Woman leaping across ravine, one side says 2020 and the other side says 2021By Kathleen Federici, MEd

For 14 consecutive years, my husband and I held a New Year’s Day brunch for our family, neighbors, and friends. We had a themed and costumed Roaring Twenties party on New Year’s Day 2020 to welcome in the new decade that was filled with promising opportunity—at least, so we thought.

I was sometimes unsure if people came to the brunch because they really had fun or if they came because it was tradition and that’s just where folks gather on New Year’s Day. I was excited and happy to receive several texts and phone calls last week from friends and family saying how much they missed the party this year. I felt validated that people came because it was a fun place to gather and a great way to start the new year.

Thinking about this one event has inspired me to change how I choose to view 2021. I choose to take this year to review meaningful activities versus activities performed because that’s how it has been done in the past. I will keep the New Year’s Day party going for my family and friends. However, I am going to take this year to explore different ways to do things and mix things up. Maybe I will create new traditions, new ways to have fun with my family and friends, and/or new types of training experiences! I cannot wait to see what my imagination can create in 2021. What will I keep and what will change? Time will tell!

Kathleen Federici, MEd, is IPMI’s director of professional development.