January 2021

Happy New Year 2021

It's been a tough year, but you're reading this, so you made it through. As with every New Year, we move into this one with hope, enthusiasm, and resolve. But this year, the hope tastes sweeter. The enthusiasm looks brighter. The resolve feels stronger. 

We're still wearing masks, hanging out at home, and social distancing. But we've turned the corner. We're on our way to overcoming and rebuilding.

As we warily step into 2021—knocking on wood, crossing fingers, and hanging horseshoes—I wish you and yours a much sweeter, brighter, and stronger New Year!

NUGGETS FROM 2020

1) There's still a place in our fast-paced, electronic lifestyles for handwritten letters. I wrote a lot of letters this year. Letters connect us to people we can't physically visit—even if they only live across town. Joy and comfort can be had by both writing and receiving letters.

2) Eat the slice of cake. Not the whole cake—just a slice. And be sure to schedule some cardio to offset the calories.

3) Death sucks, whether the person was 12, 27, 48, 62, or 91. There is simply no age at which I'm comfortable losing anyone—friends, relatives, acquaintances, neighbors, and even celebrities. Every life is unique and worth protecting.

4) Writing makes me feel good and boosts my spirits. To apply this nugget more generally, using your innate talent is a good way to lift your spirits, even during the worst of time. Whether you're great at gardening, cooking, singing, building things, or catching quarters off your elbow, find your talent and use it. You'll feel better.

5) Our self-inflicted deadlines are nothing to stress about. Sure they help us move closer to the realization of our goals. But be open to pushing the deadline further out. Give yourself a break. I am.

HOME GYM

In olden times, when I was on the brink of adulthood, parents like mine went through what was called Empty Nest Syndrome. It happened when the youngest child left home and the parents had their big house all to themselves.

In those golden days of yore, adult children not only left the nest, many of them moved far away. Even if they only moved a town or two away, parents in my parents' generation were blessed with the opportunity to transform their children's bedrooms into alternate use rooms. Oh sure, one remained a guest room for when that out-of-town offspring flew in for a visit. But the others could be an office, library, den, or, best of all, a home gym.

ZAHRA'S EARTH-FRIENDLY TIP

No television, computers, smartphones, or tablets. Instead, sip tea and read books, play games, or do crafts. Learn to knit or grab a paintbrush and get in touch with your inner artist. Redecorate a room. Bake breads for the week ahead. Practice an instrument.

Screen-free evenings save energy, reduce stress, and create memories. This resolution might even help you discover your inner talent (see number 4, above). 

MY PERSONAL GOSSIP

Today I will write the first entry in my 2021 journal. One of the positive things to come out of 2020—yes there were positives, you just had to intentionally seek them out—was that I wrote several times a week, every week, every month, in my journal. 

This is an achievement for me, because I tend to start out strong with my fresh new journal in January. But by May, my journaling wanes. I have a closet full of great documentation of the first 5-7 months of each year. Until 2020. 

The motivation that kept me opening the journal and scribbling my thoughts was the fact that it was an unprecedented year. Then it hit me. Every year is unprecedented. Every year is full of wonder, learning, growth, and new experiences. Every year deserves the attention we gave to 2020. Maybe that's my sixth nugget.

May you have a healthy, happy, unique, journal-worthy year in 2021 and each year moving forward.