Opinion: 2020 will be a different Christmas for everyone across Falkirk district

It seems to be stating the obvious to say that 2020 has been a long year – and that’s not counting the extra day on February 29! We’ve had a national lockdown, local restrictions and now this latest three week closure of all but essential services from December 26.

It certainly has been a tough year for so many of us and those who have suffered ill health and bereavement, whether covid-related or not, have had it worst of all.

As a family we’ve been lucky enough to escape coronavirus so far, however I almost feel like I’m tempting fate by saying so.

But we have had lots of events which would normally have been cause for many gatherings and celebrations – a birth, several notable birthdays including three 30th birthdays, a 60th, a 90th, an engagement and, only this last weekend, a wedding.

Many of these would usually have seen us converge on family homes or venues from all parts of the UK. But thanks to Covid-19 it wasn’t to be.

However, that’s not to say we didn’t celebrate using technology – a virtual cake-cutting for my aunt’s 90th saw over a dozen of us mark this important occasion in a way that this time last year we would never have imagined.

While there are many things that we haven’t been able to do this year and our festive celebrations are certainly much curtailed, Christmas 2020 does allow us to appreciate what we do have – everything from our family and friends to our NHS which is caring for us all.

And most importantly of all, our health.

Therefore rather than focus on what we don’t have, let’s be be grateful for all that we do have, including our loved ones even though we may not be able to be with them as we normally would.

A merry and peaceful Christmas to everyone and here’s hoping that 2021 will bring us all better times.

Our columns are a platform for writers to express their opinions. They do not necessarily represent the views of The Falkirk Herald.