newyearpossiblitiesblog

A New Year of Possibilities... on the Main Line

Hello Neighbor! Happy New Year!  I’m sure that I’m not alone when I say that I was not sad to see 2020 come to an end.  It certainly was a year like no other.  It…

Hello Neighbor!

Happy New Year!  I’m sure that I’m not alone when I say that I was not sad to see 2020 come to an end.  It certainly was a year like no other.  It challenged us in ways we would have never thought possible and made us re-evaluate our priorities.  So it is with relief, excitement, gratitude, and happiness that I look to the new year and all of its possibilities.  While it is typical at this time to set resolutions and look forward, I have always felt that reflection on things past should be a part of the process.  That being said, I took away some lessons from this past year that I thought I’d share.  While some are funny and light-hearted, they are all conveyed with the knowledge and understanding that it is the friends and family whom I treasure most that make this crazy ride that we call life worthwhile.

1. My teenage son enjoys eating.  Alot.  All day.

2. I now understand what all the hype was/is about Downton Abbey.  Consider the Kool-Aid drunk.  In a Johnson Brothers China tea cup.  With my pinky properly elevated.

3. I will never again take for granted the wonderful privilege it is to leave my home to go to a job that I love each day.

4. I’ve learned how to auto-program my Cuisinart coffeemaker.  I am so ready for the return of early morning appointments!

5. I’m so happy that I have always made the decoration of my home a priority.  After almost a year of sheltering-in-place, I have so enjoyed reaping the benefits of my passion for interior design.

6. Of all the different banana bread recipes I have tried, the Nutella-Swirled and Cinnamon Crunch will be my go-to’s from now on.

7. There are between 500 to 900 different species of rhododendrons.  I’m hoping that the English Roseum that I planted in my continuing pursuit to replicate an English garden in the western suburbs of Philadelphia will prove successful.  I added some coffee grounds (see #4) to help the process along.

8. My three children really do enjoy school and all that comes with it; friends, teachers, activities, and even academics.

9. Instagram Live videos saved me this past year.  Watching my favorite celebrities chat with their colleagues and friends was like going to a fabulous cocktail party and circulating through different conversations that just got more and more interesting as the night progressed.

10. Going forward, a date night with my husband, coffee with girlfriends, and hugging my parents will engender an entirely new appreciation.

Until we meet again, Dear Neighbor, I wish you health, happiness, and time to appreciate the lessons.

Fondly,
Gina