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Settle in Mythkateers, this is gonna be a bumpy ride! "So, this is Christmas, and what have you done?" Simple lines from a song, I am sure you have sung a million times, or at least heard them once or twice. Never gave them much thought, myself. But when you sit and think about them, about what they really mean, they hit far harder than just simple lyrics. If you read the Commentary before you read the intro, you know we as a company, have had a very busy year despite our best efforts!! Well despite mine anyway. I seemed to be on a self sabotaging mission at times. Welcome to the wonderful effects of Covid 19 on an introverted extrovert. Yes, there is such a thing, I promise. For better or for worse, here we are, at the end of 2020. Many are happy to see it go and think that 2021 will be so much better. I am skeptical. I will remain skeptical. This is gonna be one of those "I'll believe it when I see it" deals. I have gone through many changes this year, personally, professional, and geographically. My usual optimism and upbeat enthusiasm for life, for writing, for anything has been tested and pushed beyond its limit. Yet, I still show up. I still put in the effort, even when it is harder than anything else. I put in the effort and it paid off. I had my second full length novel published. I was given my own podcast and I poured my heart out and you kept coming back week after week to listen. I worked through some difficult times in my life this year, on that podcast. You laughed with me, cried with me, and I can't thank you all enough for that. I put out an episode even when I didn't want to. When it seemed way too much effort to sit and talk for an hour. Each month you all continued to send in your amazing stories, drabbles and poems, you sent in your incredible artwork, and I showed up. I did my job, even when I just wanted to quit and run for the hills or pull my blanket over my head and ignore the world. Some of you check in on me, and with me, regularly. That is part of what has kept me going, kept me coming back month after month, week after week. Knowing I wasn't alone in how I was feeling, knowing that others were struggling with this pandemic and being shut in and shut down. There was comfort in that shared misery. And we kept showing up, kept putting in the effort. Even when we wanted to quit. There are a lot of lessons I could take away from 2020. A lot of negativity and a lot of positivity. But I think the biggest lessons I am taking way, the ones that are going to stick with me for a long time to come, are as follows: Be kind. It's hard to smile with a mask, so be kind instead. It's easy to grumble about the lines, and having to wear a mask, and wait your turn to shop, when it is, be kind. The lady at the door isn't making the rules, she is risking her health, day after day, trying to pay her bills, to enforce the rules imposed by our government. Be kind. In the long run, who bought what, who voted for what, who won't do this or will do that, won't matter. Be kind. We are all we have in this world. Money, possessions, a home, a job, a car, even a loved one, can all be taken away in a blink, so be kind. It may save a life; it may change a life. Appreciate the time. Appreciate the time you have to yourself, with those you love, or being out just getting groceries. Enjoy those moments. Appreciate them. Savor them. Don't take them for granted, because they too can be taken away. And my last one, which is the biggest for me. Keep showing up. Even when you don't want too, show up anyway. Put in that effort, do the work. Be it writing a story or editing your work, paying a bill or calling a friend. Put in the effort. When you put in the effort when it's hard, when you get up, wash your face, get dressed and show up, it can change how you feel. It can change how you see the world around you. If you keep showing up, then eventually that effort will become easier and easier, and you will take joy from it. You are not allowed to quit. Period. I know this intro has been a little heavier and a little more intense than they usually are, but it has been a heavy and intense year, so I wanted to close out my last intro of 2020 with a bit of what I have taken from the last 12 months. Not all of it has been bad. There have been some wonderful moments that I will carry with me forever. Ones that shone so bright I can still see each detail in technicolor. I have also learned to take the lessons from the bad moments and use them to better myself. I have learned that there isn't much I can't do, if I only put in the effort. If I show up. As we close the chapter on this year, and we start scribbling the date and rewriting it as 2021, let's make it better. Let's be better. Even if the general day to day doesn't change, if we remain in lockn-down or quarantine or whatever Covid decides to throw at us next, let's rise above it. We are humans, we can communicate and connect with each other, even if we can't do it in person. Take those relationships that rely heavily on face to face interaction and go deeper. Talk really talk. Let's bring back the art of conversation, because that is all we have left. A verbal hug. An audio snuggle. I wish everyone one of you a very very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year. Be safe, be healthy, and remember, Be Kind. Until next year. Stephanie J Bardy
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