It's the 1st of December. Where has this year gone?
There are only 31 days left of 2021 and the festive season is here. 2021 has been a whirlwind of a year with chaos continuing from the dreaded 2020. In January things were looking a bit bleak and we didn't really think things would get better.
Covid was still ravaging the population and scientists were trying their hardest to make a vaccine. We had none and then three came along at once! People were getting vaccinated and the infection rate did decrease.
The pandemic really made me change the way I look at life. It made me decide what I wanted to do in the future, who I wanted to be. And for that, I'm grateful for lockdown. Without the lockdowns, I would have chosen to go to university and spend time away from my family and friends, studying all the time without having space for things I love.
So, for this blog, I've written a gratitude letter of some of the things I am grateful for in the past year.
Dear 2021,
Gratitude is a positive emotion people experience when they are thankful for something. It is a way of showing appreciation. I have a lot of things to be grateful for in my life, more so than most. I have lived a good twenty years of happiness and joy surrounded by friends and family. But I think since before the pandemic, people, I included, have learned not to take things for granted.
We know death is inevitable, it's the circle of life, but we take things for granted, assuming they'll always be there. I'm grateful to Covid for giving me more time to spend with my family. Lockdown was a pain for some people, but I actually enjoyed it. I got to do more things around the house, see my family more and take time for myself, which I didn't do before.
The early end of my Sixth Form studies is another thing I'm grateful for. It was a stressful time, not knowing what grades I would be awarded especially as I hadn't sat an exam and couldn't guess how well I'd done. But the extended summer gave me time to reassess what I wanted to do in life, what I wanted my future to be. If it weren't for the lockdown, and the extra free time, I would probably be at a university studying a degree I didn't want to study in a place I didn't really want to be with no time for other adventures.
Thankfully, that is not the case!
This year I have grown as a person and have had lots going on. Because of the degree that I'm now doing online, I have had the opportunity to explore other avenues alongside my studies.
I reconnected with an old friend this year and I honestly don't know why we didn't reconnect earlier. She is a massive motorsport fan like me and because of her, I have been given an amazing opportunity. She sent me a Facebook post about this motorsport company, FormulaNerds, looking for writers. I applied and got the job, and am now a motorsport journalist and podcaster!
Working for FormulaNerds is one of the best things that has happened to me. I get to write about something I love and talk about it on a podcast with fellow motorsport fans! I am incredibly grateful to the Nerds and all the lovely people I get to work with! Plus, they actually understand my love for F1 and McLaren!
Social media has its drawbacks but I am so grateful for it because it has given me a way to talk to new friends who don't live anywhere near me - Canada, Spain, and India are a bit far for a coffee date! These girls have honestly made my year a whole lot better with our daily convos about life, books, F1, and everything else you could possibly talk about.
Bookstagram is another thing I'm thankful for because it gave me an outlet for my love of books, as well as this blog, and made me want to create endless edits all the time! Plus, it put me in touch with some authors which is always fun for aspiring novelists.
Now, I'm a person with different personalities depending on who I'm around. My family sees the real me whilst people I've just met see someone else. However, one thing that is the same is that I don't like confrontation. I will try and diffuse a situation or remove myself from it unless it's absolutely necessary. If something makes someone happy, I will do it despite me not necessarily wanting to - I tend to put others ahead of me, which can sometimes be my downfall.
But one thing I'm grateful for from this past year is that I've actually started saying 'no'. We don't have an unlimited amount of time on this planet, so why should I waste time doing things I don't want to do? I've started saying no and have done things I want to do because I want to do them.
I'm not a big fan of going out every weekend hitting the clubs and getting wasted. I'd rather spend the night watching a movie or chilling with friends. If someone asks if I'm free on the weekend but there's a Formula 1 race on, I have said no - although technically watching F1 is now working!
I have found new confidence in doing what I want. I have spent time with my family because I want to and because I actually enjoy it. I get to see friends who live moments away but they're home for this year. I have made new friends who I absolutely love. I am building up a portfolio with a bunch of new experiences. I have become stronger, smarter, wiser and, if I do say so myself, successful!
Thank you 2021 for the opportunities you've given me and the lessons you've taught me.
Abby
Has 2021 taught you anything new? What are you grateful for this year? Let me know in the comments :)
Until next time...