A new beginning

Editor: On Jan. 1, 2021 I woke with a feeling of rebirth; 2020 had finally ended and we were to start a new year as if it was a new beginning. Surely this year we would get the coronavirus under control and life could return to a semblance of normalcy — the vaccine was just around the corner and we could look forward to new adventures.

Yes, that was true, and we did get a vaccine, something to look forward to. But then the political unrest flared up again and we saw new violence and I thought to myself, here we go again.

But, then I started thinking of all the things I was looking forward to doing this year and decided the best steps forward were those of positive thinking, eliminating the negative, the anger, the hatefulness and move forward with hope and a confident attitude, thinking of things that made me happy.

I challenge us all to spend this week thinking of what it is that gives you joy, what you would like to do this year and how you want to spend your time. You will find those thoughts will put a smile on your face and give you a happy feeling.

Last night we were with close friends planning out our camping trips we want to make reservations for this year. Last week I called an RV park in Bodega Bay and made reservations for our boat and trailer for a month. That got me to thinking of the good people we had met there last year and looking forward to seeing them again. I want to be able to go to the movies, go out to dinner with friends, be with my husband and my dog, long walks, drives to places we enjoy and finding new adventures. Then viola! My mind was so full of making plans that all the negative went away.

I encourage everyone to give it a try. There is nothing we, as individuals, can do about what is going on in Washington, there is nothing we can do.

ORLENE DENTONE

Lodi