I woke up this morning feeling the heaviness of the past year. The world we now reside in that feels like it's not even real.

2020. It was the year we demonized breathing, smiling and hugging.

The year we realized how quickly and easily our belief systems of "normal" can be molded and shaped.

The year I realized that I love my friends SO deeply even when I disagree. The year I learned I'm ok being misunderstood, because I know my heart and my heart is open and so is my mind.

So when you see me breathing and smiling and hugging... it's because I now realize that all of those were gifts that can be taken away. Taken away in a matter of words, in a matter of moments, in a matter of a breath.

I intend to embrace living more than I fear dying. I intend to love hard every moment because every moment could be the last. (At the end of 2020, my daughters and I were 2 seconds away from dying. 2 seconds from being T-boned by a semi-truck going 70mph). I live my life differently now. And I won't let up on living.

If my words are misunderstood, then it's ok. I will not be angry with people's inability to understand me.

I'll always listen to your voice and hear your truth because your truth is never in opposition to mine, it only adds to mine.

2020. The year in which I realized the only real demons are those who want us to demonize each other. And I won't do it. I won't sign up for that.