Hard as it may be to believe, 2020 is finally coming to a close. Of course many challenges lay ahead still, but there is something satisfying (if not therapeutic) about closing the books on this particular year.
 
At this point, it seems all of us would really prefer to look ahead, but we still would encourage you to take a look at our latest blog entry about the highlights of 2020. That latter term may seem an improbable mix of words at this point. Yet if there is anything we learned this year, it is how important nature and wildlife is to humans. And we did manage to see some pretty amazing stuff this year, in spite of everything. Obviously we are preaching to the choir here, as anyone reading this is already a devoted nature-lover, but perhaps one bright spot during this challenging year was that when things really got tough, and when everybody felt they were going to lose their minds, they turned to nature. People started looking out their window and into their backyards and gardens. In the United States and in other places, when lockdown was less severe, as airports and restaurants shut down, parks and nature reserves received more visitors than ever. Animal shelters suddenly had to waitlist people looking for dog or cat companions. So, when everything else went to pot, people turned to animals and trees for support. If that says something about our nature, then perhaps that is one silver lining. 
 
Many of our friends finally learned what we have known for a long time, which is that the simple act of enjoying nature rewards the observer with so very much. It delivers peace, presence, wonder and astonishment. While for those of us for whom wanderlust is an ingrained part of our being, travel may still face challenges in the short term, it seems we may have a few more friends eager to share nature with us in the years ahead. Hopefully time will prove that to be one victory. The gods must surely know, we could use a few more...
 
This month's image is one featured in our year-end blogpost on the highlights of our staff from 2020. It is the smallest bird in the world, the Bee Hummingbird, and a reminder that nature provides both giant spectacles and tiny jewels, wonders that are enormous and marvels that are miniscule. May we all find ourselves wrapped in awe by them again and again, soon, and more and more often.
 
Team Rockjumper wishes you and your loved ones the best holiday season possible, and a very happy 2021!