With Love, 2021
There’s no denying that 2021 was a difficult year. Amidst the Coronavirus outbreak, a difficult political climate, and the mental strain it brought, 2021 brought many challenges. Even so, the year wasn’t all that bad. We’ve learned many important lessons throughout this year, and we have so much to look forward to in the new year! Ultimately, the ashes of the old leave space for the new. Here are five lessons we learned in 2021 and five things to look forward to in 2022.
Five lessons we learned from 2021:
1. Family Is everything.
During this difficult year, we learned that the people we spend the most time with are the most important ones for us. We tasted grief since losing nearly all of our parents (my mom, dad, and Marcel’s father). Our family experienced a great deal of sorrow in such a short period of time, especially our children since three out of their four grandparents passed. Quarantine has made it difficult for families to be reunited and to visit, so taking advantage of all the time we have together is so important.
2. The Importance Of Self-care.
This year brought to light a lot about how we treat others around us as well as how we treat ourselves. Throughout the year, we have seen an increase in support for mental health and personal health as well. If there’s anything 2021 has taught us, it’s the importance of taking time for our own personal physical and mental health. From finding ways to participate in the things we love to involving ourselves in our community, some of the best ways to take care of ourselves are by giving a little TLC to our spiritual health.
3. Be Present In The Present, But Look Forward To The Future.
Our 2021 experience has taught us that planning for the future shouldn’t be too ambitious. We can’t predict what tomorrow will hold. Instead, we’ve learned that living day by day and taking baby steps is the key to appreciating life as much as possible. But, that doesn’t mean we should leave the future for tomorrow. Plan-making can be exciting, and it’s good to look forward to better days. Finding fun ways to keep life interesting is essential. It’s the little things that bring us joy, and taking time to include others in them can bring the same joy to them as well.
4. Don’t Waste Time On Things That Don’t Matter To You.
2021 was a harsh reminder that life on Earth is short. Because of that, it is crucial that we use our time wisely and dedicate it to what we are passionate about instead of wasting it on things that simply don’t matter.
5. We’re All In This Together.
Through our sufferings and our sicknesses, we learned to rely on the people around us for support, comfort, and help. From working for the betterment of others to performing random acts of kindness, this is perhaps the most important lesson we learned in 2021.
Five things to look forward to (2022):
1. The Return Of Events.
The world is now allowing us to experience life as we have before, although it will be a little different. As we look forward to the 2022 Winter Olympics, concerts, and other get-togethers, our normal lives begin to return.
2. Bringing In The New.
With the new year comes the joy of new dreams, new advancements in society and technology, and new people in our lives. Certainly, the new things in store for us in 2022 will be exciting, and we can’t wait to see how they change from the past.
3. Bringing Back The Old.
With the brand-new comes an echo of the past. I saw the worship and choir ministries at our church grow through 2021, despite all the obstacles in the way, and we eagerly await 2022 with excitement! It will certainly be nice to be able to travel, visit family, and spend time with the ones we love like we used to.
4. A More Rejuvenated You.
The lessons we’ve learned in 2021 will be remembered in the new year. By practicing gratitude and taking the time for some mindful thoughts, we reflect on the past and embrace a better future with open arms.
5. New Marcel Ardani Products.
Lastly, this list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning our exciting new launches dropping next year! Our goal is to offer more useful and beautiful products to you and your families, tailored to your interests. We can’t wait to share with you!