in 2020 so far! xoxo

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  8. This is a really great question. I've often thought about how I would describe this year to someone. Right now I'm allowing myself to feel sad when that feeling hits me, but not dwelling on it. I really try to start each day with a positive mindset.

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  9. Who knew what this year would bring. I thought it would be my year of 12 half marathons. It started out poorly with an injury. Little did I know that it may be the highlight of my 2020. Those 2 half marathons!

    Right now, 2020 is the year of change. No races but more time for exploring the local trails. More time for daily walks.

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  10. Well, let's just say that it's been a really long time since I've had a great year. There's been quite a bit I haven't shared on the blog the last few years, too (the mind boggles, I know!), and obviously 2020 didn't start off well with my Dad's death.

    OTOH, he was more than ready to go. My mom is doing well -- even though he was the love of her life -- they were married an astounding 72 years! -- the last few years his care had taken a huge toll from her, and she is recovering nicely. And she is healthy.

    I was at least still teaching in person Yoga at the beginning of the year.

    Anyway, I hope that is more good stuff in store. We've been very lucky so far, and knock on wood we'll weather this storm & come out the other side stronger. I won't be able to tell you what I'd say about this year for months still -- and I certainly hope that there will be a rainbow at the end.

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  11. I too hope that we can look back on all of this and be able to find some good that has come of it.

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  12. Your blog is exactly what I needed to come across. I love that you are choosing to reflect on this time with a twist of what things happen just prior or during, and what things still await, that aren't necessarily all bad. I have been drafting a post of the gifts that COVID has brought me, simple and small, but also I hope somewhat life altering. I am so sorry to hear that you lost your girl Baylee last year. I dread the day that we have to let Tanner go, and just mostly ignore the fact that things are changing for him and that our time together may only be a few more years. It's obvious that your furry friends are an important part of your life and I am glad that you found peace and can remember her with joy.

    bosbodaciousblog.blogspot.ca

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Fairytales and Fitness is a personal blog authored and edited by us, Meranda and Lacey. The thoughts expressed here represent only our own and are not meant to be taken as professional advice. Please note that our thoughts and opinions change from time to time. We consider this a necessary consequence of having an open mind in an ever changing society. Any thoughts and opinions expressed within our out-of-date posts may not be the same, nor even similar, to those we may express today. Some links may contain affiliate links. Some links are just to pages we'd like to share.