When self-checkout first came out, I thought it was kind of fun getting to scan my own groceries and play cashier, something I loved playing
as a child. It seemed rather perfect if I only had a few items.
I could just run through, scan, pay and go without getting
behind theweekly shopper with the bulging buggy.

Fast forward several years, and I no longer care for self-checkouts. Like most things brought to fruition to make things a little extra convenient, it has now taken over and changed everything. There are certain stores that if you shop after 8:00 or 9:00 o’clock at night, self-checkout is your only option. Frankly, I have a full-time job, so at the end of my grocery shopping, I don’t want another one as cashier when my cart is filled with supper, cleaning supplies, paper towels and a 22-pound bag of dog food; there simply isn’t enough room, and it turns into a ridiculous, stress-inducing situation.

“You don’t need a New Year or a new day to start fresh,
you only need a new mindset.”

For me, 2021 was a difficult year. Probably more than 75 percent of my days were filled with stress, worry and fear. It became an arduous task to find joy, mainly because my stress was bullying me. However, almost 100 percent of the time, I got up, I got out, and I did what had to be done, and some of those days I soared, which felt incredible. As I look back over the year as a whole, though, it wore me out.

I refuse to allow 2022 to follow suit. Bad years need to step aside because I’m putting measures in place that no matter what, I’m going to make my well-being—both physically and mentally—a priority, and that includes not only finding joy, but living joyously!

Everyone says, it’s the 2020s, like that gives the human race a hall pass. What does a year have to do with being a good human, raising good humans and behaving like a good human? Nothing, that’s what.

For those of you who discount social graces to the times, I have to ask, really?
It’s alright with you for people to be nonchalant, putting no effort into doing their part as a decent citizen? When did standards get so low, so as not to even expect people to do the right thing?

Here are a few things to put on your to-do list as you move into 2022
with a verve to #startfresh.

“You may find that making a difference for others
makes the biggest difference in you.”
— Brian Williams, Journalist 

One night I was traveling from Columbia, SC, back home to Hilton Head Island. My daughter, who was then 19 years old and two of my cousin’s little girls were with me. It was summertime, and they were going to spend a week with us. You can imagine the excitement in the car. The only problem, it was late, dark, pouring buckets of rain, and shortly outside of Columbia on I-26, the traffic came to a complete halt.

We were in quite the precarious situation. As each of us sat there waiting and wondering, the tension grew. I could tell the girls were worried and even a little scared. We literally were in complete darkness. We had no idea as to when the traffic would start moving again, if the rain was going to let up, or how long we would be stuck.

‘Twas the night before Christmas,
when all through the house,
Everyone was angry, even the mouse.

The tempers had flared, it seemed nobody cared
The TV shows told us there’s no hope, no prayer.