If February 16th rolls around and someone randomly does something nice for you, the news may not be all good.
If the 2021 economy could be summarized in one word, I would say it is “disappointing.” Vaccine development and deployment has far exceeded expectations since the pandemic began; anyone who wants a vaccine can get one! The economic recovery in the face of this, however, is far below expectations.
As I look back and say good-bye to the year 2021, all I can say is it was a very interesting year. Although it began in turbulence with the January 6 insurrection at our nation’s Capitol building – an unsettling experience – and ended with terrifying tornadoes in Kentucky, it brought me some good personal experiences. Here are some highlights of my 2021.
The month of January is the one time of year when we all get a “clean slate” to start over, or at least make some positive changes in our lives. Like many people, I have never been too successful at making and keeping New Year’s Resolutions, with “keeping” being the operative word.
There is so much about traveling that has changed since COVID-19 and all of its variants arrived on the scene.
With each New Year, I start looking for great new recipes that are tasty and nutritious. Of course, we typically gravitate toward meals that are warm and comforting, but I always feel that adding more fresh greens to my diet helps perk me up from the winter blues. And consuming the extra vitamins this time of year is always a good idea.
I wish all My City Magazine readers a very prosperous and Happy New Year!
As much as I wanted to buck tradition and skip making resolutions for 2022, I have officially made one.
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.
