2021 or what I call 2020 part 2.

Were you like me, ringing in the new year hoping that when waking up the next day, the new year would bring back years of the past? Of pre-Covid days? Of days where everyone and everything was in its usual place? And when I woke up, the abnormal or if you want to call it the new normal was still here.

2020 was a collective massive change. Everyone and everything changed....in some ways forever. This goes beyond Covid, but I don't want to get down and dirty into politics except for one thing, which I will bring up later.

We all have stories. It goes with the collectiveness of mass change. For once, no one can say she or he was not affected by what happened in 2020. Yet, when I reviewed my year, there were changes that happened for the better. Changes I knew that if not forced to do, would not have happened. Changes I saw that benefitted my family and me.

Such as: quarantining. It was surreal in the beginning with the streets and the skies being so quiet. I loved it, even though it was not normal. Every time I took the dog for a walk, it reminded me of Christmas morning, when everyone was cocooned in their home. When I did have to go out, I loved how it was so easy to travel. It was a pleasure for me to be on the roads. On the weekends, I would see gangs of cars or motorcycles zooming down the main street off the highway. Most of the time it was young men letting off steam. As the year progress and more vehicles entered the roadways, it seemed to me there were more angry drivers on the roadways.

I found new restaurants to order from as well as new recipes to try out. I remember reading that the average family eats the same 8 to 10 meals. With time on my hands, I decided to expand those meals. And finding those recipes and websites....oh where to begin. Right now I am watching Pasquale Sciarappa and drooling over all of those Italian dishes, some that I remember my grandmother making when I was young. I have a list of new recipes that I will be trying this year. Besides meals, I delved into baking...cookies, cakes, breakfast casseroles...you know. Comfort food. Yum! Which was well received by the family but it has expanded our waistlines. But I did find new trails and new places to take my dog for walks. I also found (thanks Facebook) opportunities where you earn medals for walking/running 5K or longer. To date I have walked two 5K's and have some bling to show for it. I plan to do more this year. A new treadmill will help me achieve this, when the weather outside does not meet my liking.

One of the things I had liked to do was food shop. Full disclosure, like to food shop, dislike having to bring the food into the house. Thank goodness for hubby and sons for handling that. I usually don't browse, but I do like to pick out my own items. The stressors of shopping were just awful. People not wearing their masks properly, not following arrows, long lines, people congregating or just pushing through. Everyone, from employees to shoppers on high alert, hoping that no one would have a meltdown over what was happening. As the months went on, I was becoming less enthusiastic to making the weekly trip. I finally checked out Shop from Home service and was amazed on how inexpensive it was. But.....to give up control of shopping for my food! That was tough for me. Eventually when I had enough, I signed up and for the last few months, my food was picked out by someone else. I even had it delivered a few times when I was unable to make it to the store. I generally like the fact I don't have to go into the store, but there are items I can't buy online (pineapple juice or the dog treats my dog loves-why?) that I can find in the store. And you MUST plan ahead-appointments fill fast. There is no spur of the moment shopping from home. But to walk in and out of the store with your items without the stress....priceless!

The quarantine also brought out my grandmother in me. I started a garden-again. I have gardened on and off over the years. Some years were better than others. Lots of variables: time, focus, money....but 2020 gave me all three. I saved money from not driving to and from work, from not getting my hair and nails done, and the stimulus check. Being home gave me the focus and the time. I was able to even grow from seeds, which saved money as well. It was a great year for me: cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, basil, and mint. I am working on starting an indoor garden with a grow light. I am also looking forward to growing different vegetables. It is true that the food you grow tastes better and fresher. And there is that feeling of accomplishing much with just a seed.

2020 brought changes to our home. During a very intense storm in August, a neighbor's large tree fell in our back yard. While the trunk missed the house, the branches hit the roof, gutters and destroyed our grill and hammock. Bad news, but we were blessed. If it had fallen about two feet over towards my home, my entire back part of the house would have been destroyed. From this I now have a new home without even having to move due to a new roof, gutters, paint job and front door. And plenty of firewood!

Besides the pandemic, life as we know it has changed in how we interact with others. Social distancing, conversing with masks, communicating in various forms is the new norm. It seems people are closer but in certain respects are further apart. Civility is in short supply, as well as cooperation, respect and listening. YET, there are many people who have risen up to help those who need it, which grows by the day. Thankfully there are programs and news segments to show this. So we truly know that all is not lost.

There is a concern however about what is going on with our government and our citizens. So much anger and hatred, visceral reactions to each other. Fear of displaying positions on matters because of the reaction of others. There are the divisions: Them vs. Us./Red vs. Blue/BLM/White Privilege/LGBTQ+/Boomers vs the other generations....and the list goes on. The intensity of all of this is stressing as well as having very negative consequences. YET a positive result is coming from this: civic engagement. Too many people are not aware of what is going on in government on all levels. Our focus has been scattered which helps those with dubious intentions who enter government and take advantage of the lack of oversight. People need to be involved or at the minimum very aware of what is going on. On all levels: local, state and federal. My sister and I have decided to make politics part of our weekly conversation, so that we stay on top of what is going on. I will also be reaching out to my representatives this year with personal notes and phone calls, as well as staying abreast on what laws are passing or floundering.

There have been many personal benefits: my family has gotten closer, zooming has become easier, appreciation for people has grown, as well as appreciating things that I had taken for granted: eating at restaurants, traveling, and shopping (though I am getting used to curb side delivery). I found new videos, documentaries and the Master Class, which has been enlightening. It has been a terrific time for me to learn new things. But there were lots of distractions found on the internet as well. Right now I am watching videos on magnet fishing, metal detecting and finding old bottles. Which really is not a surprise for I am one who keeps her eyes on the ground looking for things, something I have done since I was a child. I was lucky to have found $21 in bills as well as a lot of change last year. And lots of masks and disposable glove scattered about.

My Passion Planner for 2020 documented how I was thinking in the beginning of the year and how quickly my plans radically changed. So this year, as I have done over the last 7 years, have purchased a planner with the intention of setting goals, intentions, and plans for the year. For the first time ever, I am approaching the year with fluidity. Being open to possibility, change and events. Being available to what is meant for me. And as in the past, I pick a word for the year to focus on. In the past, my focus was on rebooting, rediscovery, joy, beginnings among other themes. 2021's word for me is "be"

. Be open, be careful, be loving, be aware, be kind. Be in the moment. Be....me.

Hoping happiness, good health, joy and peace surround you and be part of you this year.