Weathering the Storm with the WP#47

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. 

My livelihood has been impacted as most, if not all in the travel industry at some level and still is and will be. I have clients who will travel in 2022, if Omicron does not make it impossible due to government controls or another variant rears its ugly head, which it most certainly will do. I will continue to do what I need to do to survive, but not just survive, but to live and enjoy my life and I will do whatever I have to do to continue moving forward as before. No one said this life or any of the choices I make were going to be easy, but nothing worthwhile ever is. Of course, as I reflect on 2021, my passion for what I do has grown stronger, even as many of those in my industry tire of this and have been directly impacted. I, too, have tired of the daily noise on the tv, radio, government generalizations and bureaucracy which has made it nearly impossible to secure funding even though I have submitted, multiple times, appropriate documentation, supporting the justification for disaster relief I deserve and will continue to do so. When all is said and done, I have been paying into a system for nearly 45 years of work-life and when I finally need assistance, I have run into this roadblock of bureaucracy as many of you have and excuses from the bureaucrats, as well as a lack of specifics, just generalizations. I am not going to let this stop me. 
 The best thing this year has brought is my continuing relationship with Rosa, which I truly believe has gotten stronger, and yes, we were able to be with each other twice in person this year, but even with that and from a distance, I feel the passion for her more than I ever have. Through the chaos of Covid and the destruction left in its wake, she is my silver lining and one I truly cherish and look forward to seeing her again in person very soon. As you know, I write these blogs with an intent to provide my thoughts on a professional level and personal thoughts, as well, but since life is not really separated into a professional and personal life. We are social beings, and our personal and professional lives are not mutually exclusive. She took care of some of my clients in Rome this year, so the lines have been crossed and she did an amazing job. 
As always, I am interested in your thoughts, comments, questions and adding to the discourse is always appreciated be in on the site itself or on Facebook, Twitter or wherever you read this. Thank you for your support of this small business and it is truly appreciated, and if you are planning on celebrating bringing in the new year, please be safe out there, so we will see you in 2022!!!