Goodbye 2021: My Favorite Moments of the Year

Welcome to the start of my silly end of year traditions!

You all know I love end of year posts and carrying on “traditions” on this blog, so as always, we’re kicking off my “Goodbye” series with my favorite moments of 2021. And as I always say, I can’t believe we’re here at the end of the year. I know last year I was hoping (but doubtful) that things might be different in terms of the pandemic, and it sucks that they aren’t. But there were some pockets of happiness I was able to find in 2021, which I’m forever glad for!

Speaking of the pandemic: I have COVID! This is certainly NOT a favorite moment of the year… but luckily I’ve been experiencing only mild symptoms (and hopefully it’ll stay that way). I’m going to pretend that my tiredness from COVID is the reason why this post is short, and not because I couldn’t come up with any more favorite moments :p

• As always, dance provided a space for me to heal and escape from my usual life worries. Whether it was regular class or team rehearsals, it was always a relief to be able to dance and move my body. Choreographing also was extremely frustrating but rewarding, especially for my solo. And I’ve loved watching my own artistry and skill levels grow! 
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• .Not really a particular moment, but reading! Like I talked about in my last post, reading has brought me a lot of joy in the past year. And especially in the past few months, I’ve cherished each chance I’ve gotten to sit down to read, since I’ve had so little time to. While I love being a hater every once in a while for the good of my soul, it makes me happy to not have (as much of) a reason to be a hater over the books I’ve read this year!

some of the books I loved this year! (but not my best of list)

• While opening schools back up was certainly Not the smart decision for controlling COVID, it let me reconnect (physically) with my friends, which was honestly life-changing for me. I’m very much an antisocial introvert, but I’m just like anyone else and need at least a bit of connection with other people. Even if it was just complaining about schoolwork, being able to talk and laugh with friends at school has made a difference!
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• Honestly, just getting offline was so wonderful. It was a combination of school taking up all my time and being so fed up with things I saw online that I just had to take matters into my own hands. While I missed the people in the online book community, there were many things I certainly did not miss, and I was happy to get away to recenter myself. Now I just log off when I want to tear my hair out—it’s honestly sad that it took this long for me to reach this point but at least we’re here!
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• .Spending time with my sister has made me really happy, whether it’s watching shows and movies together or me chilling in her room on my phone while she does her homework (I’m an annoying older sibling like that!). She’s also finally listening to my book recommendations, so it’s been fun to talk to her about books as well! But mostly I like annoying her.

  
we’ve been watching Ghibli movies over the year!!

• Though I didn’t write a lot this year (and I’m so sad over it), I feel like I’ve gotten more confidence over my writing and it makes me really happy. I still deal with impostor syndrome a LOT and of course have so much room to grow, but I wrote a short story I’m immensely proud of and got to share my writing + spend time with other writers at a writing program. I’m really excited to see where my writing will go when I have the time to nurture it!
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• After procrastinating it and stressing about it for so long, finally getting my driver’s license was a huge relief!! While driving still terrifies me—I honestly don’t understand how people can drive without any fear—I’m really glad to be able to do some things with a modicum of independence because of it. And it’s made for fun drives with my sister!

SMALLER MOMENTS

• I got a job and though I don’t love working (who does), I do love getting money!!
• Rediscovering old songs I loved brings me so much joy, especially when I thought I had no taste and it turns out I did.
• I started journaling about mundane things to practice my cursive and now I have pretty cursive that I’m very proud of (and journaling was a stress relief too, I guess…)
• While I was terrible about learning Thai this year, I redid my notebook and it makes me happy to see it! Even if I don’t study it!
• I love playing an excessive amount of Gamepigeon with my friends, and winning at Word Hunt 99% of the time.
• Caring less about grades (even if only slightly) has been so wonderful for my mental health <3

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what have been your favorite moments of 2021, big or small? any standout movies you watched? do you journal? I hope you’ve all been having wonderful holidays!

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