"Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish." — John Quincy Adams
Happy December, and welcome to the final month of all things 2020! We've struggled in ways large and small to arrive at December 1st, but we made it. The news about vaccines has me excited for 2021 and what that protection will mean for the arts and travel industries - and everyone.
A friend told me last week she loves experiencing a new destination, but she's always felt uneasy with being in transit to get there. Places closer to home feel easier and less taxing, and she has favorite resorts to which she can drive. 2021 to me feels like a new destination, and 2020 is the uncomfortable transitory stage of the journey. It also made me reflect more on the holiday song lyrics, "Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go." On the surface, it's a light tune, but the daunting obstacles of long distance and changing terrain are given special attention, while being managed with gusto because Grandmother's house is worth that difficult trip. There will always be a river. There will always be the woods. Over and over we forge on because to arrive at Grandmother's house is to land in love and happiness. I hope that's how the holidays of 2021 will feel, after the river and the woods of 2020.
I didn't travel to my Grandmother's house for Thanksgiving, and I thought I was dealing with the distance pretty well until the morning of Thanksgiving arrived - when I would normally be surrounded by family in Pittsburgh all day. I woke up quite sad, missing everyone. On the phone with my Grandmother, we agreed, "This sucks!" We had a laugh at that, and I got some chuckles with Dad by singing to him, "Happy Sad Thanksgiving Day to you...." Sometimes when things feel ridiculously tough, it helps to commiserate and let your loved ones know you're right there in the blues with them.
Let's keep forging through all these rivers and all these woods, in whatever forms they take for you, with eyes ahead to where we want to be in 2021. Hopefully it's a healthy future with theater, live music, live audiences of all kinds, much needed time to reunite with our loved ones - and travel!
Contact Nine Muses Travel to learn more about me and what I can do for you!
I design journeys that inspire by highlighting local arts and culture, history, and cuisine for intellectually curious clients longing to feel deeply inspired by exciting destinations, culinary delights, and authentic cultural experiences on a life-changing, joyful journey of discovery.
Danielle Dybiec
Founder & President