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Ready or Not Here Comes 2022

January 4th, 2022 by Kenneth Abrahams

It is hard not to write a blog about the new year around New Years Day. After all, it is on everyone mind and often dominates conversations. Everyone wants to know what everyone else thinks will happen as we enter the new year. Looking back on our first blog of 2021 there was a lot of hope and optimism. We had 2 vaccines that were being rolled out with a third that followed. There was a feeling that we were headed back to some sense of normalcy. Many believed that by the summer, at the latest, we would be putting COVID squarely in our rearview mirrors and moving on too much better times.

Things didn’t pan out quite the way we hoped. A number of things looked and felt more familiar, concerts made a triumphant return, sporting events were played in front of real crowds, not cutouts with crowd noise played over loudspeakers to give the impression of packed ballparks. Restaurants continued their creative use of space to allow dining in the great outdoors but were also allowed to seat guests indoors. Most colleges returned to in person classes, but a number still offered either a hybrid situation or some online version to allow students that were uncomfortable returning to campus the ability to still learn and participate. Many campuses required students, staff, faculty, and visitors to be fully vaccinated and had no mask mandate for events and meals. There was a bit of a feeling of normalcy. Still, the virus hung around, the pesky Delta variant was replaced by the even more transmissible Omicron mutation. Many people still traveled and had large gatherings at Thanksgiving and the numbers jumped. Airports remained full throughout the Christmas season despite many flights being cancelled out of caution or a crew shortage due to more people testing positive. Our early year projections of a normal 2021 may have been a bit optimistic.

As businesses tried to reopen there were other COVID related issues that few if any predicted. Huge help shortages plagued a wide range of businesses. Restaurants already hit hard couldn’t find servers, hosts, line cooks, bus people, and even mangers. Retail stores struggled to find employees at a wide range of levels, beaches and pools this summer closed or had shortened hours because they couldn’t find lifeguards. Summer camps, many reliant on international staff, had to replace those individuals that either couldn’t get work visas or leave their home countries. Add to that rising gas prices and significant supply chain interruptions and you have a very rocky business landscape. As the Omicron variant continues to surge many businesses, colleges, public and private elementary and secondary school systems are also trying to figure out what this means for them. There is no question that the fear of Omicron will continue to have many people choose online and Amazon shopping over going to the stores. It may be cheaper and easier, but it hurts local, especially small, businesses. Some of those businesses are hanging on by a thread as it is.

So, what does that mean for 2022? Like the flu and the common cold, COVID is here to stay. Prior to COVID around 40,000 people died in this country every year from the flu. Like COVID they were often older individuals or people with additional health issues. Because so many people were wearing masks lasts years flu season was very mild with few reported cases or deaths. As mask wearing has waned the flu is back on the rise. Businesses continue to struggle with if and when people should return to the office. Despite the highways being clogged with cars once again many businesses have yet to return to a 100% in the office work week. A number are still working remotely either full or part time. Companies continue to shed office space and put some of that money into resources to help employees better telecommute.

Many colleges and universities have figured this thing out. Yes, they have vaccine mandates in many cases, but their populations have bought into it. Few, if any, student wants to go back to remote learning and virtual social events. So, they have rolled up their sleeves and continued to test frequently. As a result, they are operating, in many cases, more normally than much of the “outside or real” world. They are able to have in person events, and despite what the media would have you believe, are controlling COVID and its spread very well.

I am optimistic that, even though COVID is probably here to stay, that we can build on the gains we made in 2021 and have a good, prosperous, and of course FUN 2022. With new treatments coming out all the time and additional research, we are better prepared to operate in the world even with COVID. It is clear that people need face to face interaction with other people. Two years of isolation has created a number of significant socialization issues for children and adults alike. Working live events this year has been re-energizing to say the least. It was great to see people laughing, smiling, and simply enjoying one another’s company. FUN Enterprises was proud to be part of a number of those gatherings and we look forward to being part of many more.

When I wrote this blog last year, I put in some things that I was planning to change in 2021 and I made some of those changes. Going forward this year here are some things we can all work on:

1. Be kinder to one another – Kindness doesn’t cost anything, but it provides an incredible return on investment. People remember how you make them feel.
2. Shop and eat local – Small businesses need your support now more than ever.
3. Social Justice makes the world a better place for all of us.
4. We were given 2 ears and one mouth use them proportionally.
5. When you can, make little changes to help the environment – You may not believe in climate change or that it is man-made but if we all did our part, cities and towns would be a lot cleaner.
6. A positive attitude goes a long way – not always easy but worth trying.

Although 2021 may not have gone how we planned or wanted it to, 2022 is another year and another chance. We have some great opportunities personally and professionally. Yes, there are some serious challenges and significant problems but that just means that there are some potentially incredible solutions out there. Wishing all of you an amazing 2022.

About the author:

Ken Abrahams has been described by some as acerbic, by others as cranky and by some as pig headed or stubborn. All of those may, in fact, be true. He is also the VP for Client Relations at FUN Enterprises. For more of his rumblings and ramblings check out other blogs at https://funent.com/blog.

To find out more about the company go to our website www.funent.com you can also go to this link to sign up for our newsletter which comes out about 6 times a year https://funent.com/subscribe-to-the-funny-pages/.  Our newsletter will tell you more about the company and the products and services we offer as well as some games, things to do and the occasional cooking tip.