Reflection – Year 2021 in Review
It is hard to believe 2021 is coming to a close tomorrow. Can you believe it? Because I can’t.
This year started out with confusion whether it be political, financial, or COVID.
It is hard to believe people are still debating the presidential election results. But no matter where you lie on the spectrum, you have an opinion on it. The country is somewhat divided still on this matter that happened over a year ago. Some people haven’t moved on and others haven’t stopped rubbing it in.
The ups and downs of the stock market, laced with economic stimulus payments, a new round of Paycheck Protection Program Loans and the tax law changes caused turmoil in the financial world. Each day had new changes to try to understand and relay the information to others.
Then there was COVID. Who would have thought we would still be dealing with this sickness? Cases continue to rise, countries teeter on shutting down, families have their own internal civil disagreements on vaccinations. And it seems like it’s going to steamroll into 2022.
It looks as if very little has changed in 12 months. But even though there is still confusion and hands are up in the air, we at least made it through.
But don’t let the craziness of a few situations diminish the good things that happened.
I have many things that happened in the last year that will forever bring a smile to my face.
Despite the world being closed on January 1, it opened up. I was able to travel to Italy with my family in August and show them the beauty of Venice, as we all got to experience the wonder of the Cinque Terra, the quaintness of Lucca, the overlooked Verona, the Alpy Bolzano, and the metropolitan stylings of Milan.
Even though we missed trains, got lost a few times, pigged out on gelato and pasta, this trip will be one that I will forever cherish. The nights of sitting around and laughing in the park in Verona, the early morning sunrise in Cinque Terra waiting for the train, the vineyard dinner in Lucca, and the gondola rides in Bolzano and Venice. We saw a lot. But mostly, we spent it together.
This year should remind us to slow down. The people in our lives today may not be in them tomorrow. People get older and graduate. People move out and get married. The little children from 10 years ago, are now fully grown adults with children of their own.
Time doesn’t slow down, so we need to slow ourselves down and enjoy what we have.
Enjoy the midday walks with your friend or mother. Sit down with your loved ones for a meal more often than holidays. Play a game with the people close to you. Take a spur of the moment trip not for the flashy notoriety, but for the whimsy of making memories.
We don’t always have all the time in the world, but we do have the time we have. How are you using it?
Yes, 2021 had some ups and downs, but the ups and downs are easier when you have loved ones nearby.
You may have experienced a health crisis, lost job, financial downturn, a sudden death, and 2021 may leave a bad taste in your mouth. I am truly sorry.
But one of my favorite lines from one of favorite shows sums up this time of year.
“If you think back and replay your year, if it doesn’t bring you tears, either of joy or sadness, consider the year wasted.”
John Cage from Ally McBeal
2021 wasn’t wasted. We all have either had some high highs or some low lows. You may have had both. But remember your tears were not wasted.
You may wish 2021 never happened, but it did. May you use the ups and downs of 2021 to lead you into 2022 with a new perspective.
And tears will probably happen in 2022. And when they do, I hope you remember John Cage’s line. Because they are not wasted.
Peace and God bless
Check out my podcast
https://anchor.fm/eric-suddoth5/episodes/Reflection—A-Look-Back-at-2021-e1cbe0v
