This year has proven to be more difficult than any of us would have imagined if you asked last April.

We've seen the best and worst of our community come out on politics, health, skunks, garbage can best practices, and other topics.

One of the most debated topics that we've written about was small business shutdowns.

Over the past few months many long standing businesses have had to close their doors for ever.

We look towards the winter months and hope for better days. Our families have all been affected by the fallout of restrictions handed down by the state, for better or for worse.

What is done, is done.

The ones that have been able to make it through the past few months of restrictions are hoping for things to get back to normal sooner than later.

We all want to get out of this happy and healthy, but the future guarantees neither.

I didn’t want this article to be a downer, But real people are struggling.

Real families are the ones affected by the closures and cutbacks that have happened over the past few months.

Relationships and marriages have been strained to their limit.

The waitress that used to serve you is wondering how she'll be able to pay her rent and feed her children this month.

There are people who seem to be unaffected, these are the lucky ones.

Unaffected, either healthwise or financially.

I can give you a firsthand account of how difficult it has been dealing with the loss of hundreds of dollars weekly in a two-income home.

That story is still a work in progress.

We have been able to handle the loss of income so far, but like most others we wonder how far our savings will stretch.

There isn’t really a moral to this story.

You may be struggling, so are your neighbors.

Be kind to others.

If you're in good shape, be grateful.

And if you need help, Be Loud..