The early morning on January 1, 2021, found me falling on black ice and hanging out with the local paramedics. Thanks to the Apple watch falling feature (YES, it does work!) and my daughter (my husband was quarantined with COVID) everything turned out okay. I couldn’t help but think this was not how I wanted to start the new year! Like most of us, I had endured 2020 and was more than ready to begin a new chapter in many ways.
Now, here we are 12 months later and the end of 2021, is quickly approaching. The days have seemed to move quickly this year and most of the time we prefer it this way. Most days it feels as if we are stuck on Groundhog Day. And just as Phil states in the famous movie named after this holiday, “Okay campers rise and shine, and don’t forget your booties, ‘cause it’s cold out there . . . it’s cold out there everyday.” Our life seems as if it is the same thing day after day, and we think it will never change. I’m not going to pretend here, but I’ve had plenty of those days. Okay, maybe more than I prefer to admit, but as I reflect on 2021, it has definitely been better than I imagined after the way it started.
Here are three things I have learned from the last 12 months and a disclaimer note that I am not a master at these, but a work in progress. And of course, the best way I know how is through some of my favorite photos I have captured.
Just say YES! Yes, to opportunity. Yes, to an experience. Yes, to spending time with family and friends. There are always times you will have to say “no”, and it is okay. More times than not, we turn down opportunities because we think we don’t have time or should be doing something else more productive. This year I really tried saying “yes” more when I could.
Slow down! This is definitely a hard one, especially for me. I don’t sit still well and have two modes, moving or sleeping! We all have busy lives, kids, jobs, activities, and many other responsibilities too. There are deadlines to meet and items needing tended to, but everyone of us could use more moments of downtime. I’ll be the first to admit, I have always seemed to have more “uptime” than “downtime” over the years too. This year we started simplifying our lives and realizing what was most important. In doing this, I have been able to slow down and do more of the things I enjoy, like flying my drone and taking pictures.
Letting go! This is a hard one! Letting go of things we can’t control. Letting go of our expectations. Letting go of the past and mistakes we’ve made. Letting go of whatever is holding us back. For me, it is all the above, but it is also in letting go of perfection. I don’t necessarily take the greatest picture every time I hit the shutter button. But each time I do, I learn something and improve. I can look back over the past year and see improvement. I may not have even posted the “picture” perfect photo or added a copy to make it viral, but each time I hit the submit button I let go. And each time I let it go, my confidence grew.
This month will fly by us in a blink of an eye, and before long we will be celebrating and ringing in 2022! I hope you have a wonderful holiday season. Embrace this time and enjoy the little moments. And as Charlie Brown once said, “It’s not what is under the tree that really matters, it is who is around it.” Now off to keep practicing what I write! 😊
Happy Holidays!
You’ve seen the photos and the video (hopefully you’ve seen mine!). You know you need them to competently market the Read more
We all have a “bucket list”. We may not call it this, but there are things we want to do, Read more
Indianapolis has undergone a transformation over the last 40 years, transitioning from a state capital surrounded by farms and cornfields Read more
I had my vaccine and was ready to go somewhere, anywhere really, to escape from a long year of isolation Read more
I was born and raised in a small town in southern Ohio. When I was growing up, Columbus was The Read more
I have many interests, a full-time job, a family and a fairly busy life. I also have lots of questions: Read more
I have a confession. As a life-long fan, born and raised a Buckeye who bleeds scarlet and gray every Saturday Read more
When I was younger, Indiana was the one of the last places I thought I would ever live. Okay, maybe Read more
Fall is a great time in central Indiana and an even better time to visit Carmel. We all know winter Read more
I am sure you have heard of the fountain of youth, the mythical spring discovered by Ponce de Leon around Read more
2 thoughts on “The Way You Start Doesn’t Have to Be the Way It Ends”
Very inspirational and so very true! Great pictures too!
Great message! Hope 2022 brings you joy, more opportunities and many memorable experiences.