Reflecting on 2021

Posted 31st Dec 2021 by radiosarahc9 Comments on Reflecting on 2021 Thoughts, musings and randomness

Wasn’t sure whether to write this, I didn’t think I’d have time, hence why it’s a little late in the day to be posting, most sensible bloggers had posts prepared and ready to go this morning, that’s never really been my style.

It’d be far too easy to right this year off as a disaster – okay, I suppose it started as a skip fire with another bloody lockdown and ended with Christmas in isolation at our house – but it has not been a disaster.

Everyone I love made it to this point, we’re all (relatively) healthy, my mental health is in a good place.

Over the past 12 months, I’ve found I’m more and more comfortable with myself, contented and happy. What else could you ask for?

Granted a lottery win would be lovely.

Contentment and comfort are underrated, massively so. The past two years have taught me to grateful for things that in the past may have seemed minor.

I got to spend a lot of time at home with Scott, we relaxed, we laughed (until I cried in some cases), we planned a holiday we still haven’t been on, we enjoyed being together.

I got to see my little brother get married.

I got to see the other little brother by new a house.

I got see my best friend more than once in an entire calendar year.

We got to do some travelling – granted Scotland was not the road trip I had in mind, but I may not have seen how stunning it is hadn’t it not been for restrictions on travelling to America.

We got to spend an evening staring at the night sky in the Brecon Beacons and actually understood what the hell we were looking at.

I kept on writing, despite the urge to give it up as a bad job and occasional attacks of the fear.

I walked so many miles, I wore off the grip on my walking shoes….I really should get them replaced.

We saw live music again – just pump it into veins – we danced.

We got to spend time with our friends and families AND it wasn’t illegal to hug them.

We got to see our Goddaughters more often, seeing their personalities develop is one of the biggest privileges – even if their visits do involve laughing hysterically at an imaginary show because it’s super funny, it actually was.

I no longer have a ridiculous need to make everyone like me – I don’t even like everyone.

I was nominated for radio reporter of the year, in a national category.

I didn’t win and that really didn’t matter. When I received that nomination, I said, “being nominated is enough” and I really meant it.

In 2020, I made a decision when it came it to my job. I decided to step away from what was easy, comfortable and warm, I wanted to get off the news desk, stop reading bulletins and report instead. 

I could feel myself getting bored constantly reading the same news about coronavirus day in day out. I could happily have coasted in my routine but the desire to get out and push myself more became to big to ignore….even if it did mean having to deal with more idiots.

I was enjoying it, but I wasn’t sure if I’d done the right thing or, crucially, if I was any bloody good at it, so to get that little bit of recognition was reassuring. It meant more considering the challenges of reporting during a pandemic and knowing the calibre of work that’s been produced by my colleagues.

It gave me the reassurance that I’d done the right thing. Don’t get me wrong, there’s been times during this shit show where a move to PR has been incredibly appealing.

There’s been ups and downs like any year, but even with this bloody pandemic, life is good.

Like many people, there’s been times I’ve questioned myself, what I’m doing life and who I am.

It’s taken work but I as I sit here on New Year’s Eve bashing away at my laptop, when I really should be getting showered, I know who I am, I know who my people are (they are wonderful). I have confidence in myself, I am proud of my abilities and style (cheers D.P Brennan).

It hasn’t all magically fallen together in the space of 12 months; it’s been a work progress. It isn’t all down to me, it is also the down to the people who are in my corner who I know I can trust.

Earlier this year, I wrote about the 36 things I’d tell my younger self, on that list I stated that it was always worth climbing the mountain – literally and metaphorically. It is, what makes it even better is climbing it with right people.

In the past, people have asked me why I’m so keen on NYE. I like reflecting, I like seeing the difference a year can make, I like the idea of starting a new chapter, I like singing auld lang syne with some of favourite people but there’s another reason too.

On this same night 21 years ago, I spent New Year’s Eve in the pub with a boy who bought me a southern comfort, lime and lemonade. Unbeknownst to both of us, he’d be the one to climb mountains with me for life, thankfully our choice of drink has improved in the intervening years. It’s why always think of New Year’s Eve as being special.

Thanks for being mountain buddy (or should it be sherper considering you carry all the stuff?),even we have literally got lost a few times . 

Here’s to 2022 and whatever it brings with it!

Happy New Year to you all, best wishes for 2022, I’m off to celebrate with some of the most important people I know, see you on the other side

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Thoughts, musings and randomness

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2021, 2022, family, friends, love, New Years EVE, REFLECTIONS

radiosarahc View All

Journalist, writer, traveller, music lover, collector of hats, news addict, bookworm