Ringing in the New (Hopefully New) Year!

2020. What a rollercoaster you were. From a pandemic, to police violence, raging fires, and an intense election, I think you filled us to the brim with stress, anxiety, and wonder for when life was going to get better. 2020, we hate you. However, hello to 2021! Although, the pandemic is still here, I am still home, and masks are still required, there is something about this new year that I am beginning to like. Peace. 2020 filled me with the utmost stress I have ever experienced. I stopped high school abruptly, started college too soon for my comfort, and ended it way sooner than expected. Sitting in my parents bedroom I begin to wonder when it will transform to my dorm room again. January? August? Oh well. Whatever the case may be, I know that 2021 just has to be better than whatever 2020 was. Do you feel like 2020 changed you as a person?

For me, 2020 changed my whole mindset of life itself. I now struggle with overthinking about the worst possible scenarios, while before I took life as it came and did not have a single ounce of anxiety or depression. As I write this I wonder if I might be sharing too much, but then I remember that I may not be the only one who has changed since the struggle bus of 2020 took over all of our lives. For many, 2020 helped to realize that life is too short and goes too fast to sit around and be lazy. We took walks, worked out, tried yoga, finally picked up a pot in the kitchen and cooked something inside, called an older family member we hadn't seen in a while, stayed in bed just a little too long some days, and tried our best while in quarantine.

While I used to think those little things were silly, bothersome, or just not worth my time, I now cherish every single thing I chose to do while life took a turn. I appreciate the moments I tried the tree pose in my garage on a $15 yoga mat. I think reflect on the deep conversations I had with my grandparents on a less than thirty minute phone call. I pride myself in learning how to make mac and cheese on the stove (lol). These are things that I never would have done if it wasn't for 2020.

As much as I can curse 2020 to the ground forever, I still appreciate what it taught me. To 2021, however, can it be just slightly less hard? I hope it can be that way for everyone.

In 2021, my goals include working out most days, eating better, challenging myself to no Dunkin Donuts coffee, and getting back to my old mindset of trusting God rather than myself. It always worked better that way for me.

COMMENT down below some of your goals for the new year! Let us hold each other accountable!