Well, we have come the last week of 2021 and it certainly has been one to remember or perhaps forget, depending on your perspective. I hope all of you survived the Christmas rush and enjoyed time with your family and friends. As this year has moved forward, there were hopes that the pandemic would be over, but that has turned out to not be the case. In fact, it is still here, but with a different twist, one in which we have learned, for the most part to live with Covid. We have vaccines and we have testing. We now have pills that have just been approved by the FDA, so more and more light at the end of the tunnel. 
That is the optimist in me and how I have weathered this storm. The realist in me says we are in this for more time, perhaps another year, but hopefully no more. There were those that said 2021 would be a turning point, and in a way, it has been for those getting vaccinated. For those not vaccinated, there is a still a window, or there was to travel to many destinations. I have been able to travel again, 3 times to Europe, and postponed client trips from 2020 have taken place and more on the horizon, as well as clients currently in Mexico and Iceland to end this year off on a positive note. There will still be many bumps in the road, but the longer this goes on, the more we will learn and hopefully, not repeat the mistakes of the past. I have seen the damage done and I have friends that opted to not get vaccinated and that is their choice, and I can’t convince them otherwise, and some have contracted Covid. All I can do is wish them the best. I can’t, nor will I tell them what to do. It is their life to live, even though we do not live in a vacuum and what one person does or does not do, does affect others. 

Well, the week of Christmas has arrived and with this weekend’s snowfall here in New England, it has a feeling of a winter wonderland and for those who will celebrate this coming Saturday, I am quite sure they are most pleased. When I have worked at the store, there is a feeling, and the chaos of the season is in full swing. And, while I do not personally celebrate the holiday, I have most definitely, fallen into the spirit of what it means and the importance relative to current situation here in America and around the world. 
I have spoken about the possibilities, the connections and everything in between about my personal and professional life when I started writing these blogs at the beginning of this year and I have a true appreciation that you are reading what I have to say. I don’t hold things back and say what is on my mind. I have always done this and having this forum is a nice way to put my thoughts and feelings out there. Sometimes I have said some, perhaps, controversial things, sometimes, it is just about the passion about what I do professionally and expressing my desire to see the world, after nearly two years get back to normal, or as many have said, learn to live with the virus. I have been vaccinated and I have been boosted and even though at the store they have now said it is my choice to wear a mask, I still do for the most part, for me and my safety and for those around me. I am used to it, and it does not bother me and frankly, my livelihood depends on it. 

Last week I had thoughts about the possibilities and the what if is always in play, but it is not always about the possibilities, but about having connections. Maybe they are the same, but, if not, they are connected for sure, since having connections in whatever you wish to accomplish, will have a great impact on the possibilities be it a personal situation or a business situation.
It used to be that it was what you knew, gave you the advantage, but in this time of google and social media, everyone has access to everything for the most part and therefore, “knowing” more is not really relevant, and more so, it could be end up backfiring since much of the information on the internet is not factual, but opinion, and while there is nothing wrong with one’s opinion, as long as this is understood, it is just that, an opinion, not fact and certainly open to discussion or interpretation. This is the case with the likes of Trip Advisor and other like it. These are opinions, not facts, although within those statements about a particular place and experience, there may be some information like the elevators are tiny or the bathroom does not have a hair dryer, which may be a very important point for those traveling and I do not discount the opinions of others, especially if they fit the profile of my clients who may be similar. Of course, any commentary in these forums is useful, but I always take them with a grain of salt.

What does possibility mean to you? To me, it means the many options out there or more importantly, what you do with what is available to you. This could be personal, professional or a combination of both. Life provides many possibilities or options and everyone has them. It is what you do with them.

With all the chaos and all the issues personally and around the world, in the past couple of years, I remain optimistic as possibilities continually present themselves and for that I am grateful. I have learned to accept what comes at me and for me and appreciate both. These are opportunities to learn and to grow and learning to deal with the daily challenges is what allows me to move forward.