21 Good Things From 2021

2021 was full of uncertainty, challenges, and struggles. But looking back, there are a number of good things that happened to me last year and I think it's good to remember and reflect upon them going into 2022.

(These are in no particular order other than in the order that I thought of them)

Number 1: The Covid-19 Vaccine

My family, friends, and I have all been very fortunate to have access to the covid vaccine, and we are all now as protected as we can be against the virus. The vaccine helped to keep us and our communities safe this past year, and I am very grateful for everyone who was involved in the creation and distribution of the vaccine.

Number 2: I Started Therapy

Though I've been managing my mental health fairly well as of late (mainly thanks to medication), I still found myself having the same arguments/internal monologues with myself. On top of that, I began to notice bad habits and symptoms related to my negative thoughts that I wanted to better control. So, I started to go to counselling through my school's health centre. I've found it extremely helpful to have someone to talk to about all the things I push down and keep to myself. On top of that, my counsellor has given me various coping mechanisms and exercises to practice when I'm having a bad mental health day. I feel better equipped at handling my mental illness and encourage anyone and everyone to try therapy if you are able to.

Number 3: I Received a Diagnosis for my Chronic Pain

I have suffered from chronic pain in my low back/hips for about seven years now. It was never diagnosed because no one took my pain seriously ("You're so young, you shouldn't be in that much pain" "It's just bad posture" "Just try yoga and stretching, your muscles are just tight"). I finally worked up enough courage to talk to my doctor and tell her that I wanted imaging done for my back. The imaging provided me and my doctor with a diagnosis (a slipped disc) and I have been referred to a specialist for further treatment. After seven years, I finally know what's wrong and it's something that, in theory, can be fixed. To say I'm relieved is an understatement. It's a small step towards getting my body pain-free. I cannot wait for the day I can wake up and put socks on without being in excruciating pain. I hope 2022 brings me that relief.

Number 4: I Wrote a 65k Word Romance Novel

Back in the summer, I began writing a romance story for Camp NaNoWriMo. I didn't get very far, only about seven thousand words, and when school started up again, I put my story aside. But, I decided I was going to finish this novel for NaNoWriMo in November. And my God, did I finish it. I set up a schedule for myself every morning and wrote a few thousand words a day for a whole month. By the end of November, I had a completed manuscript and a re-discovered sense of pride that comes with finishing a piece of writing. I still need to work on editing and revising, but I am hopeful that I'll have a manuscript ready to be sent to publishers within the next few months.

Number 5: I Figured Out A Plan After I'm Done My Undergrad

I've always struggled with trying to figure out what I want to do with my life; I've looked into and explored various subjects and school programs from being a veterinary technician to a school teacher; studying anything from writing to science. After a year of online school and limited socializing due to the pandemic, I began reflecting on my interests and hobbies and realized there's been one constant throughout all my uncertainties: writing. I've always loved writing, but I never thought I was good enough to make a living with it. I looked for ways to support my writing rather than ways to make my writing into a career. But since joining the writing community on Twitter and sharing my writing on here, I've gained a lot of confidence with my writing and now have the courage to give it a shot as a career. So, after I graduate from my current undergrad in the spring, I'm going to move about an hour away and attend a different university for an honours degree in English.

Part of what influenced my decision to do a second undergrad was the pandemic and how much I've missed out on due to it. It made me realize how much I haven't done in school - I've lived at home for the duration of my degree and haven't made any friends at my school. I haven't attended events or gone to parties. Hell, I haven't even dated. So, I'm going to a wonderful university in the most beautiful place of my province (in my opinion anyway); a university that has a rich student life with great residences and lots of events. So, not only will I be working towards bettering my writing and appreciation for literature, but I will be experiencing "authentic university" life.

I applied and was accepted in the early fall of 2021, and I am beyond excited to begin this next chapter of my life in the fall of 2022.

Number 6: I Read Over Twenty Books

For some, twenty books may not seem like a lot. For others, it may seem like an insane amount. For me, I feel more like the latter. I haven't read this many books for fun in ages. The most books in one year sat at maybe 5 or 6 in recent years. Maybe it's due to the pandemic and my online schooling giving me more time alone, maybe it's due to my re-found love of writing and wanting to gain inspiration from other writers; whatever the underlying reason, I've read more books this year than I can remember reading in ages. I escaped into high fantasy worlds threatened by a great evil, small towns in North America where two people fall in love, in the stars with aliens and space ships, and down the rabbit hole to Wonderland. A few books were for a class, but the majority were for pleasure. And what a pleasure it was to read so many wonderful stories and escape from reality for a little while.

Number 7: I Reconnected With a Childhood Friend

A girl I've known since age five moved back home in the spring after attending university for the past four years. We were friends when we were kids, but drifted apart as we got older. It was no one's fault: we both were struggling with our own personal issues and had different friend groups during high school. Over the past few years, we began to chat casually on social media. When she moved back home, we just instantly reconnected. Now, I have the privilege of calling her one of my best friends. She is such a warm and loving human, always ready to help others and provide comfort to anyone who needs it. In contrast to some very toxic and emotionally abusive friends I've had in the past, she's like a ray of sunshine. She even watched a baseball game with me despite not knowing anything about the sport simply because she knew it was important to me. It's hard to believe we've only been this close for under a year; I can't imagine my life without her now.

Number 8: I Became a Godmother

One of my childhood best friends and current best friend had a baby right at the beginning of the pandemic. She was the first of any of my friends to have a baby, and the two of us really reconnected since then. Like with the friend mentioned previously, we drifted apart in middle and high school, but have since rekindled our love for one another. Due to the pandemic, I've only met her baby a handful of times, and have not been able to see my friend as much as either of us would like. But, over the summer we were able to visit with one another outside for a little while. It was then that she asked if I would be her daughter's godmother. I of course said yes. The trust and love that it takes for her to ask me that still warms my heart every time I think about it. She's one of my oldest and most dearest friends, and I'm honoured to now be apart of her family.

Number 9: I Received Two Scholarships

Over the summer, I was contacted by my current university that I was the recipient of an academic achievement scholarship due to my high GPA and full course load this past year. I was over the moon to receive such an honor, and was elated at knowing that I would not have to worry about finances for my last year of my program. Then, a few weeks later, I was notified that I was to receive a second scholarship, this one meant for any student interested in creative arts. This is actually the second year in a row that I received that scholarship, and I'm honoured to be selected for it. While I'm not currently studying creative arts, writing and painting are very important to me and help with my studies by giving me peace of mind.

The amounts of the scholarships exceed my fees for this year of school, which means I can use the leftover amount for my program next year. Since I will be living away from home, I will need more money than I did for my current program. So, receiving two scholarships this year means that I have more money for my next program.

Number 10: My Sister and I Bonded

My older sister moved back home December 2020 after being away for school for over six years. She and I have always been fairly close, but it was hard to stay connected when she was away (and when she was in high school and I was but an annoying preteen). Now that she's moved back, and lived at home for a few months while getting settled, she had I's relationship has greatly improved. We play video and board games together, go on adventures together, and watch shows and movies together. We also text more and confide in one another more than we used to. I'm very grateful for our newly-strengthened friendship and I hope to only improve it in the years to come.

Number 11: I Nannied Two Amazing Girls

Technically, my journey as a babysitter/nanny started in 2020, but my responsibilities increased in 2021. I began babysitting for my next-door neighbours in 2020 for a few nights or afternoons every month. But I began taking care of their toddler two days a week in the fall of 2020 when her mother went back to work. Long story short, she (the toddler) had severe food allergies and they wanted to keep her home as much as they could while working with an allergy specialist before sending her to daycare. My neighbours worked out a complicated plan/schedule with both their work places, one of their mothers, and I to be able to keep their youngest daughter home. Due to the online, asynchronous nature of my courses (i.e. not in live time), I was able to do school work around babysitting.

I started only taking care of her one afternoon and one morning a week. In 2021, my neighbours' work schedules changed and my class schedule changed as well. I started to do a couple full days, then four full days a week. When Covid cases increased, the older daughter stayed home as well for a few weeks and I was tasked with caring for the two girls four days a week. I won't lie, it was a challenge. They argued, didn't listen all the time, and there was only so much we could do in and around the house. But it was so rewarding and so worth it.

The two girls are very sweet, very kind, and very fun little humans. The three of us bonded so much this past year. Now, both girls are in school/daycare and I do miss taking care of them. But, and I still take care of them from time to time and hang out with them over holidays. I learned so much about patience, kindness, and how to be gentle yet stern. I also learned a lot about childhood development and parenting, both of which will be extremely helpful when I have my own kids someday. I'm very grateful for the opportunity to get to know these two girls. As well, the fact that I was able to have a job as a nanny/babysitter during the worst of the pandemic is a blessing in and of itself. As far as jobs go, this is the favourite I've ever had.

Number 12: I Started Watching Baseball

This one may sound lame, and I'm sure some people will think it is even after reading this, but baseball helped bring me sanity during these crazy times. It all started in the middle of the summer of 2020. Baseball season had been delayed (I knew because my grandmother is an avid Toronto Blue Jays fan), and I decided to give it a try when it started up. I've never been a sports fan of any kind; I've never been to games or watched anything except the Olympics. But the pandemic had been in full-force and I was bored with everything (no where to go, no people to see). So, I watched some Blue Jays games on TV. It was alright. I enjoyed the few games I watched during the shortened season, but I didn't truly get into it until the 2021 season.

I watched the Blue Jays for two reasons. One, my grandmother and my late grandmother are/were Blue Jays fans. And two, they're the only Canadian team so I wanted to support them. After watching several games in 2020, I was excited for baseball season to start up again in the spring. But I never thought I would get so attached to this team as I have this past year.

Watching hours upon hours of games, screaming at my TV and cheering in my basement when everyone else in the house was asleep, and crying when they finally were able to return to Toronto and when they didn't make it to the playoffs. I loved every second of it. (Well, maybe not the crying, but it's all part of the experience). I became so attached to the team and the players that I started to connect with other fans on Tumblr. I made so many friends online through the Blue Jays fandom, many of whom I talk to regularly. We would talk together during the game, rant to each other about behind-the-scenes drama, and speculate about what would happen in future games. It was amazing.

I've been a part of various fandoms for many years now (TV shows and bands mostly), but I've never felt the instant connection to the other fans like I did with those of the Blue Jays. They welcomed me in and helped me better understand the game and the players. I love how, despite us all being in different places across the continent, we have bonded over our mutual love of the team and sport. Furthermore, I also feel more connected to my grandmothers and feel as though I know understand another part of them.

The Blue Jays may not have made it to the playoffs last year, but it was a hell of a season. They won so many awards and touched the lives of so many people. And, during the crazy and uncertain times of the pandemic, they brought me some sense of normalcy and certainty.

Number 13: I Applied to Graduate (And Was Accepted)

Related to number 5, this past fall I applied to graduate from my current program of study. My transcripts and schedule for the year were accepted and approved for graduation, with the requirements for my program being met by the end of the winter term 2022. It was exciting and scary to submit the application to finish this program, but as I mentioned in number 5 I am very excited for the next chapter of my life.

Number 14: My Aunt Visited

My aunt lives in another province than us and we have not been able to see her for a few years due to the pandemic. Over the summer when the cases were lower than they are now, she drove down to visit us for just under two weeks. It was so nice to see her and have her over, and I know the rest of my family also loved having her here. We went on a few adventures around the province and played lots of board games. All in all, it was a great visit and I hope to see her again.

Number 15: My Family, Friends, and I Stayed Healthy

While we've had our own personal health challenges, we have all been able to stay Covid-free during the pandemic. Part of this is due to the vaccine, but it's also due to our own personal decisions and the fact that we've been able to work and study from school for the most part.

Number 16: My Family, Friends, and I Remained Employed

I know the pandemic has been hard financially on many people and families, and I am so grateful we were able to shift to online work and/or receiving government funding for a few months. I know we're all very fortunate to be in this situation, and I hope 2022 continues to treat us well in this regard.

Number 17: I Lost Weight

I know that weight does not determine worth or beauty, and everyone's bodies are different. But over the last few years, for various reasons (stress, medications, the pandemic, chronic pain, etc.) I gained weight. I know this is just how my body reacted to these stimuli and how it kept me alive. I appreciate the way my body adapted, but I wanted to take better care of my physical health to better manage these external stimuli.

This year, I went off a medication and made it a point to eat healthier and do a little exercise every day, even if it's just a few yoga poses or physiotherapy exercises for my pain. These small changes helped me to lose about five pounds by the end of 2021. It is a small amount, but I am proud of my mind and body for getting to a point where I can be gentle with myself and appreciate the small wins. I hope to be more active this coming year and continue to improve physically so I can better support my back pain and mental health.

Number 18: I Caught My Seasonal Depression Early

I was diagnosed with clinical depression at the age of 15 and have been managing it moderately well since then with medication. As mentioned in number 2, I started managing it more with therapy this year. But even still, I found myself having more bad days than good come fall. I noticed myself having worse symptoms during the winter months for the last few years, but didn't have enough self-respect or courage to do anything about it.

This year, I talked to my doctor about it and started a higher dosage of my medications for the winter months to allow myself to have the energy and motivation to do more self-care and therapy. Medication does not solve everything, but it can significantly help. For me, I know that when I take my meds I am better able to practice therapy techniques and self-care exercises that in the long-run help me manage my mental health. Now, this fall and winter so far have been much better than they've been in previous years and I am able to take better care of myself in these months.

Number 19: I Took Better Care Of My Physical Health

On top of eating better and finally getting my chronic pain recovery journey started, I also started to take better care of my body as a whole (minus the time I sprained my foot while jogging and ignored it and kept running, but my nurse friend already lectured me about this). I started having an actual skin-care routine with better products for my dry and sensitive skin. I've really seen and felt a difference in my skin, especially my face since taking better care of it. I also started taking better care of my eyes, from using nighttime ointment for dryness to wearing blue-light glasses to avoid eye-strain. I also stopped eating a lot of dairy (or dairy with lactose) to help my stomach and gut.

Overall, I feel much healthier than I have in a while and I'm proud of myself for taking these steps to better myself.

Number 20: My Dog Remained Healthy

My dog is now almost 11 years old and she does have some health problems, mainly arthritis in her shoulders. She also had a stubborn UTI last winter and has developed numerous skin tags/bumps. Luckily, her lumps and bumps are benign and do not bother her, her UTI was fully resolved, and we're managing her pain and stiffness with medication and food supplements.

Other than being slow and lazy in the mornings, she is healthy and happy. She's such a joy for our family and we love her dearly. I will forever be grateful for her and I'm relieved she is healthy still.

Number 21: I Survived

The last few years have been hard. There have been ups and downs and things I wished hadn't happened. But I survived, and if you're reading this then so did you. Give yourself credit where credit is due and celebrate your victories, no matter how small and be grateful for whatever good you experience. It makes the world of difference when looking at life. I fought through my worst days and lived through my best.

I thank 2021 for the good things it brought me and I welcome 2022 with hope and optimism.