Have you played a game in which you say the phrase "in bed" at the end of each sentence? Try it if you havenโt. You will laugh so hard like you havenโt this year.
Now, do it with โat homeโ instead. Yes, donโt just say it, you actually do it. Itโs like you are in a reality show. Itโs more than a show. You are indeed living it. Thatโs what most of 2020 feels like to me.
The other day, a friend asked me what my highlight of the year was. When I searched for answer, my Assistante, without hesitation, said โyou are growing your own coffee beansโ.
To briefly sum up the year thatโs about to roll over will be challenging. Iโve lost someone whom I deeply care about to COVID-19. Iโve seen the country in turmoil, many places in flames. And Iโve had doubts/changes in my beliefs. Intense emotions sent me up in roller coasters throughout the year - sadness, frustration, outrage โฆ
And yet, in all of these troubles, the great power out there connected me to a coffee plant. And thanks to it, I now have a sister that opened up a new realm of knowledge and reality for me. Meeting her is one of the best things thatโs happened this year (and to leave things to no regret, I made sure to personally tell her that as well :-) ). She not only has an amazing collection of tropical plants, but also a rooster named Red, a cat named Tiny Tiger, a few beehives and she foster hosts (not sure if thatโs the right description) a show champion horse Remy.
I know youโve all read about the sisters that Iโve made in my travels, including Maria and Maria (better yet, type โsisterโ in the Search box on my blog page and see what comes up). Who would have thought that one would make meaningful connections with people when lockdown/stay-at-home/social-distancing is in place? As life is full of surprises and this year has come with no shortage of, it still happens. And with Kathy, I donโt think thereโs enough time in the world for us to talk about all the things we want to talk about. :-)
Speaking of connections, I wanted to mention the one and only trip that we made this year to a remote location in Canada that overlooks the Arctic Ocean. Taking things to the extreme is not our thing. But we did survive -50 degree celsius and came back home, amidst the WHO declared pandemic and US declared national emergency, in an almost empty airplane in March (Iโm pretty sure we were among the last few that the airlines brought home from overseas). What made the trip extraordinary was the group of people that worked in the front and back of the scene with great passion to nature and culture (First Nation). And they either tell great stories or have/are the stories themselves , or both (think Butch). I have started sharing about this trip and more will come for sure.
Before I end here, I wanted to present this image to you - โSeeing the Lightโ. Let there be light wherever you are in the world and in your life. Wishing you a happy 2021! As to the year thatโs supposed to provide perfect vision, letโs hope weโll see clearly the whats, hows and whys of all that happened this year not too far in the future, because hindsight is always 2020. :-)
Holiday-Greetings-2020-Seeing-the-Light-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography.jpg
P.S. The custom designed greeting cards with the image โSeeing the Lightโ have gone to some very valued clients/friends/supporters. If you havenโt, please feel free to sign up to our VIP list for the possibility of receiving one of a kind holiday card in the mail in the future.
P.P.S. I was thinking, to the extent of keeping it safe, playing a game of โin bedโ โat homeโ this New Yearโs Eve would be fun. Youโre welcome! :-)
