Happy New Year, friends. I hope you all arrived safely in 2022. And no, it’s not “2020 too”, damnit, and no repeat of 2021 either, although I do understand the sentiment that just because the clock struck midnight and we switched to a new even-numbered year, nothing has really changed. Yet. We’re still in a pandemic, maybe even more so than ever.
And on the last day of 2021, we lost Betty White. I know, f***ing 2021, right? I am heartbroken too. But honestly, I am glad we’re not starting the new year with such depressing news (and I would personally like to thank Betty to have the foresight!), but then again, a couple of things have happened already that made the beginning of this year less than stellar and here we are, only 3 days in.
For example, yesterday on my first WFH day of 2022, I found out that due to heavy rain over the holiday break, there was a roof leak at my office that affected my cubicle and computer systems, which explains why I wasn’t able to connect to my system remotely. (It’s all fixed now.)
And then, I heard from a friend that a ‘stray’ bullet fell through the roof of her house on New Year’s Eve. A stray bullet! Luckily, nobody got hurt, but it should tell you something that the bullet went through the roof (causing damage) and landed in her kids’ playroom! I am outraged and appalled. ( What’s wrong with people?? Why do people shoot live bullets into the air for New Year’s? For the love of all things good, don’t ever do that).
How about we slow it with the bad news, okay?
As always, I tried to start the new year on the “right foot”, literally, by getting my first few running miles of 2022 under my belt. It’s usually a pretty solid start into the new year for me and gets me in the right headspace, especially when I wake up, it’s a balmy 48F/9C outside, and the sun is shining and inviting me to get outside. I don’t know about you, but I always, without fail, feel better after 30 minutes of exercise and fresh air. Try it sometime.
Now, let’s all take a collective deep breath, shall we? Ok, good. I am not going into all the things that worry me about this new year today. There’s plenty time for 2022 to shape up to be what we want it to be. I choose to focus on a positive attitude and the things that I can control. I invite you to do the same. If we’re all starting this new way in smart and reasonable ways, maybe – just maybe – things will slowly turn around. As we all know, hope is the last thing to die.
Tanja
January 4, 2022 at 11:09 amI’m going to focus on positive things as well… (However, did you hear about the new variant they’ve found???)
Kobe started the year, Bette closed it. :(
Here is to a healthy and happy 2022!!!
San
January 4, 2022 at 11:16 amKobe started 2020. Yeah, I know… it doesn’t seem that long.
And no, I had NOT heard about the new variant, JFC.
Elisabeth
January 4, 2022 at 11:39 amThe good (?) thing about 2022 is I think we all have relatively low expectations. I think that was one of the tough things about 2021. We all felt, as the vaccine became available and as case numbers seemed to drop, that we were going to be past this by the end of the year. Or at least at the place where we felt like we were “living” with the virus.
I think my own expectations of how things were going to end have really made the start of this dark, cold winter period feel especially daunting. BUT, because I’m really working to identify that and to be realistic that with COVID – and with life – I’m having to admit that I don’t know the future hold and really do best just living one day at a time, obeying the rules, and trying to be kind to those around me…really, what more can I do? I feel like I’m trying to plan less. And maybe, just maybe, trying to control things a little less too? I know that my Type-A personality craves control and order and I just want to be able to put everything in to a neat list for 2022. But that just isn’t going to happen and so maybe that’s a good lesson that I need to learn, however much I hate the COVID is trying to teach me that.
San
January 6, 2022 at 10:37 amI understand the need to “control” things, I am a Type-A personality too but I’ve also learned (with time!) that I need to accept the things that I cannot control. I have very high expectations (of myself and others), but sometimes starting out with low expectations can be a good thing.
NGS
January 4, 2022 at 2:08 pmI need this reminder that I have control over my own attitude. I’m going to focus on putting a positive spin on things because I really think that forcing positive thoughts helps to undo some of the negative spirals I can sometimes get into. Thanks for the reminder!!
San
January 5, 2022 at 9:56 amNegative thoughts, occasionally, are normal but yes, I believe that trying to replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts has an impact.
Divya
January 5, 2022 at 5:09 amI stopped listening to podcasts toward the end of 2021 and it’s been the best thing for my mental health! I still stay generally aware of what’s going on in our world, but it’s not information overload and I think that’s helped so much!
San
January 5, 2022 at 9:56 amGood thing I never listen to podcasts. I can only imagine the overload.
Suzanne
January 5, 2022 at 8:36 amYes, this is good advice. I am really, really trying to avoid the news. I get pulled into doom scrolling and it is awful for my mental health.
LOVE your New Year’s card, by the way!
San
January 5, 2022 at 9:57 amThank you. I love that you love the New Year’s Card. And avoiding the news is a good strategy. I feel like we won’t miss the *really* important stuff, so it’s good to step back where we can.
Nicole MacPherson
January 6, 2022 at 3:51 amThis was a great post for me to read! Deep breaths, onward and upward. I am reading a book called The Daily Stoic (daily readings) and it’s all about controlling our responses and behaviour when we cannot control external factors. I have been avoiding the news and it’s helping my mental health for sure. (STRAY BULLET, AHHHHHH WHAT)
San
January 6, 2022 at 10:37 amOh that sounds like an interesting and enlightening read. Thanks for the suggestion!
Jenny
January 6, 2022 at 6:09 amYes- why in the world is it a “thing” to shoot off guns on NYE? What happened to regular old fireworks? So crazy. BUT… let’s focus on the positive. Some experts are saying omicron is the last big wave, and that after this Covid will become endemic rather than pandemic. I hope they’re right!
Happy New Year San!
San
January 6, 2022 at 10:38 amI’d like a bit of positive news and hope these experts are right!
Lisa of Lisa's Yarns
January 6, 2022 at 8:13 amWow, that is terrifying about the stray bullet entering your friend’s house! What in the world!
I’m on an indefinite social media break and it has been really good for me. I don’t know when/if I will go back on. So that has helped me not get too bogged down by the news and things like that.
It’s been hard to find much optimism right now with the omicron surge. It feels like we will just continue to see new variants. I’m trying to believe life won’t always be like this, but it’s hard. Add in all the illnesses we’ve had in our family, non-Covid thank God, and I am just worn out. But I figure the year can only get better?
San
January 6, 2022 at 10:39 amAh, I wondered if you deleted your IG account – I couldn’t find it. I can see how stepping back might be a good choice (I am not there yet).
Anything that has a positive impact on our mental health though is a good thing… and yes, the year can only get better.
Tobia | craftaliciousme
January 8, 2022 at 10:59 amI am sorry to hear you already had so much annoying things going on. The bullet thing is scary. I can’t even imagine. I really really hope your year turns out to be rather great one. So many more days left.
anne
January 18, 2022 at 4:13 pmOh, San, I’m so sorry for the things that weighed you down coming in to 2022. I agree, we all need a break. A big one. And what the HECK with the bullet? Do not get me started on the (lack of) gun control laws in this country. I can’t even have a rational conversation about it anymore.
I think giving each other grace and space and hoping for the best is a good way to approach the new year. Here’s to a (mostly) clean slate and the as-yet-unknown joys that will come to you this year. Because if I have anything to say about it, there will be plenty of them! <3