Congratulations you survived! Now What?

BY JONELL PANTLITZ

Congratulations! You survived!

With 2020 now at an end, it wasn’t what a lot of us had planned, but look at us. We made it.

Small recap of some events that took place in 2020:
• Australia faced devastating fires; which later California joined
• Tensions between the United States and Iran reached an all-time peak
• The United Kingdom left the European Union
• Basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter died in a tragic helicopter accident
• Breonna Taylor was shot eight times while she was asleep
• The brutal killing of George Floyd, which lead to the awakening of the Black Lives Matter movement
• Last but not least the COVID-19 pandemic.

That and so much more took place right on many of our electronic devices. Nevertheless, what does 2021 have to offer? That is the question on everyone’s mind. So let me shed some light.

Astrological
According to astrological predictions for 2021, the outlook for 2021 is much more optimistic; in fact, experts predict that we can expect healing, mending, and progress.

Aliza Kelly a New York based astrologer and host of the Stars Like Us podcast says, “Within the span of a single year, multiple major planets were forming rare alignments that hadn’t been experienced in years.” she continues, “Suffice to say, the astrology of 2021 is a direct reaction to the cataclysmic changes brought forth by 2020.” Kelly adds, “And while there are many influential transits to watch — namely the connection between Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus — it is a much more ‘normal’ year than the one we have just experienced.”

SpaceX
Some exciting news to look forward to since later in this year, SpaceX is planning a fly a mission for Axiom Space, a Houston-based company that has purchased a trip to the International Space Station for a crew of four. Michael López-Alegría, a former NASA astronaut who currently works for Axiom, will accompany three private citizens for the mission, among them Eytan Stibbe, an Israeli former fighter pilot. Axiom is expected to announce the other two tourists sometime in the future. This mission will allow the crew to live aboard the ISS and experience at least eight days of microgravity and views of Earth that can only be fully appreciated in the large, venerable station.

According to Axiom CEO Michael Suffredini, “This history-making flight will represent a watershed moment in the march toward universal and routine access to space.”

Sounds like there will be a new destination trip in some of our futures. After all, eight days away from earth might do me some good.

Retailers
The majority of us are still planning to spend at least a part of 2021 as we did in 2020, switching out those suits and ties for pyjamas and joggers while living on Zoom. However, for many retailers in Canada, while more closures are likely, the COVID-19 pandemic offers silver linings for some businesses.

“Retailers weren’t prepared for March. It happened all so quickly, nobody could have prepared for it,” said Lisa Hutcheson, a managing partner with global retail consulting firm, J.C. Williams Group.

“The ones that have pivoted very quickly and adapted are weathering this new storm out and therefore will be even better positioned for next year. So, I think it will be better.”

There you go folks; some of the things to look out for this year, but really, no one truly knows what this year has in store for us. However, I predict that everything related to the COVID-19 pandemic will be over and we will live in a world where masks and social distance are non-existent. What about you?

Happy New Year everyone!