Sun Columnist Kerri Green

Dear Friends,

Well, we did it. We made it through 2021 or what I like to refer to as “The Pandemic: Act II”.

This week marks the end of a very long year and I, for one, am looking forward to 2022. While this year has yet again been stressful, busy and we all faced things we never dreamed we would, it hasn’t all been bad. As I sit here in my dining room, gazing on a no-so white Christmas scene in my backyard, eating cheese balls and sipping on some special coffee, I can’t help but smile when looking back on the year.

This isn’t going to be a diatribe of everything I did; you have weeks of my column to read if you really want a reminder. No, this is more about lessons learned and what I plan to take with me as we head into a new year. There’s something cleansing about the restart of a year. Like an annual baptism where you can shed the year before, start anew and make some new goals for yourself.

If 2021 taught me anything, it’s been to never say never, hold your head high and to always, always, eat the cake. Want something more specific? Here are some lessons I learned this year:

Make a plan A but have plans B and C ready to go.

Know what you want and don’t be afraid to ask for it.

It’s not where you are that matters, rather who you are with.

It’s not as difficult as you think to write a column every week for a year (this is my 55th straight week and I still have lots to say!)

Opportunity will knock when you least expect it.

Make time for friends.

Zoom will never be as good as a face-to-face meeting.

When you find a great hair or nail person, stick with them and always tip.

Take every opportunity to continue your education. Never stop learning.

The system works if you give it a chance, but when it’s not working don’t be afraid to say so and work to change it.

Don’t let your inbox pile up; once you hit over 500 it can be tough to find your way back.

Skincare is important at any age.

When you see an injustice, say so.

Use your vacation time. No one gets an award for having unused vacation at the end of the year.

On the flipside, don’t use up all of your vacation too early in the year. It’s a balance.

Don’t ignore red flags. They are called red flags for a reason.

Kids have the best ideas; you just need to give them an opportunity to share.

Quarantine is no fun, but thanks to Instacart, places that will deliver wine and the ability to stream virtually any show or movie, it’s tolerable.

It’s ok to brag.

While I believe you should never burn a bridge, some of them never should have been built to begin with.

You can’t choose your family, but they are yours so make the most of it.

Not having snow on Christmas is kind of a bummer.

Managing people is hard.

Make time for your personal health. Don’t cancel appointments, even regular checkups because you “don’t have the time”. Make the time.

You can’t see a forest through the trees.

Nothing is worth sacrificing your self-respect and happiness.

Be sure to account for delays when travelling.

Create a process to get your photos printed or at least saved somewhere other than social media.

You don’t have to be good at golf to enjoy playing.

Find your tribe and hold on tight.

Respect needs to be earned.

Always be honest and you will never give people a reason to doubt you.

Dream big, shoot for the stars, and never settle for less.

“White Christmas” is the best Christmas movie ever made.

The nay-sayers are usually the loudest voice in the room. Be louder.

All food should come shaped into tiny, round balls. Cheeseballs, peanut butter balls, meatballs, truffles, fried mac and cheese balls, cookies.

Travel. Anywhere. Just go.

Fire towers are fascinating.

When someone tells you that you’ll never win a 10-million-dollar grant, prove them wrong.

There is always room for positive thinking, sparkle, and glitter.

In the final days of 2021, I’d like to thank you, my readers.

I continue to be amazed at the number of people who read my column each week, and to thank those who have reached out with comments and feedback. We may not always agree, but that’s ok. If we all thought the same way, it would be a pretty boring world, wouldn’t it?

One day at the office someone who lives in North Carolina called. He reads my column every week an wanted to talk more about Chenango County. Said he had been thinking of relocating and wanted to know why I thought it was so special. That was pretty cool! Oh, and I recently made a new friend who attended an event we were hosting, just so she could meet me. She is a fascinating woman, and even recommended a new bread cookbook that I just purchased. So, thanks!

Anyway, thank you for sticking with me for the past 55-ish weeks. I can’t wait to see what 2022 will bring!

Be well and Happy New Year!

Kerri