Goodbye 2021, What a year

I know, I know my photo should include a party scene with happy party goers: how about lots of confetti and a champagne bottle with a cork poppin’. 

But this image is really how I feel about the first day of the new year. All of the holiday decor is sadly being put away. I will miss coming home from work, walking through the door and seeing my beautiful tree. It never failed to put a smile on my face.

I spent most of New Years eve trying to close my financial books and plan for the coming year. There is a feeling of cautious optimism about 2022. 

The previous year started on a sour note and continued until the end. We started the year mired in Covid once again and my thought was, at least I would not have to worry about my parents or grandparents getting sick with Covid or another illness because they have all already passed. It never occurred to me that illness would befall one of our children. It is the worst feeling in the world not to be allowed to see a family member due to hospital Covid protocol. 

The call went out that a family member in his 20’s was quite sick and going to the hospital…… alone. I wouldn’t be allowed to be by his side because I am not the parent. The parent is out of state. Once there was a diagnosis parent and child ( young adult ) were reunited and next steps would occur. 

Who knew that the process would take so damn long. He got sick in early February and just had surgery in November. It has been a roller coaster ride of emotions; elation for a discharge date, devastation for readmittance due to complications. This Christmas season brought immediate family together. I did not want to be the one to expose him to Covid- 19 so I will see him at another time. The current Covid variant, Omicron is very transmissible. It just wasn’t worth the risk. I made the trip before his surgery. I want him to get a little stronger before I go see him again. 

What a year it has been. I’m so glad to see it go.

Hello 2022

2022 has started on a great note ( I realize we are only 2 days in ). A financial plan is all done. This is the first year I have a financial plan at the beginning of the year. It usually evolves through the year, but this year I’m just taking all the things that worked from previous years and keeping them. While getting rid of financial tasks and investments that didn’t work. 

My top 5 goals for 2022 ( so far )  

1. Declutter : get rid of all unnecessary “stuff ”
2. Automate investing. Works great because you never see the money and it isn’t missed
3. Take care of a nagging health issue
4. Add clarity to retirement plan
5. Do more fun stuff

Clearly, I want to start doing the work that needs to be done and stop stressing myself into inaction. 

Procrastination is a dirty word

Let’s get up and go in 2022!

Addendum: 4 days in to the New Year and we already have major drama. I will not be deterred! Still ready to get up and go?