Throwback Thursday #70 – My How Time Flies

We got home from Charleston last night and I was just too tired to write. It was a busy two days filled with family and fun. I skipped the movie (3 hours of Avatar) in favor of spending time with our daughter while our granddaughters, their Dad, and Grandpa donned their 3D glasses and ventured into Pandora.

Tell me what you loved about 2022.

I will be honest, it seems like just one long year since the pandemic began. 2022 did see the further relaxation of restrictions. I spent time with my family in Florida and here as well which was a blessing. Getting on a plane again was odd, but so worthwhile to spend time with family.

Do you have regrets?

I try not to regret the decisions or actions in my life. If anything, I do regret not pushing my doctor earlier on about getting the MRI on my knee.

What did you lose?

Even with the relaxations, there was still time lost with family. Hubby had a long stint with Covid in January and we had several family members who had Covid this year. I lost some of my mobility which is never a good thing, but things could always be more difficult, couldn’t they? I lost the ability to go to the gym like I once did and that has been something I miss.

What did you gain?

I gained perspective. I gained some weight. I gained even more respect for the health care workers and the school teachers who have stuck it out.

What was your greatest accomplishment?

Regaining and strengthening relationships.

How was your balance between happiness and sadness?

I didn’t experience a lot of sadness, but I still felt somewhat isolated. Very little travel and seeing family and friends still seemed lacking. I think the balance was okay, but neither happiness nor sadness really tipped the scale.

And lastly, what are you happy to leave behind and what do you look forward to?

I am hopeful we can put a lot of the political unrest behind us in favor of a more sane society. I am hopeful we will continue to put more of Covid into the past and move forward as a more health conscious society,

Of course my greatest joy that I look forward to the most is the arrival of our seventh grandchild (a grandson) in May! 

Anything more you want to add?

The last few months of 2022 have caused me to put my blogging on the back burner at times. I hope that I can get back on a more regular schedule after the holidays. I love this community and wish you all a happy, healthy, and productive New Year.

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Throwback Thursday #70 – A Year in Review

Here we are closing in on 2022, hopefully looking forward to what the new year will bring. Preparing for a new year often entails looking back over the past year.

So, today, we are throwing back only one year.

• Tell me what you loved about 2022.
• Do you have regrets?
• What did you lose?
• What did you gain?
• What was your greatest accomplishment?
• How was your balance between happiness and sadness?
• And lastly, what are you happy to leave behind and what do you look forward to?
• Anything more you want to add?

I am in Charleston visiting family, so I will respond later today when I get back home.

I wish you all a wonderful wrap-up of 2022 and hope you have lots to look forward to in 2023. No resolutions for me. Just moving forward one day at a time.

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Days of Reflection

I took some much needed time to spend with my family in the days following Christmas so I have only been dropping in occasionally. Sadly, I read the news that fellow blogger Mary Smith’s cancer journey came to an end. I am so sad we lost Mary and as much as we all loved her, I am sure our feelings pale in comparison to those of her family. This community lost another strong, welcoming, and supportive member. It is a loss we will feel for years to come.

Since my family left, I have taken some time to reflect on the past year and think about my intentions for the year to come. I never make resolutions, but one thing I do try to do is find a focus or an intent for the coming year.

December also has some grief anniversaries for me of which I try to stay above a sense of sadness and focus on celebrating the lives that played such an important part of helping me develop into the person I would become. Hard nonetheless.

2021 had its ups and downs. I had moments of hope for the virus declining and we all know those hopes were dashed. I now know several people fully vaccinated and boosted who have contracted the virus. Sadly, it was to be expected as long as the virus had a place to mutate and spread. Guidances are changing again. Shorter quarantine times (which some doctors disagree with) and a move away from cloth masks to N95, KN95, or 3-ply surgical masks. Trying to stay one step ahead of (or at least in sync with) the virus becomes more and more challenging.

I am making some minor changes to my blog and I hope to move back to writing more from my heart which is how I started this journey. I won’t say I will not continue some of the weekly prompts and challenges, but when I do, I hope the content will be more based in actually saying something that gives readers a glimpse of who I am. I hope to continue the Thursday Throwback prompt with Lauren – at least until it has run its course.

This community has become such an important part of my life and I value you, dear readers and fellow writers more than you can imagine. As in any other community, I think our role is to add something to make it better – or at least no worse – than we found it. That is my goal.

I remain ever optimistic and hopeful for the future.