2021 - here we come!
Well, what can I say, this has been an interesting and even difficult year for most of us! I'm sure many imagined at the end of 2019 that 2020 and the start of a new decade would lead us into somekind of magical new start and endless possibilities or at least be a better year than the last one, am I right? For a few months hope lingered in the air, like it so often does as the year changes and as we settle it was almost like the universe pulled the rug under our feet and yelled "ha! here is some challenge for you!".
I think it's fair to say that most of us went into hermit mode due to lockdowns, felt more anxious with themselves than usual and even limited by external circumstances. It is always easy to look back on things from a positive and wise perspective and to evaluate what could have been done differently. And I'm sure, that this historic year will be one that people shall discuss in 10 years time . But let's face it: this year was so hard, yet you and I survived it! All of us did what we had to do in order to survive and some of those things we may not be proud of, but does it really matter, as long as we made it alive and are ready for something better in the future? Regardless how you spent this year, I wanted to take this moment and tell you how proud I am of you, that you decided to be a fighter, that you pulled this one through! Congratulations I say, for deciding to keep going despite everything!
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As I am about to discuss some things I've learned over the last year I will ask you to not be discouraged if you didn't experience these same lessons this year. Why? Because we are all on different paths and seasons in life. Things happen when they are meant to happen for us, progress and learning life lessons cannot be forced or scheduled like a lesson in school, which is a part of what makes life interesting and even a bit of a challenge at times. I too find it hard to sometimes understand how different lives everyone live, despite being similar in many ways! In other words, there are no grades, there is no competition, there is just forward movement. Let me know what you have learned this year if you want & inspire me by doing so and expand my knowledge on different perspectives, I think it should be a tradition to share what one has learned at the end of a year, don't you think? I think allows us to reflect, gather our lessons in our mental backpack and head outside for the new adventure that is 2021.
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So, what have I learned 2021?
You're external circumstances are not always in your control but that doesn't mean your entire life needs to be out of control
One of the things I've struggled most with in life is my mind. It is often overthinking and trying it's very best to control everything and when that isn't possible anxiety and helplessness hits in. This year I realised this destructive and toxic pattern within me. Although, I've seen this in myself before and tried to deal with it on multiple occasion this year I was forced to heal from it, it's like I could not escape from it anymore. Whenever I decided to put of dealing with this issue during 2020 I was hit with yet another external circumstances out of my control, that I had to just live with. At first, I felt caged and very limited by life. Until I realised that no matter what happens and how much I try to control the outcome of things, the only thing I can in fact control is my own mind. But if I still let my mind rule over me, everything I experience will become twice as hard for me. In other words, up until this point what I thought helped me cope with issues actually made everything worse. I found new ways to cope with negative emotions and situations instead of trying to control everything such as exercise, reading and letting thoughts come and go but not letting them take over my entire existence. This was and on going process that has pretty much lasted the entire year of 2020.
Routines are not always your enemy, in fact befriend them and the can make your life run smoothly
As many of you may know I have always struggled with routines and keeping up with everyday life, I would much rather switch things up, go on adventure and pick a new job every month! But of course I understand that isn't a sustainable way of life and 2020 I finally became an adult who befriended the world of routines. When all else was taken away including being able to work in a normal manner, the only thing left to keep a person sane and happy was, yeah you guessed it - routines! I spent a week of lockdown trying out new things but it didn't feel very productive. Then I created a daily schedule for myself. I filled my time with chores, assignments, exercise, reading about different subjects that inspired me, art projects, exercise and I would keep up with the same bedtime and wake up time, each day. Surprisingly, the lockdown became more manageable this way and when it ended I suddenly realised that the lockdown made my everyday life more balanced, just because I saw the opportunity for change and decided to take it!
Without other people you aren't able to gain more wisdom
Sometimes I go into periods of complete solitude (sorry my dearest friends). I recharge my batteries, learn new things on my own and explore different aspects of spirituality and I enjoy it a lot! But when the pandemic hit and I was sort of allowed to be alone, I understood that in order to learn more about myself and to gain more wisdom about things and in order to understand how other humans work and see the world, I really do need to be more with other humans! Now, this may sound kind of rude to some of you but it is certainly not meant to sound that way! I guess what I'm really trying to say here is that 1. I am not as independent as I thought I was. 2. Humans are social creatures, even the most freedom and solitude loving introverts. 3. Other people bring me a lot of joy, even more so than I can achieve on my own. I am beyond thankful of sharing deep talks with friends and sometimes to share a laugh with them, even if it was just over a call or text. 2020 made me understand how much social interaction means to me and people's wellbeing in general and sidenote kind of but, I begun to notice what a tactile person I truly am.
You decide how you use your time
This one kind of goes hand in hand with the first one but is also an important lesson on it's own. I looked at the woman in the mirror with her shadows and all and she told me "Nobody forces you to stay awake thinking about all those problems that don't even matter in the grand scheme of things. Nobody has forced you to to not start working on your dreams today. Nobody has told you that you aren't allowed to be your true authentic self unapologetically. Nobody, accept of course your own mind". Can you imagine how it felt like for me to face these difficult and unpleasant truths about myself internally and also dealing with the external world and the pandemic? It was like a wave of truth hit me from all angles and all I could do was to either face it or to let it be. I faced it and after many sleepless nights pondering on my behaviour and past, I have come to the conclusion that I have never been as true to myself as I am now.
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As the year is about to end I will now wrap up all of these lessons and look for new experiences next year. Who knows, maybe these important lessons shall come to use next year in one way or another.
But since it isn't wise to be completely stuck on the past either, I decided to share something a bit more fun with you that has to do with 2021! You ready? Okay! I have decided as a "new years resolution" to take 1 walk during each weekend of 2021. So 1 walk/week for 52 weeks. The meaning behind these walks is to figure things out. During each walk I'm going to pick a topic to think about and find a solution to, a new perspective on etc. as I walk. These topics will decided by my me shortly before each walk or maybe by others if the project moves on and gains momentum. I will then create a category for these walks here on my blog and then write a post after each one of them, discussing the topic I chose for that specific walk. Some walks I may take alone, some with friends, coworkers whomever. I will take the walk on either Friday, Saturday or Sunday, depending on my schedule. Hopefully my explanation was understandable enough, but if not then wait for the first post to come up during the first week of January 2021. Wish me luck, for I am aware that this might not be as easy as it may sound as of now! 💫💎😂
On this I end the last post of this year and welcome the new year. I wish all of you and wonderful 2021 and may all your dreams and wishes come true, this next year and every year for that matter 💖🦋🎆
Best wishes,
/Rebecka
