Hello friends,
Apparently the only time I think about writing now is on snow days...almost a full year apart! ❄❄ I'm feeling extremely lazy today, currently on the couch with a good view out the window at the snow, two blankets on my lap with my laptop, phone, and kindle within reach for constant entertainment. No need to move until camping pup needs to go outside. (or to make more coffee!)Looking back - 2021 feels so much the same as 2020, it was full of the ups and downs of life, including pretty low low's when covid took my brother at the young age of 55. But as life goes there were also sweet moments of family time and snuggles and peaceful moments of sitting by the lake with a good book. 
Reflections :
I went back and read what word I picked as the my word of the year last year - yep, that's right, I couldn't even remember what it was :-) It was mindful(ness) with supporting words: balance and grace. I don't know how good I was at achieving any of that. I definitely have tried to keep grace in mind in the past year as we are all carrying extra burdens and we never know what's below the surface in another person's life...remembering that and also remembering to give myself grace has certainly found a place to live in the back of my mind. So I suppose "grace" was my success story - balance kind of... well didn't happen :-)
Exploration:
Honestly, I don't really have the energy in this moment to think about any "resolutions" or a "word of the year" - just thinking about picking one seemed overwhelming and exhausting, and hey - I've gotten better at giving myself grace so I'm just not going to do it ... and that's ok :-) What I do want to try to do is be more mindful about is being present for the little moments of joy and peace. So often I'm waiting for the next vacation or the thing that is stressing me out to be over, and of course that perfect season of everything being just right never comes, because ... well, life happens. So in this busy, stressful, anxiety filled (that might just be me :-)) world I need to relish and appreciate when happiness, quiet, or love filled moments appear in the day to day. I hope you will find ways to grab onto those little bits of sunshine too.
What We're Reading:
Camping husband is working gazillion hours a day (hug your healthcare workers) so he's not reading much of anything other than medical information, covid news, and emails...
I posted to my facebook asking for book recommendations from friends as a reading challenge for the year and the first one I jumped into is:
Here are also a few favorites from 2021:
Happy New Year and Happy Reading!
