Calabrisella Mia

Where do I even begin? So many of us, myself included, went into 2020 with titanium-strength dreams, hopes, and wishes. But, as we would soon learn, 2020 had different plans.

As COVID began spreading, the world as we knew it changed quite drastically. I never imagined that we’d find ourselves in a global pandemic.

However, this year has reaffirmed something that I’ve come to realize in recent years:  life will do what it wants to do.

So, what exactly does this mean? Well, quite simply, we don’t need to have everything figured out. That doesn’t mean we don’t need to have goals or aspirations. It just means we don’t need to have every single detail of our life mapped out.

Because, let’s be honest, some of our most epic moments are the ones we never planned for. I mean, that’s the beauty of life, it’s spontaneous. Not to mention, it’s constantly transforming and evolving.

And so, the magic is in the balance. The balance between striving for the life we want and leaving ourselves open to discover the precious gifts the world has to offer – whether it’s through new opportunities or surprise encounters.

This was my mindset going into 2020, but the pandemic pushed the proverbial pause button.  I suddenly had a lot of time to myself. This year gave me a chance to reflect on who I am, and more importantly, how I have and am continuing to evolve.

I’ve been thinking about what I really want to do with my time on earth. And, I feel this undeniable shift happening, a sort of much-needed reset.

Life is all about how you react to moments, how you improvise or transform the unpredictable plot twists that come into your life story. I took this extra free time to delve further into my creative side, exploring video storytelling. I have always had such a passion for photography. So videography seemed like a perfect way to step outside my comfort zone and try something new.

Video storytelling became the perfect way to re-look at things. Being forced to stay indoors or having restrictions can make you feel a bit like a caged animal.

My daily walks and daily errands became moments to seek out the beauty and the intricate and charming aspects that make up my life – things I’ve often taken for granted. I began to capture these simple moments and make short video clips to share in my Instagram stories.

I may not have been able to tick some new destinations off my travel bucket list this year, but I did rediscover an essential life lesson – find the beauty, it’s there, in the often-unnoticed details.

So, just like at the end of 2019, I have ideas stirring in my head that are exciting and exhilarating. I know the pandemic won’t last forever and, it most certainly won’t destroy my dreams. Call me crazy, but I’m choosing to go into this New Year with an open mind. I still have that strong hope and desire to fill the unwritten pages of my life with all the magnificent experiences that I know await me.

Stay tuned amici…

If you want to find out what I’m up to, you can keep up with my daily life and musings over on the Calabrisella Mia Facebook Page and Instagram!