The Right, Wrong, and Worst Thing, When Countering the New Normal

The beginning of the New Year should be a time of rumination and resoluteness. It is a turning point to consider where we have gotten the wrong end of the stick, better stated; erred during 2021 and what steps to take as we begin 2022. The New Year brings a freshness that says change is achievable. Indeed, sometimes the impetus from resoluteness creates a useful routine or penchant that remains for life. Every New Year brings challenges that depend on the state of the nation and the current phase of our lives. While years tend to be similar, 2022 will be very different. The civil disturbance, economic woes, supply chain disruptions, Coronavirus pandemic, political chaos, misinformation, government mandates... of the last two years have changed so much that we dare not use the word normal to describe our current America, and for that matter our world. There is not even a “new normal,” such is the perpetually evolving nature of things. Thus, we must settle on preparing for “not normal” times. Surviving in 2022 will depend on agility, strength, certainty, faith... Doing nothing is not an option, since we risk being overwhelmed by the turn of events. In the words of Theodore Roosevelt: “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”