Thoughts and ruminations about being a working mom, raising two daughters, and being Italian … while trying to maintain my sanity and organized closets. (My husband’s laugh, red wine, and ironing make me happy.)

By Adria Giordano

The magic of a new year: January 1, 2021

The magic of a New Year…

When no one is up, I sip my coffee, the magic of a New Year, a blank slate before me.

I love this day and this time of the day.

When no one is up, not even the pup, it’s quiet if only for a few minutes.

The first day of a new year gives us hope, optimism of a new beginning.

A time to reflect and think.

It’s been a trying year.

So many struggled. So many lost their lives. So many died because of the pandemic and because of racial injustice. Unexpected loses. Unfathomable despair. So much which cannot be repaired, which cannot be fixed.

As a glass-half full, planner, it was a trying year to be optimistic, and I can’t even pretend to understand what so many went through, but I can be empathetic and I can continue to be there for others and use my voice to stand up against injustices.

It’s early morning and my heart is heavy, but also hopeful.

A new day. A new year.

Before the hustle and bustle. Every second of the day, until we fall into bed exhausted.

No time to reflect, no time to sit and enjoy the present, when life takes over.

From morning till night we were going, going, going …

Personally, it’s a time to reflect on this past year and count my blessings. To find the silver linings this past year. The quarantine has been a “blessing in disguise.” Shutting down everything created this unscheduled time together. A forced “time together” as my teens called it early on.

Life as we knew it was crazy, hectic, and non-stop.

Putting a pause button on, gave me a chance to get to know them better. Who they are now and who they are becoming. What they feel, and how they are managing this thing called Life.

The magic of a New Year gives us an opportunity to take stock of our lives and to do better. A time to get it right. A time to be our best self and to be a better human being.

While I will savor these precious few moments of quiet, I look forward to the hustle and bustle of what the day holds, because I know it will not always be like this. Life can be hard, but it can also be beautiful. Struggles of the past, make us appreciate the good in life. 2021 is hope for so many.

So for now, I will find silver linings, as I await the New Year and all the magic it holds …

Adria Giordano describes herself as a mom, wife, fundraiser, party planner, and blogger. She is a currently the director of development and communications for Chrysalis Center in Hartford, CT. She lives in West Hartford with her husband, two teenage daughters, mother-in-law, and mini goldendoodle puppy.