OPINION: Drew Hendry MP says we don't need to look far to find local heroes
The pandemic has taken from everyone this year; some people are grieving loved ones, others have lost jobs and other income, for some it has been missing out on their special day while others have had to miss seeing much-loved family members.
It has robbed young and old, girls and women, boys and men of peace of mind and valuable experiences that may never come again.
At the start of 2020, we could not have imagined the world as it is now, and as we head into a new year these challenges remain – but we face them together as stronger communities.
We have discovered so many more heroes, and thanks to the vaccine breakthroughs, we have new hope.
We have hope that when enough people are immunised, we can make strides on the path to recovering the freedoms, the personal contact, the parties, gigs, shows, shopping, dancing and other things we’ve missed along the way.
One thing that the Highlands is never short of is passion.
We stand up for our beliefs, we care for our neighbours and our neighbourhoods, and we’ll always speak up for those who need assistance or who are getting a raw deal.
We care and don’t need to look far to find local heroes; they live on our streets, work in our local shops and deliver our mail, goods and services.
They are the teachers who have shown incredible resilience this year in the face of such difficult conditions.
They are the council staff keeping the wheels turning and the social workers who have never faltered in their commitment to keeping our vulnerable cared for and safe.
They are those working on the front line and back of house in our emergency services and NHS.
They are the local businesses who stood up when we needed to get supplies to our most vulnerable and those who have had to bear the worst impacts of restrictions.
They are you, your neighbours, your family and everyone who has sacrificed to keep us all safe.
Our kindness, care, and positive resolve will be valued by those who most need our help as we cross into 2021. That will be our sense of purpose, lift them towards the hope of steady work to end this pandemic and retain that heightened sense of our community.
A good new year when it comes.