Hello and Happy New Year! I’m glad you’re here. I hope you had a joyful holiday season and a great start to 2022.
Today’s post is my own reflective post without hosting a link-up. I’ll resume hosting the weekly Weekend Coffee Share on Friday January 7th at 8 a.m. Toronto time.
Goodbye 2021
December 2021 was a festive and social month. The weather was mild most of the month so I enjoyed getting outside and exploring parks along the shore of Lake Ontario. I took evening walks to see delightful holiday displays and dazzling lights in the city centre.
I contacted my geographically-dispersed family and friends to wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season. It was wonderful to receive their updates and photos. I maintained my fitness routine at home. I met up with my neighbour for our friendly walks.
Toronto had a green Christmas Day: No snow, just light rain, high 7C (43F). Both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day were cloudy, high 6C (43F). I watched fireworks at midnight across Toronto’s waterfront to ring in 2022.
I completed my usual year-end administrative tasks: Cleaned up my blog, did a back-up, updated the About Me, Blog Links, Wellness pages at the top of my blog, and my Copyright notice and statement. I closed my files for 2021 and created a Books in 2022 page.
In the last three weeks of December, I ran my first contactless Community Food Drive to collect non-perishable food items and deliver them to a fire hall. It went very well. I’m wrapping it up this week and will share the results in my next post. The success of the food drive ended 2021 and started 2022 on a high note.
Gratitude 2021
In January 2021, I wrote that I’d continue to focus my energy on three main areas, Health, Home and Leisure, to live a healthy and enriched life.
True to my words, I spent a lot of time outdoors cycling and walking to explore and enjoy Toronto’s parks and public art. I took good care of my health in various ways. I stayed connected with my family and friends.
My creative expressions were via my blog writing, photography, and trying a dozen new recipes. I volunteered for two impromptu projects: Walking with a senior and running a food drive.
Reflecting on 2021, I’m grateful for:
My good health throughout the year
My family and friends who are my rock
Fantastic trips to Hanlan’s Point, Niagara Falls, and Ward’s Island with my family
My comfortable home and its central location
Beautiful nature that I’ve seen while canoeing, kayaking, paddling or playing disc golf
Amazing arts in Toronto such as these laneway murals
Stunning events like Fleurs de Villes Rosé or Fleurs de Villes Niagara Falls
Excellent library services and the eighty books that I read
Fun blog conversations and link-ups
Quick service at my dentist’s office, hair salon, pharmacy and grocery stores
Friendly walks and new friendship with my senior neighbour since September
Food donations for my first community food drive in December
Hello 2022
This year, I continue to focus my energy on the same three areas to live a healthy and enriched life: Health, Home, and Leisure. 2022 has just begun and I know I’ll make my 2022 a fulfilling year the best I can. No word of the year or New Year’s resolutions from me.
Wishing you and your loved ones a happy and healthy 2022! I look forward to hosting the Weekend Coffee Share blog link-up on January 7th and seeing you then.
Copyright © 2024 natalietheexplorer.home.blog – All rights reserved.
Natalie the Explorer 
It was great spending 2021 with you. Looking forward to more beauty and adventures in 2022.
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Same here, Antoinette. Happy New Year!
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Happy New Year, Natalie –
Health, Home, and Leisure are excellent areas of focus.
Wishing you and your family a terrific 2022 ahead!
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Happy New Year, Donna. Wishing you and your family joy, love and peace throughout 2022!
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Happy New Year and hope that you have a wonderful 2022.
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Happy New Year, Patrick. Wishing you a fantastic 2022 ahead.
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Happy New Year Natalie.
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Happy New Year, Beth.
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No word of the year or New Year’s resolutions from me either, Natalie. Happy New Year!
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Happy New Year, Jill. I think we’re alike in that we just focus and get things done 🙂
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Such a beautiful bouquet, Natalie! Wishing you continued good health and happiness in the year ahead.
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Thank you, Jo. Wishing you and your family a happy and healthy 2022.
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You had a pretty great 2021 Natalie and I’ve no doubt you’ll have another wonderful year this year. Happy New Year to you!
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Happy New Year, Min. 2021 was very good to me aside from the global pandemic that affects everyone. Wishing you a healthy and peaceful 2022.
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Happy New Year, Natalie! Here’s hoping 2022 gets us back closer to normal!
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Happy New Year, Dawn. Here’s to a brighter 2022!
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Natalie I love that you’re committed to making this year the best it can be. That’s such a great sentiment and wonderful approach to have. I certainly need to be more like that. (And better with the gratitude you’ve noted here as well!)
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Happy New Year, Deborah. Do the best I can is what I can do 🙂
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Hi Natalie and Happy New Year to you! I’m looking forward to linking up to Weekend Coffee Share during 2022 and hope to attend everyone! That is a challenge 🙂 I reviewed my year which was very stressful due to a personal matter. This has now been resolved and as I wrote my year in review post I realised how many positives I still had despite the ‘cloud’. There is always something to be grateful for. Have a wonderful 2022! #lifethisweek
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Happy New Year, Sue! I love your Weekend Coffee Share link-up challenge 🙂 I’m glad to hear the ‘cloud’ has been resolved. I know you’ll enjoy life to the fullest. See you at my upcoming link-up.
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Hi Natalie – happy 2022 and thanks for hosting the link party all last year. I’m looking forward to a really fabulous 2022 and to linking up again when you re-start.
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Happy New Year, Leanne. Thank you for linking up last year. I look forward to many more weekend coffee shares. Here’s to a really fabulous 2022!
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Happy New Year Natalie!! I loved your post and enjoyed all that you shared. I didn’t know you can do the things you’ve done with your blog. I know about updating the first few items you mentioned, but I don’t copyright (not sure how that’s done) and you said you closed your files for 2021, I’ve never done that before either. I guess there is a lot I could learn to organize my blog. I’ll have to do some research, I appreciate you sharing all that you do, I learn so much!!
I will join in for coffee share and am excited for 2022! Have a wonderful week ahead!! ❤️🐴🤠❤️
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Happy New Year, Diana. There are a few admin things that I do regularly to keep my blog tidy, make better use of the storage space, and have a back-up. The tasks take a few minutes, easy peasy. I look forward to seeing you at the upcoming coffee share. Have a wonderful week!
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A lot to be grateful for, Natalie. And I love that stunning “bouquet” of flowers in your last photo. It sounds like you had a successful and rewarding year, so I wish you more of the same in 2022 with hopefully international travel again as well. Happy New Year!
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Happy New Year, Liesbet, and thank you for your warm wishes. The bouquet photo was from Fleurs de Villes in Toronto last summer. It was a stunning event. 2021 was a fulfilling year for me. 2022 is off to a good start so far. Wishing you, Mark and Maya a year of good health, fun adventures and many joyful moments.
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Happy New Year Natalie. 2021 definitely had lots of highlights for you. I’m sure there will be more in 2022. I wish I was as organised as you with my blog housekeeping. Something for me to aim for. Looking forward to #weekendcoffeeshare coming back. Thanks for all you do to keep it going
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Happy New Year, Jennifer. 2021 was very good to me. 2022 is off to a good start so far. I do a few blog admin things monthly to keep my blog tidy, make better use of the storage space, and have a back-up. The tasks take a few minutes, easy peasy. I look forward to seeing you at the Weekend Coffee Share link-up any week. Wishing you a happy and healthy 2022.
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Hi Natalie, Happy New Year to you! I enjoyed your recap of the year and what you’re grateful for, it’s a lovely way of reflecting on the year and what you achieved. I always enjoy your posts and learn something new.
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Happy New Year to you and your family, Debbie. 2021 was a fulfilling year for me in spite of the lingering pandemic. 2022 is off to a good start so far. I’m glad to hear you always enjoy my posts and learn something new. Thank you for such a lovely comment. Have a wonderful week! I hope to see you at the weekend coffee share link-up any week.
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Happy New Year Natalie!
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Happy New Year Sarah!
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Happy 2022 Natalie. I am looking forward to enjoying more of your adventures. … Mary-Lou
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Happy 2022 Mary-Lou. I look forward to enjoying more adventures and sharing them with you. Have a wonderful week!
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You certainly made the best of 2021, Natalie. I look forward to following you in 2022.
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Happy New Year, Dan. I look forward to reading your blog and sharing my ‘door’ photos with #ThursdayDoors.
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🙂 This is going to be a great year!
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Well done with hosting the link-up last year! I’m looking forward to more of them this year. It’s good to see you have a lot of good things to look back on and to continue during 2022.
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Thank you, Susanne. I look forward to hosting the WCS link-up and seeing you there any week. Happy New Year!
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Your year shared and your summaries are top notch! What a great planner you are and this is why you are so very successful in balancing blogging with life away from the blog. I LOVED seeing real holly. No such thing growing naturally in our warm climate. Thank you for linking up for the first Life This Week in 2022 at Denyse Whelan Blogs.
Thank you too for sharing your post with our community and commenting on mine.
See you next week for 2/51 Life This Week,
Warm wishes
Denyse
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Thank you Denyse for your compliment about my blog post. I appreciate the patch of holly berries in a local park more now that you told me they don’t grow naturally in your climate. I’m glad you continue hosting Life This Week. Have a great week!
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I like your categories: Health, Home, & Leisure. A lovely and productive way to think about your life. No wonder your blog seems so balanced. Happy New Year, Natalie! 🥂
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Happy New Year, Ally! I like to keep things simple (1, 2, 3 or a, b,c) and be kind to myself 🙂
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You are so wonderfully organised Natalie!
Looking forward to another year of beautiful Toronto through your eyes!
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Thank you Ju-Lyn for your kind comment. I look forward to sharing my images of Toronto with you.
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It is so good to see you are involved with a food drive. Having been with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and a soup kitchen for a long time, I know how very important those kinds of things are.
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Thank you, Larry, for your comments. The needs are high out there as you know from your work experience.
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How strange the weather has been most everywhere this holiday season. I would think 7C and no snow would be unusual for Toronto. Here, people are wearing shorts!! Highs in the 70s. Kind of nice but worrisome for what it says about our world climate situation.
Glad you reconnected with family during the holidays. Whether in person or virtually. And enjoyed 3 family get togethers during the year.
I appreciate all of your items of gratitude. I could say ‘ditto’ to a number of them but the art scene in Toronto is unsurpassed!! Hope you will continue to share with us. Happy new year.
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Hi Leslie, Yes, nice but worrisome weather changes in December. We’re back to cold weather in January atm. I’ll share more public art in Toronto for sure. Thank you for stopping by. Wishing you and your family a happy and healthy 2022.
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Hi Natalie, You constantly inspire me with your blog and how you lead your life.❤️ You are a wonderful example of living life to the fullest with a positive attitude, despite the ups and downs. I enjoy how you take us along and you always brighten my week. 😊
I love your section on “Reflecting on 2021, I’m grateful for:…..” Is there a story behind the beautiful bouquet?
Thank you for your exceptionally kind, thoughtful note in my inbox. It means a great deal to me. You are definitely one of the reasons I am using the phrase “pressed pause on blogging.” And, as I have mentioned before, I do not plan to disappear into the sunset. I know you make a difference in many people’s lives, including me. ❤️
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Hi Erica/ Erika, It’s wonderful to hear from you. I hope you and your family are all well. Take your time to do what you need to do for your family and take care of yourself always. Blogging can wait. I just wanted to check in from time to time. That’s what friends are for 🙂
I feel fortunate and am thankful to get to enjoy this phase of my life. Every new day is a gift. The beautiful bouquet was from the Fleurs de Villes event in Toronto last summer. I like it so I decided to have it for my first post in 2022. A bright start for a new year 🙂 Have a wonderful week!
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