The Year We Didn’t Expect

2020, some episodes just need to be fast-forwarded. Remember the fly episode in Breaking Bad? Yup, in some way 2020 was the fly episode.  

As much as we want to coast to 2021 and have life return to a normal status where you can shake a hand, hug friends, travel, and have the confidence something terrible is not coming down the pipe. Take a moment and appreciate 2020 — it challenged us and made us appreciate the human experience a tad bit more.  

Every year I recap the goals I set for myself and then a few days later set new ones. Here’s how it went-  

• Blog consistently — well I made it until about May. Then I did some TikTok and got wrapped up in a ton of other things. But always an improvement.
• Take that photography class — I did. It was online but I learned a bit more about how to use our camera.  
• Write another children’s book, get the one I wrote published. —
  • Done and this was an experience. Two books in a year not only showed me the power of commitment but Kennedy’s vast interest helped get the second one developed.  
  • Bee Brave Today
  • The Greek Word
• Volunteer with the kids— couldn’t do this but I will Mark it complete because we did tons of fun things during furlough. 
• Have a dinner party— nothing official but we had plenty of family dinner.  
• Travel to new places— to the window to the wall. We got to have fun locally, outside, and around the home.  
• Start a Podcast. — never got it done 
• Read more than 12 books this year— 15 as of today. The use of Audible has been huge! I will say the top reading was ‘Ride of a Lifetime’ by Bob Iger, ‘Shoe Dog’ by Phil Knight, ‘Sapiens’ by Yuval Noah Harari, plus more. Read them….they are incredible.    
• Start something……. More to come— I did. A non-profit with Kennedy, a consulting firm, collaborations, etc.  
• Pass on knowledge— I think 2020 I’ll remember my quest to teach more than direct.  
• Get a goosebump moment— had about three. Work, family, and reading a book about a historic moment.  
• Laugh with Devon — sawyer has pushed our laughter to new levels. She is our little comedian. 

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Learned to trade options, learned more investing strategies, embraced change, and much more. 2020….history will say that is sucked. But the Nickolaou kids will remember their crazy family embracing the fun, learning new things, and loving harder than ever before.  

The glass is half full friends. Stay healthy, stay safe, love more, and may 2021 let you shine your light to the world.  

Happy New Year.