Silver Linings and Hopes for 2021

The year 2020 gave us downs, ups, backwards, and sideways, to say the least. The year was full of reality that seemed unimaginable at this time last year. Far too many friends, family members, and neighbors lost jobs and closed businesses, and a staggering number of individuals lost their lives. The daily interactions we used to have, connecting us with people outside our homes, were distorted in major ways. 

The weight of these nine months has been difficult to bear, and still, we are resilient. We adapt in admirable ways, and find light and silver linings —surprising brightness inside dark circumstances.  

The 2020 Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year, Michele Franz, Orcutt Union School District, made this reflection on 2020: “The silver lining of this pandemic has definitely been how our busy lives have quieted down. There has been more time to connect with my children, my husband and to reconnect with family and friends. The quiet has also allowed me time to seek new learning in all areas of my life — teaching, self-care, relationships, and more.”