Today marks exactly one year since my partner and I returned from traveling because of the pandemic. What a wild year for the world it’s been, from lockdowns to altered living, political fiascos and the vaccines.

I’ve learned that everyone has different comfort and risk levels, and that at some point, life has to go on. There is definitely little leeway for me to complain; the pandemic has hopefully injected some gratitude into all of us.

Most of all, I am inspired by the human spirit that we have shown throughout the past year. We can truly do anything, if we organize, and I look forward to a better year, one in which we redefine our normal.