Feeling Blessed, Embracing a Positive Attitude for 2021

2020 is over and a new year has begun. It will always be remembered as a year defined by death, destruction and uncertainty of the world pandemic, Covid-19. And yet, for me, it was the year my novel, The Healing, came into being, making it one of the most memorable and joyful years of my life.

The Healing was meant to be launched live in Halifax on April 23, 2021. Back in July and August when the plans for the release were unfolding, I never imagined that Covid would still be wreaking havoc. But it is. With lockdowns and quarantines in effect, I’m having to switch gears and prepare for a virtual launch. I’ve had to cancel my much-anticipated Cross-Canada book tour that was set to take off mid-April, fingers crossed things will change sooner than later. If there’s one thing I’ve learned this year, it’s that plans can fall through and it’s best not to become too attached.

The positive side is that I’m getting better at being adaptive. I’m embracing living in the moment and my heart is calling me to trust the process of life more than I ever have before. My heart whispers gently to accept what is and to live in the Now. I realize that dreams are wonderful and bring us hope for an unknown future, but too much dreaming is escapism. Dreams need to be grounded in reality. And so…

I’m refusing to mope about the changes that Covid has created in any aspect of my life. I’m staying open and curious as to what will unfold. It’s not only about accepting the virtual launch and delayed book tour. I’m determined to figure out a way to create something I can be just as proud and joyful about. 

I was given a great opportunity to practice being creative when Saudi Arabia closed their borders in response to the new strain of Covid that was just emerging in UK and South Africa. Just weeks before we’d booked our first trip of the year to Dubai. We’d made plans to meet with our daughter, whom we haven’t seen in two and half years, over Christmas break. When the news of the closing was announced December 20, just four days before our departure, I was devastated. But not for long. 

The Saudi authorities said that they would close all borders for one week, possibly two. I set to work rebooking flights, hotels, brunch reservations and drivers for January 7th. I considered how I hadn’t bought a single Christmas decoration, a turkey or a tree. It didn’t seem fair to barge in on other people’s plans, but the idea of doing nothing special felt heavy. I went online and booked Mister and I a room in a posh hotel in Riyadh for 2 nights, then did the same for our daughter in Toronto.

We ended up having a great time. The hotel put on a Festive Buffet for Christmas Eve that included more stations of food than we could possibly consume in one sitting. The pastry chef even put together a special dessert offering that was gluten free, just for me. The staff were all friendly. My heart was glowing with all the warm feelings I associate with the holidays, with no room for even a pinch of regret.

As it turned out, the borders did reopen in two weeks as planned. We flew the short one and half hour direct flight and our daughter flew the fourteen-hour direct from Toronto. When I first saw her after all those years, I felt weak in the knees. It was even a little awkward at first, but for only a few seconds. In no time at all we were hugging and laughing and talking over each other as we do, sharing our stories over elegant glasses of delicious red wine.

I never would have chosen Dubai in January. But it turned out to be perfect. It was so clean. Everyone seemed committed to doing what was necessary to be open. They wore their masks and used the sanitizer that seemed to be everywhere you turned. Restaurants had reduced menus, individual portions and distanced seating. It was exhilarating taking the elevator, 134 floors in one minute, to the top of the Burj Khalifa. Of all the amazing, breath-taking experiences, the one I treasure most was being able to hold my daughter, to share life’s moments the three of us together.

So yeah, I’m feeling blessed, embracing a positive attitude for 2021.