Raise your right arm up high, my United Nations of readers.  

Breathe deep.

And pat yourself on the back.

I am celebrating you for making it through another trial by fire kind of year.

You matter to me.  You stood your ground when it felt like fireballs were whizzing through our brains, hearts, and souls.

Consider this an ode to freedom, for just as you are, I still have faith in you.

Our silver lining, while sometimes elusive and hard to find, remains the same.  

While we may sometimes feel bereft, there is always the lost and found.  We may lose ourselves, but in the mystery of that hard space, there is a reckoning, a finding.

Your strength, vitality, resilience, grit, and grace are like a river that flows in you. 

Your spark and the light that flows from your proverbial candle may seem dim some days, but that tiny brilliance is in fact what the world needs more of.  

And when the clouds are particularly gray, and you feel buffeted by the storms, seek out shelter.  Whether that shelter is solitude, a wild ecstatic (safe) dance among your community, or something else.  

Regardless, I am holding your hand in solidarity.

Looking forward, as you carefully and tenderly close the chapter on 2021, let us dive into the mystic of 2022.

It’s a New Year.

For while there are days it doesn’t feel like it, this too shall pass.

And with a heart of gold and a spine of steel, let us cry amen, hallelujah, and high five for a good job in 2021, and let us rise up and greet both the challenges and triumphs that 2022 will surely bring with courage.

We’re still standing.

However you share your particular gifts with the world, let’s band together, for we all want peace.  And throughout 2022, I’ll be there with a higher love.  

Because you’re truly the best.

And there you have it.  2021 tied up with a ribbon.

Time to turn the page to 2022.  But not before you check out the playlist I made from all the italicized words above.  Your playlist is below – written out, plus a made-for-you playlist on Youtube. 

Take a look and listen.

1. United nations – Ludwig Goransson
2. Celebrate you – VoicePlay
3. You matter to me – Sara Bareilles, Jason Mraz
4. Stand your ground- Joshua Hyslop
5. Fireball – Pitbull
6. Ode to Freedom – ABBA
7. Just the way you are – Bruno Mars
8. I still have faith in you – ABBA
9. My silver lining – First aid kit
10. Lost and Found – Gary Clark and John Carney
11. River flows in you – Yiruma
12. Tiny Brilliance – Amick Cutler, Janelle
13. Gimme Shelter – Playing for Change
14. Safety dance – Men without hats
15. I want to hold your hand – Glee Cast
16. Into the mystic – Van Morrison
17. This is a new year – A Great Big World
18. This too shall pass – OK Go
19. Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen
20. Good job – Alicia Keys or One Voice Children’s Choir
21. Rise up – Andra Day
22. Courage – Clay Finnesand
23. I’m still standing – Elton John
24. We Want Peace – Emmanuel Jal
25. I’ll be there – Jess Glynne
26. Higher love – Ndlovu Youth Choir
27. Simply the best – Music Lab Collective

Now go on and learn, laugh and lead

Learn

• Surprise! Here’s your gift. Check out the playlist I made for you of all the italicized words.

Laugh

• Whether it’s a pillow you need, some sustenance or a ear splitting grin, you can find all three in this delightful toddler’s reaction to eating cotton candy for the first time

Lead

• Make a playlist of your own for your wishes for yourself.

P.S.

I’ve done similar type playlists in previous years which you can watch and read about here:

• Watch and read about 2021
• Don’t forget to watch and read about 2020
• Watch and read about 2019
• Do watch and read about 2017

P.P.S.

Let’s stay connected. Free weekly coaching by email on how to use humanity and humour to problem solve, right here.