I took about a month off of writing this blog because I was winding down a year of ‘firsts.’ And somehow, giving in to the busyness of life in June and July was easier than facing the circle of a year. My mind tried avoidance this past month (hey, it can be a valid coping mechanism!), but my body remembered. At the end of June and beginning of July, when every muscle in my body ached and my temper was short, my immune system shut down and gave way to being infected by COVID. At that point, it finally hit me - it’s been a year.