Looking Back at What 2021 Taught Us.................... 12/31/21

     It has happened.

      The year coming to an end.  Time for a review of what transpired in the last twelve months, in this Age of Covid.  Shall we begin? 

      The new normal.  Mask on, mask off.  No, this does not reveal a new version of a Karate Kid exercise.  

       It became harder to understand others---voices are frequently muffled.  The speaker's face remains covered, thank you very much.     We all have plenty of opportunities to practice patience and grace when listening to a masked server at a restaurant, a masked person behind the cash register. 

       Being gracious and persevering reveals a better option than expressing frustration and anger. 

       Secondly, anxiety has become more frequent mental normal for many during this pandem-ic season.  The prob-lem, none of us know what the future holds.  

       We become re-assured when remembering a positive outcome is just as likely as a negative one.  Our feelings are just that---emotions, not a prophecy.  We experience comfort knowing the loudest voice screaming within us is not neces-sarily the truest.  

       Thirdly, many of us now recognize we can endure the trials and fears we face when we enjoy the support of others. 

        Incredible strength appears when we derive it from emotionally mature and healthy friends and family members.  A chain, we know, demonstrates its strength in its weakest link.  The opposite truth re-vealed in the nature of a rope. 

 It remains as strong as the strongest strand.  Even though all the fibers in a braided cord can be torn and frayed-----very unlikely---a single remaining strand will hold the rope together. 

       Community likewise remains critical for holding our emotional health together.  The community of our supportive network restores our sanity.  En-joying community provides the backing necessary for us to live another minute, hour, day, and week. 

       No person can be an island. 

       Fourthly,  resiliency gets its birth from, yes, a  positive mind---one with an attitude of gratitude.  Doom thinking does not help.  Mentally con-necting with whatever reveals good, lovely, excellent, or ad-mirable qualities empowers us. 

       A positive outlook helps to replace--crowd out--feelings of dread and fear. 

      The year 2020 did not provide the clear 20/20 vision we wanted.  2021 has come and gone. 2022 will be good for me and you if we stay in the solution,  stay close to the lifeline of a supportive network, and stay away from the negative internal voices that are not necessarily true. 

       I have more to write and will, later.  Right now, this post will do.