As we leave 2021 behind and enter the New Year, many of us spend time reflecting on our past year and vowing to make changes in our lives. Maybe some of us want to spend more time with family, start the business we’ve always dreamed of, eat better and be more active, etc. It isn’t something as simple as making a resolution; it’s a complete remodel of who we are, what we do and why we do it. As we open the day on January 1, we are ready to go. We make our lists, make our plans. And, in a few months or so, most of us find ourselves right back in our regular routines – right back in the same rut we thought we left behind.
As we’ve just finished recovering from our Thanksgiving feasts and mustered the courage to step back onto the scales to assess the damage that’s been done, I encourage everyone to also assess their lives in terms of generosity.
In October, inflation was running at 6.2%, which is three times higher than its 25-year average. How does it get back to 2%, like it was pre-COVID?
Christmas really is the most magical time of year, full of so many traditions. I’m not much of a baker, but I enjoy baking cookies during the holidays. My absolute favorite are frosted gingerbread cookies I make from a recipe I got years ago at Cafe Aroma in Fenton. The cookies were temptingly displayed on the countertop near the cash register and they looked so delicious, I had to try one. The soft cookie topped with cream cheese frosting and red and green sprinkles was instantly addictive. Making these for my family has become a tradition.
Since it was first published on December 19, 1843, A Christmas Carol has been a holiday staple the world over. Never out of print, the story has been adapted to television and the big screen numerous times. It’s a story of charity, of kindness and of hope for the inherent goodness that exists in all men. Indeed, when Charles Dickens wrote the story over six weeks in the fall of 1843, it was with a noble aim.
Is there anything more European to do than travel by train? In America, passenger trains are few and far between. There is, of course, the ubiquitous Amtrak and in Flint, it serves as a jaunty way to visit Chicago. But other than that, riding the rails is a pastime that much of the U.S. has largely left behind.
If I ever had to leave my house in a hurry with just a few moments to grab my most prized possessions, there is only a handful (in addition to some clothes) I would choose to take with me. They include family photos, the little gifts and cards my boys made for me through the years, and my favorite books.
When ugly sweaters first became a holiday “thing,” I laughed and laughed.
As the temperatures continue to drop, we are definitely developing a hankering for all the fall comfort foods. How do you keep warm during the colder months? Sit around a nice bonfire in a knitted sweater, right? Here’s the coziest way to stay warm: put a pot of delicious soup on the stove and let it simmer unattended until it’s time to eat.
In the March 2019 issue of My City Magazine, I discussed the debt ceiling and the government shutdown that spanned December 22, 2018 to January 2019. Now, less than three years later, we face the prospect of another shutdown. The national debt ceiling was recently increased by approximately $450 billion, which prevented a shutdown in October. However, given the sheer amount of borrowing by the federal government, this only kicks the can down the road for another month.
When traveling, going to the beach is a holiday mainstay. Whether it’s heading up to northern Michigan, south to Florida or west to California, it’s difficult to beat a day in the sun, surrounded by sand and waves rolling into the shore. A quick dip, jumping in the surf, that first dunk underwater to acclimate yourself to its cooler temperature – all of these memories are part of the “day at the beach” experience. Pack a cooler, some towels, your favorite beach blanket, sunscreen, sunglasses, maybe a Frisbee to toss around … no matter where in the world you are, this is the standard for the perfect day in the sun.
I don’t really know Jennifer Griffin all that well. We work together, but not in the same building. We exchange pleasantries when we bump into each other at work and at functions.
