Hello 2021.

It’s the first day of the new year. 2021.

I had such high hopes for 2020. The beginning of a new decade. The symbolism of 20/20 vision and all that other, now painfully cliche, stuff seemed the perfect fount of inspiration.

My hopes were genuine though.

The new decade symbolized for me an end to a previously hardcore ten years during which I dealt with some extremely difficult life changes seemingly one after the other. It was a Sisyphean decade….best way to describe it.

However, as soon as the first month of the first year of the new decade came ’round for a visit I knew we were in for a ride in a hand basket at warp speed towards….well, you already know.

From physical and emotional challenges to losing icons…last year made its presence known right away. And how.

Then….March came along and made sure that life as we knew it would come to a screeching halt. Pathogens, politics, fear, anger, divisiveness, resentments, illness (both physical and mental) all hit with avalanche force.

No other year, and believe me I’ve lived through some stuff, had ever rendered me feeling so completely small and helpless.

….but…..as we humans are prone to do….I pushed through.

Like all of you did.

I learned a few new things, re-prioritized others, became an even more budget-savvy geek, and made sure to always have an extra pack of toilet paper handy. I also quickly understood that what I once thought was “multi-tasking” could be taken to a completely new and crazier level. Working three jobs, helping two teens distance learn while dealing with the fear and angst of pandemia, taking my own classes, caring for my blind pup, and so…much…more. I now am able to multi-task at Advanced Level Fire. I’m about to add that to my LinkedIn profile.

I suppose 2020 wasn’t a complete waste after all.

So, on this first day of 2021, I hold zero expectations for what lies ahead. I know that what matters most is our health and making whatever decisions necessary to maintain it. Some decisions small and simple. Others difficult and huge.

I don’t have any resolutions other than to be better at time management so as to feel less overwhelmed. This means saying “no” more often. Not an easy task for a girl who often dances intimately with the Cuban-guilt she was raised with…but I need to do it.

I want to continue to allow myself the hours I need to grow my passions. My writing. My stories. This blog. I plan on remembering more often that what I want and need is important too. Something many of us moms forget all too often.

…and…

I want to continue to allow my mind to expand and grow and learn….and impart all of that onto my kids. This year has been an emotionally and socially difficult one for them….but their ability to critically think has helped them through some of this.

We’ve watched, as a little family microcosm, how dogma and one-sided rhetoric can damage people and destroy families and friendships far more than any viral load could. We want no part of that…and so we will continue to learn with open hearts and open minds. Putting our energy into that which’ll make us better humans. 2021 and beyond….

Wishing you all the very best this new year, and I look forward to sharing more stories with you (and re-introducing old ones too, of course!)

Another year of rewiring adulthood is ahead. 😉

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