An Irish New Year’s tradition involves people opening the back door of their house just before midnight to “let the old year out” and opening the front door to “let the New Year in”. I’ve seen some interesting takes on that tradition while perusing social media. For those whose memories of 2021 aren’t too fond, the suggestion was to also open all the windows to make sure it left!
Granted, there are plenty of things we’d probably all like to forget in the past year including a nasty virus that won’t seem to go away and all of the restrictions which have resulted, loved ones lost from COVID, and small businesses which endured months of hanging on by a thread as customers stayed away in droves.
Anyone familiar with Ribeyes Steakhouse in Cornelia knows how tough it can be to find an open table, especially on a Saturday night. But not on this Saturday. Amid the pandemic, owner Jacob Young sat alone.
It was a scene that played out for restaurants in our county and across the country. Thank goodness, slowly but surely, customers have been returning, even if not at pre-pandemic levels.
It’s been another year of struggling through unchartered waters for many families in our community. At times, the American dream felt more like a nightmare.
Light shines through the darkness
I asked our staff to weigh in on some of the most memorable stories they’ve covered in the past year. Just as in our everyday lives, our community collectively experienced highs and lows, triumphs and tragedies, many of which brought out the very best in all of us.
Now Habersham publisher Joy Purcell will always remember the story of five-year-old Lincoln Burgess who was killed in a tragic accident.
Teacher shares emotional tribute to 5-year-old student killed in wreck
Sometimes seeing the “light” changes a life. Margie Williamson’s stories of faith reflect that more than most.
“Writing for Now Habersham has been about telling stories about the area, its history, and its people. It is through stories, ours and the stories of those we meet, that we truly begin to see each other. Of all the stories I’ve told during 2021 (all of which I’ve loved), one story seemed to resonate most with readers––the story of Carol Johnson’s journey of faith from a life as an atheist. It’s not a story we hear often, but it’s worth a second read.”
“The soft rain of tears”: Carol Johnson’s journey from atheism to Christ
Never forget
It’s very evident that “we love our soldiers” both past and present. Veterans must love us too, more than 700,000 live in Georgia with the highest concentration in the northern part of our state.
Some of our most memorable stories are “their” stories. It’s been an honor for us to share them with you.
NH reporter Hadley Cottingham reminded me what a tough challenge it was to narrow it down to one memorable story because there were so many throughout the year. Her choice was the one of a World War II Veteran which is made even more remarkable because every day, memories of World War II—its sights and sounds, its terrors and triumphs—disappear. Of the 16 million Americans who served in WWII, only 240,329 are alive today.
“Hearing Jimmy’s story, and getting to sit down and talk to a man who had such an important role in our nation’s history, was an honor. The sacrifices he made, the things he saw, and the things he did alongside so many other WWII veterans changed the course of world history, but hearing about his life post-war impacted me the most. I’m so glad he was willing to share those memories with me.”
Almost 30 years of my life have been devoted to broadcasting and/or writing. I covered the first launch of the space shuttle and traveled to Argentina for a documentary on Halley’s comet. Memorable? Absolutely! But connecting a Vietnam Veteran with a collector in England to locate his lost Army medals and a prayer book was one of the highlights of my career.
Beyond the two months of research for this story, Jim and I have stayed in touch. We share a love of classic rock music, of pets, and of those who sacrificed to serve our country. Whether it’s me or any of our staff, we don’t just tell the stories and move on. They resonate with us, just as we hope they do with you.
That’s entertainment
“I was privileged to start a new column this year covering sky-watching stories that are near and dear to my heart. My favorite was an article on solar storms, something I am fascinated by. I got the chance to delve into a little bit of the science and quell some myths about them that pop up in click-bait media. Several readers reached out about this article and all loved it, which is a nice bonus for this science geek.”
Whether you are looking up or gazing at a theater screen, there’ve been some sights worth beholding. Several blockbuster movies have hit theaters, especially in the past couple of months including Dune, the latest Bond installment No Time to Die, Spielberg’s take on West Side Story, and The Matrix Resurrections. Check out Justin Hall’s Top 10 Best and Worst list for the year to see what made the cut.
The year ahead
We don’t have a crystal ball at Now Habersham to show us how events will unfold over the next 12 months. What we do know is that our staff will continue to honor our commitment to delivering the news that impacts folks in all the communities we serve. Who knows, maybe your story will be the one that inspires our readers.
To paraphrase a quote from country music singer Brad Paisley: “Think of 2022 as the first blank page of a 365-page book and write a good one.”
Will you make a New Year’s resolution to continue good practices, change an undesired trait or behavior, accomplish a personal goal, or otherwise improve your life? That would be a page-turner, especially when you look back at the end of the year and check your progress.
Here are 10 great ideas to start making your new year a bestseller.
- Give more compliments. Giving compliments can be just as uplifting as receiving them—so you’ll brighten their day and yours!
- Put your bills on autopay. It’s a great way to streamline your bills so you raise your credit score, save money and time, and never miss a payment.
- Practice saying ‘no’. Learning how to gently set boundaries can actually improve your relationships with yourself and the people you care about, according to Psychology Today.
- Try a spending freeze. Stop your non-essential spending for a certain amount of time, whether it’s for a day, a week, or a month. If done correctly, experts say a spending freeze can even help pull you out of debt.
- Try a DIY. It’s a new year and a new opportunity to finally tackle that a DIY project you’ve been putting off. Doing something creative can be relaxing, rewarding, and fun!
- Drink more water. We’re all guilty of reaching for coffee, soda, tea—anything more exciting than plain water. However, upping your H20 consumption might be the key to radiant skin, a more balanced diet, improving the body’s ability to bounce back after a tough workout, and so much more.
- Clean out your closet. You’ve likely heard that if you haven’t worn an item in six months, you should remove it from your closet. That’s not always the most accurate way to pare down your wardrobe though, as what you wear often depends on weather and events. Try this instead: If you wouldn’t buy it today, toss it.
- Take more walks. Walking can be beneficial for your health and well-being. Why do you think so many people started taking walks during the pandemic? Starting to get those steps in is something worth celebrating.
- Donate your time. Volunteer work is not only necessary to help important organizations continue their life-changing work, its personally rewarding, too. Whether you choose to volunteer your time to an animal rescue, park clean-up, or soup kitchen, you’re unlikely to ever regret it.
- Mind your health. This year don’t add “diet” to your list of resolutions. Instead, try to think about what you consume more so as a way of life than as a restrictive regimen. If you need help getting started, there are plenty of apps to help you reach your goals and achieve a healthier, happier life.
Whether you are starting a new chapter, closing your book, or writing a new one, let us know how it turns out. It could be our next memorable story for Now Habersham!
