Here’s To 2022

I'm not going to bombard you with yet another list of the things I learned this year.

In all honesty, I learned a lot this year–mostly about myself. I learned to stand up for myself, to speak up when things didn't feel right. I began advocating for myself in spaces I would usually shy away from.

I'll stop before it becomes a bullet-pointed list.

2021 was, to put it mildly, a difficult year. Whether you struggled with your health, friends and/or family not taking the threat to all of our health seriously, losing people due to political differences, or even leaving your church, I hope you know you aren't alone.

I know that doesn't do anything to take away the pain. I know you understand that everyone is struggling–look around, how could they not be?

I am very much not a fan of the toxic positivity way of thinking. The look on the bright side, other people have it worse, blah blah blah. I'm still working on unlearning all that stuff. But honestly, look back at this year and think of the times you surprised yourself.

Did you quit your job and look for one you enjoy more? Did you focus on a hobby or personal project that you love? Did you make a promise to yourself to drink more water, and actually follow through with it?

Whatever it may be, even if you just got out of bed and took your meds every morning, you deserve to be proud of yourself. I'm extremely proud of you!

I hope this next year is kinder to us all. I hope we can all sit back and take a breath, reflect, and continue on doing what we can to make ourselves happy. I hope 2022 gives us all a break.

I know it might seem impossible, but we have to keep our hope. Hope that things can be better, hope that we can work to help make things better.

Happy new year, everyone. Stay safe.

—Abbie