Food for our souls needed: What great things happened in 2021?

[nolabear]

We need to nourish ourselves with some pleasure, some acknowledgment that there are joys in and reasons for living this life. Post if you have them, and encourage those who do.

I got my MFA in writing! We get to be with our kids and grandkids again. My son began a new course of study that will lead to a much better job. My daughter in law started a preschool. And best of all, my son gave my brother in law the stem cell transplant that cured his leukemia. After so much fear and sickness he’s cancer free! And as an added bonus he’s now my son’s blood type! 😃

C’mon folks. Let’s go out with some soul food. Big or small. We need it!

[Jerry2144]

1. Joe Biden was inaugurated

And Tangerine Palpatine wasn’t

[Demovictory9]

19. along with VP Kamala

[Boomerproud]

2. Nothing good or life altering happened to me.

To Nolabear, I'm sincerely happy for your loved ones and health and happiness to you in 2022.

[nolabear]

3. No good meals? No movies or music or days outside?

Everything is appreciated, big or small.

I also saw a couple of fantastic sunsets on the beach and watched Orcas play in the nearby inlet. Reach in there. There’s stuff.

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

4. JWST is on its way!

https://webb.nasa.gov/content/webbLaunch/whereIsWebb.html

[nolabear]

6. Thank you for that site! I'm so glad it was created.

I’m an absolute sucker for space exploration. All of it. It’s the most optimistic thing I can think of.

[Alpeduez21]

11. It's slowed down

I looked at it on Christmas and it was going .9-1.1 miles per second. I was wondering how they would get in place. Kind of like stopping a train. Gotta start stopping long before you get there

[ARPad95]

5. I'm game!

Last edited Fri Dec 31, 2021, 07:20 PM - Edit history (1)

My dh and I completed/are completing several long overdue home improvement projects.

My oldest child earned a Doctor of Education degree.

My middle child purchased a home after a decade of renting.

My youngest child got a job (working remotely) and it's his first one since college graduation in 2019 (a surgery and then COVID-19 pandemic disrupted job searches). Finally flew the nest for good. (bitter sweet)

[nolabear]

7. Especially in a hard year that's a lot to accomplish.

Isn’t it great to see your kids reach goals?

[ARPad95]

9. Yes! Especially with my youngest because there were some very dark days to get through.

A good enough paying job has done wonders for his self-esteem and planning the next phase of his life.

[Solly Mack]

8. My rescues are all healthy and thriving.

The one I called Shitleg at birth is now named Henry. He's spoiled rotten. The other cats and dogs have all had a hand (or paw) in that - it wasn't just me.

It brings my joy that they are all doing so well.

[nolabear]

15. Me too! And sounds like you made that happen.

They’re lucky to have you.

[Freddie]

10. My son married his perfect match a year ago

They bought a nice house, he got a promotion, they’re having a baby this summer. We are so incredibly proud how he’s turned his life around. 6 years ago he was deep in a heroin addiction and I was terrified every day. I know so many parents that didn’t have a happy ending to this story, or are still struggling, and I know how truly fortunate we are.
Our “born” grandkids (his sister’s 3 kids) are thriving.
DH is retiring in 18 months. He’s got an app that shows the weeks, days, hours and minutes left.

[nolabear]

16. What a great story. I'm proud of him!

You must sleep so much better. Adds to my faith that things can change. Big things!

[bedazzled]

12. I am glad to have lived another year

With my husband and son, my friends, my home, and all I need.

Only thing I want is to get around to help others more. I am too afraid to work as a volunteer at the cancer center because my son works outside right now and keeps bringing crud home

[nolabear]

17. Stay strong for those future volunteer jobs! You make the world go round.

[bedazzled]

21. Thank you for the opportunity to promote the good

Gratitude is vital and we tend to forget ...

[Spider Jerusalem]

13. Rush Limbaugh died (n/t)

[Hortensis]

14. How great, Nolabear.

Our kids and grandchildren are doing good too. The kids are all brilliant and their parents smart and able to keep them safe, and amid so many worrisome events they keep us happy and looking forward to the future with them in it.

We get so used to them, but the vaccines. Frustration is incredibly better than fear of joining the many who have (NOT!) died. Vaccines for the children. Had to look it up, but within the next 3 months about 75% of the world's population will have had at least the first dose.

Oh, and that malaria vaccine and others to come! I want to cry thinking of all the children who won't die.

Working people have been getting more assertive -- around the planet. Finally! Please, more in 2022!

Speaking of planet, it became a seriously more dangerous place for child sex offenders due to global data bases and predatory (hunting them) software.

The big legislation we Democrats passed this year has made a huge difference in many lives and most of it hasn't even gotten started. If nothing else were possible, and much more is coming, people would still be benefiting for decades after my husband and I move on.

Happy New Year, everyone!

https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_550/

[nolabear]

18. LOVE your post. We have done so much!

I suspect some things that are in the hopper now will bear fruit that’ll make us happy.

[Demovictory9]

20. excellent list!

[tishaLA]

22. Gavin Newsom annihilated the recall effort

and we haven't heard from Larry Elder since.

[nolabear]

25. No small blessing! 😍

[mnhtnbb]

23. I bought a house--because of COVID--and moved in on January 6th!

I thought when my estranged husband and I sold our house in 2018 that I would be renting for the rest of my life. Being able to plan for this house and make decisions about design choices for it got me through 2020. Implementing the landscaping plans this past year was fun. I got to have a hummingbird feeder in my garden once again and watched hummers from May 1st until mid-September. All spring, summer, and fall I enjoyed being out in my courtyard, watching the garden grow.

I was able to go to the beach--Emerald Isle, NC--for a week in October, which is my favorite time of year there.

Thanksgiving was at my house this year and it was the first time since 2016 that I had celebrated it with both my boys and their partners.

I have on my desk my youngest son's recently published first professional paper, published in a British journal called Performance Research. Next week he will turn in his dissertation and I have made plans to go see him awarded his doctorate in Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism at Yale in May.

I made it through the year without catching COVID! Was thrilled to get vaccinated last Feb/March and boostered the week before Thanksgiving.

[nolabear]

26. Hummingbirds! And a great beach!

Mr Bear has a deep relationship with a little hummer who’s determined to chase all comers off of “his” feeder. They get there anyway and it’s a delight. In the recent snow it and our regular feeder were open for business.

And we used to go to Emerald Isle every summer when the boys were little. And then Holden Beach. Now we have a place on that other ocean—the cold, PNW one. But beach towns being what they are, it’s wonderful.

[Stuart G]

24. Every day is a....HOLIDAY!!!!.....

i have had every kind of surgery ..too many to mention... ...still alive and working...

I can walk up my stairs..
I can think.
I can listen & hear.
I have a computer that works..(in the early 70s that was an illusion on Star Trek)
I have enough money to live on & some savings
I have a place to live in.
I have someone to love
I have someone who loves me
I have plenty of .."stuff"...(too much stuff)
I have a car to get around in
I have plenty of friends who I can call & visit
I have 2 brothers who are alive and well.
I have a TV that works..gets lots of stations (no cable)
I have lots of plants in my house...(all doing ok)
I have a phone that works and gets long distance (yes long distance is much cheaper than it was 40 years ago)
I have relatives who call me occasionally
I have electricity, and working flush toilets.
I have numerous magazines that come monthly
I am very close to local library..that has a whole lot more of books, magazines..newspapers etc. (5 minute drive away
.............from my place to library.
I have good neighbors..

Yes, there is more that I want............but....

I am truly grateful for what I have....You may not consider these things...Great..but I do

[nolabear]

27. I consider them fabulous! Sounds like quite a year.

I have encroaching mobility issues too and I’m damned if I’ll give up my stairs. All the rest—yes, we forget, don’t we?

[Hortensis]

28. What a great and nice thread to read.

Happy new year, everyone. Thanks, Nolabear!

[Texasgal]

29. I changed careers at 52 years old

and cannot be happier!

Happy New Year!

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

30. President Biden reversed almost all of The Fascist Guy's Executive Orders.

Many of which were designed to stifle equal rights, or help kill the environment for corporate profit.

And my fifth grandchild was born.

[nolabear]

31. Congratulations! Grandchildren are so great.

That other thing’s quite a relief too!