Most of the world entered 2021 with the expectation that life would be better than it was in 2020. However, for many of us, we learned getting “back to normal” was more complicated than we hoped. By spring, it seemed “normal” was in reach. Then a resurgence of Covid with new variants, causing more closures and cancelations, sickness and death. Some things that helped us navigate our unmet expectations for the year were adaptability, creativity and resilience.

Here’s what I learned from the past year:

1. I am quite adaptable, creative and resilient.
2. Friends are the family we choose, and I have chosen well. I have too many “thank yous” to mention here.
3. Everyone is a teacher when I’m in student mode. I have someone currently teaching me how I don’t want to be as I age. Even though they are a negative example, I’m learning a lot.
4. Nothing seems to dampen my desire for dark chocolate in any form, so I’ve given up trying.
5. One thing my mother taught me isn’t necessarily true: “If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.” I chose a word for 2021; it was “marketing.” I started the year by enrolling in some DIY marketing programs. I learned some things, thanks to Southland Development Center and Women’s Business Development Center. However, in April, I turned over my marketing to a marketing firm in Chicago, and they are doing a much better job than I ever could. Thank you @revenue!
6. Nothing beats the word “grandma” or a hug from one of my grandkids—absolutely nothing.
7. I love and miss traveling, but if it doesn’t happen, I am not going to die. (I didn’t know that in 2020.)
8. Life is much easier when I live by my 2020 chosen motto for the year: “Nothing happens to me; everything happens for me.” Through all my challenging moments this year, I remembered that and experienced a great deal more peace. Thank you, Scott D’Alterio.
9. When I don’t worry about money but, instead, do what I need to do every day, I find the money seems to always be there—usually just what I need. Thank you, Sheri Macewko.
10. I make the choice to value love, kindness and compassion above all else and, consequently, have no regrets.
11. I believe loving my work and having a strong, supportive network of family and friends contributes to what has been called my youthful appearance. (The other factor is that I sometimes act like a teenager—LOL!)
12. Sticking with my walking routine is much easier with a walking partner. Thank you, Darnell Baugh.
13. I learned that faith is so important as I watched my dear friend, Sylvester Baugh, get a kidney after being taken off the transplant list twice for poor health. He got back on, and two days later, he had a new kidney. He never doubted it; I wasn’t so sure. I’m sure now. Thank you, Sylvester Baugh.
14. I must maintain good health if I am going to get to cross things off my bucket list, as many involve stamina and strength. I intend to live until my list is complete, and I add to it every year!
15. Sometimes all that is required for good mental health is someone who believes in your ability to heal from your trauma.
16. With less travel time in the books, I have been learning more and rediscovering how much I love learning. Since Covid, I’ve taken a few marketing classes, got certified as a clinical trauma professional and earned my diversity and inclusion certificate. I have a goal to formally learn at least one new thing each year.
17. I believe the big divide in this country, and around the world, has to do with two things. One is misinformation and the other is diversity. Some of us value freedom while others value safety. When we should be working together to find a solution for both groups, we are at war with each other. The real culprit is misinformation. In a democracy, where everyone gets a vote, we need to be well-informed so we can make voting decisions based on facts, not lies and misinformation.
18. I am improving my patience with my work. I am creating things with the understanding that I need to take my time before releasing them. I didn’t know much about how to effectively introduce things to the public. I thought if I created it, I should immediately sell it, but that isn’t necessarily so.
19. I learned a lot of helping professionals need to learn Mental Freedom® to apply good self-care. Once they learn the difference between responsibility and response-ability, they take responsibility for their part of the helping equation and place the rest of the responsibility where it belongs, on their clients.
20. As it relates to the Law of Reciprocity, I am good at giving but not so good at receiving. This is not good for me, and it blocks the energy of those who are trying to give to me. I plan to get better at receiving in 2022.
21. I learned that almost everyone I talked with this year agrees they need more Mental Freedom in their life. I will have a suite of products to address that in 2022 and I’m super excited to release it!