It's no secret that 2020 has been a dumpster fire of a year for all of us. Between a stressful US election, a global pandemic, police brutality, and all of the turns our own personal mental healths have taken, it's a wonder any of us are managing to cope with the constant trauma.
But, it hasn't been all bad on the micro level. Some things really have come through for us individually in 2020...right?
At least, it has for these people.
A Reddit user asked:
What positive things happened in your life in 2020?
Here were some of those answers.
Multi Functional Fancy Blankets
I bought a weighted blanket to treat my anxiety. This has caused two positive things to happen:
- I don't have that bad anxiety attacks anymore
- My cat noticed it felt nice to lay on top of the weighted blanket while I was laying under it, and turned into a lapcat.
Probably one of the best purchases I have made in a while.
1-2-3-4 I Declare A Press War
The birth of my daughter back in October. Really a bright spot in an otherwise pretty personally terrible year.
Oh, and the whole Four Seasons Total Landscaping thing too. That one really got me.
I'm A Fancy Doctor Now
I finally got my PhD in astronomy and became Dr. Andromeda321! :D
It was a virtual defense in May, and the university is holding onto the big fancy diploma to have a big in person ceremony for all of us who had to do a virtual defense to get them in person, once it's safe to do so.
Adapting Learning Styles
I finally learned how to learn from a textbook!
Less positive was the source, my prof had no videos covering the content, but the class was designed to read the entire thing, every page. It was insane, and stressful, and unnecessary, but I sure will not be so hesitant in opening a textbook in future courses now!
I'm A New Me
I graduate this year with either straight As, or near straight As, depending on if I screw up, have an internship doing what I love, and planning a creative brand for myself. 2020 was ironically the year I buckled down and made something of myself.
Meow And Pow Pow Pow
Got a cat, got back to school after 5 years and was very satisfied with the online schooling (I like it even more than the usual one), and got paid to stay at home. I feel bad saying it, but 2020 has actually been one of the best years for me.
Also I won a major argument with my boyfriend, we're Canadians and he was sure that the US would elect Trump again. I told him that I thought that they learned from their mistakes and that they would vote in mass, so Biden would win. He thought that the Americans were dumb, but I know it's not true. You guys rock.
It's Time To Give Back
I work for a group home for adult men with mental disabilities, when I started I found out part of my job would be taking them to their Special Olympics practices and tournaments. They all do basketball and bowling, a couple also do track or weightlifting. Seeing their coach was super busy trying to do it himself, I offered to help. So I became the unofficial assistant coach. Helping mostly my guys but occasionally helping the others, as time went on the others got more comfortable with me and my interaction with them increased. After a few months the coach asked me if I would consider becoming certified and officially being his assistant coach.
So in December of 2019 I started the process, I know, I've got the best timing. Thanks to corona it's been a bit more difficult, bowling can all be done online but basketball can't. But as of 2 weeks ago I'm an officially licensed Special Olympics coach for basketball and bowling, I eventually plan to expand to the other sports as well.
Remember Traveling?
Honestly, this is a hard one to answer. Not a lot of positives but also not as many negatives as there could have been. I didn't catch covid and I didn't lose my job and I'm kinda okay with that.
I guess the best thing I did this year was visit a friend in Denver. I rarely get to travel, even in a good year, and it was nice seeing an old friend.
School Lies Just Ahead
I got into my dream university. I had previously attended a different state university right after high school, but dropped out due to extreme depression. It was a long road moving back home and attending community college, but it finally paid off and I found out yesterday my early admission was accepted.
When You Have To Be Alone, You Learn About You!
Honestly, I needed less distraction and business to really sit with myself, and my thoughts, to figure out the person I am and want to be.
At first it was horrible and I struggled with depression. But, I pulled myself out. I got into podcasts and got better at cross stitching, making a gift for my wonderful partner. I joined the gym and got a personal trainer and have never felt healthier or more confident. I cook all my meals from scratch and have gotten way better at it. I'm doing well with my studies and have recently taken the initiative to enquire about volunteering. I've found a drive that I always knew I had, I just needed the space to activate fully.
Obviously some things could be better but I've tried to get all I can out of this mess!
@elleuk/Instagram
@elleuk/Instagram
