Let’s be real: 2020 has been an utter dumpster fire. So much apparent bad happened throughout this year that some are considering whether it was the worst year in world history. It probably wasn’t, but the fact that there’s a conversation about it tells you all that you need to know.

But a part of me is sad to see this year end. Something inside me wishes we could hold on to it for a little longer, to hold it tight and not let go. Because despite the unquestionable pain, sadness, and turmoil that we saw and experienced ourselves over the course of 2020, there was something beautiful that I saw as well, and fear I won’t see again.

Out of the depths of this year’s darkness, a light emerged, a light that filled me and countless others with warmth and happiness. And that light was the combined, communal effort to look out for each other. When we were stuck at home, we saw a galvanized community, one that bent over backwards to ensure that people had what they needed. When businesses were failing, we saw a massive effort to provide them with the business that we could afford, and an effort to raise money for them. We donated massive amounts of plasma for people who were sick in the hospital. We saw the unprecedented effort to give out boxes of food, Pesach boxes, and oxygen to people who were riding out their infection at home. There were dozens of organizations who worked tirelessly to assist everyone in need of their services.

But, most of all, I saw how much we really care about each other. In a day and age that we are so easily divided, even over tiny issues, it was so heartening to see, feel, experience how much we are in this together, and how, deep down, we all recognize that. It didn’t matter whether we were the same or different, whether we looked the same, dressed the same, or thought the same – we cared for each other unconditionally.

And that is why I will miss 2020. I worry that the unrequited love we saw will not be seen when this pandemic is finally over. And so I hope we can carry a little piece of 2020 with us going forward. And with that, I say good riddance to 2020.