By Shannon Williams
As we all said goodbye to 2020 and hello to 2021, what did we do to bring good luck to ourselves and the world as a whole? I think I had more conversations about black eyed peas in the few days leading up to and the day of New Years, we all wanted to make sure that EVERYONE did their part in making sure that we had done what we were to do to change the general direction of 2020, so that 2021 might be more peaceful.

I took the time to see if I could find out why we eat Black eyed peas for luck? There are many stories, but most talk about the fact that the peas were not considered to be the best of food to serve, so the peas were given to the slaves. Others state that during the civil war, when the North was raiding the South, they often only left the black eye peas as no one wanted to eat them. Since it was left as the only food, people stated they were blessed to have anything to eat. I was not raised as a southerner, so we did not eat black eye peas on New Year’s growing up. I was getting close to 30 and had not married, I was visiting a coworker’s house on New Years day and her father who was a very colorful old oilfield worker, told me I damn well eat those peas or I would never catch a man! Well I did, and by January of the next year, I had a husband. Not sure if the two were connected, but I have made sure that I eat them every year since then and added the Cabbage a few years later.

I spent one New Years in California, and out there they eat 12 grapes for luck on New Year’s. I never really got the story or reason, but Texans are much better at telling stories than anyone so I know that their story could not be as good as ours.

I am not one to make resolutions but do always think about goals and things I want to achieve in the new year. I also tend to start reading one of those daily books, and most years, I don’t make it to February LOL. One thing I do each year without fail is pull out a writing that I found in 1983 in a self help newsletter. It pretty much says it all to me and is something that I can work towards and use to make my life a little better. Below is what I will work towards in 2021 , I wish for you all Health, happiness and time to be with those we love….

In 2021…..Think freely, Practice patience, Smile often, Savor special Moments, Live God’s message, Make new Friends, Rediscvoer old ones. Tell those you love that you do. Feel Deeply. Forget trouble. Forgive an enemy. Hope. Grow, Count your blessings. Obeserve miracles, Make them happen, Discard worry. Give. Trust enough to take. Pick some daisies, share them.

[Jan-4-2021]