The holidays are always one of the most cherished times of the year. Elementary and college students alike look forward to a break from the stress that the school year entails. Winter break is a time to spend with family, binge a Netflix show, or sleep in until noon without consequences. What could be better?
However, this year’s winter break looked a little bit different. With the pandemic more prevalent than ever, communities limited business hours and encouraged residents to stay home. Travel restrictions forced many families to celebrate the holidays apart and alter long-standing family traditions.
A time of year usually centered around visiting elderly relatives required out of the box thinking. This resulted in holiday gatherings on Zoom and outdoor visits in the freezing weather. Christmas Eve church services were watched online by many in living rooms without a choir to drown out your off-key singing.
With all of this unprecedented change in the world, it has allowed me to reflect on the things that remain steadfast. As college students return to campus and adjust back to class schedules, we have an optimal opportunity to reset. Therefore, we can all strive to focus less on the negatives from 2020 and maintain a positive mindset when tackling the year ahead!