LET’S PLAN FOR A FUN AND HAPPY YEAR 2022 BY NIKKI HOFFMAN

Although conditions have improved, the past twenty months have changed our environment and social lives. But if we proceed in a responsible way, 2022 will be a fun and gratifying year. Each of us has different interests that makes us happy, gives us peace and feeds our souls. Think about what will make the New Year enjoyable to you and choose your goals.Learn a new language or refine your culinary skills with an exotic dish. Other possibilities include practicing yoga, painting, playing an instrument or cultivating a garden. My North Carolina cousin honed his skills by building intricate models of ships and lighthouses.Starting a creative project can be simple and rewarding. We can paper craft, update our memoirs or restore that old chest in the garage. How about learning brewing techniques to create our own beer at home? My twelve-year old granddaughter recently introduced me to a digital painting app called Procreate. It’s been an ongoing challenge to learn the software she so easily manipulates!Airline precautions and international travel may pose additional risks. But we don’t have to eliminate adventures from our bucket lists. A visit to nearby Harbor Hills Country Club for the spectacular view, a trip to local Heather Oaks Farm or a drive to the Emeralda Marsh Conservation Area can ignite an undiscovered interest!We seniors have the benefit of age and wisdom. As we get older, we realize that happiness comes more from within than from the external events in our lives. Starting the New Year with a positive, productive and creative approach can be an exciting and fun adventure.