#2020reflection

[tmarshconnors]

Reflections on COVID Lockdowns etc

Back in 2020, during the peak of the COVID-19 lockdowns, the world seemed to slip into a surreal state of mass compliance. Governments enacted measures that were unprecedented in scope, all in the name of public health. Many of us, however, saw it differently. We weren’t oblivious to the risks of the virus, but we questioned the extreme measures being taken—the constant fear-mongering, the lockdowns, the mandates. When we banged our drums, metaphorically and literally, to sound the alarm, few wanted to listen. Today, as the world grapples with new challenges, it feels eerily familiar.

In 2020, if you dared to question the narrative, the response was swift and unforgiving. We were labeled “conspiracy theorists”, and “dangerous extremists”. The sheer number of people who accepted the government’s line without question was staggering. When we attended protests to voice our concerns, we were stormed by police, arrested, and in some cases, locked up simply for exercising our right to free speech. Many healthcare workers, who had once been hailed as heroes, were cast aside for speaking out against policies they believed were harming, not helping.

What’s happening now feels like a continuation of that same story. The tactics may have shifted, but the playbook remains largely unchanged. Back then, it was about controlling the pandemic response; now, it's about controlling the narrative around everything from climate policy to digital currencies. The powers that be push harder when they see that people will comply without question. It feels like we're living in the book of “1984” by George Orwell.

For those of us who chose not to comply with mandates—whether it was refusing to wear a mask or opting out of the vaccine the social cost was high. We weren’t just punished by authorities; we were ostracised by our communities. Friends and family members disowned us. I had. Many heated arguments with one of my aunts about how I was placing my Grandmother in harms way by refusing to comply to having the vaccine.

   Social media platforms silenced us for daring to share alternative viewpoints. Yes I am looking at you FACEBOOK! Many of us were spat on, threatened, and assaulted for simply choosing a different path.

Even politicians and celebrities piled on, openly declaring war on those who refused to comply. The vitriol was shocking, and the fact that so many people cheered it on was even more disturbing. The narrative was clear: dissenters were not just wrong, they were dangerous, and they needed to be dealt with harshly.

Looking back, it's easy to see why we're still in this mess today. The events of 2020 set a dangerous precedent. When people accept the erosion of their freedoms in the name of safety, it opens the door for even more extreme measures in the future. Governments, corporations, and global organisations like the World Economic Forum (WEF) have taken note. The more compliance they see, the bolder they become.

We shared information about the WEF's agenda and its vision for the future—one that includes greater control over our lives through digital IDs, surveillance, and centralised power. But instead of sparking meaningful debate, those warnings were met with bans, censorship, and more ridicule. The system wasn’t interested in dialogue; it was interested in silencing dissent.

Despite everything, there are signs of hope. More people are waking up to the reality that they’ve been led down a dangerous path. The cracks in the official narrative are becoming harder to ignore, and the chorus of voices calling for accountability is growing louder. But it’s still not enough.

We’re at a critical juncture, and the lessons of 2020 need to be remembered. The same tactics of fear, division, and control are being deployed today, just in different contexts. If we don’t stand up now, the consequences could be far-reaching.

The fight isn’t over, but it’s encouraging to see more people questioning, resisting, and refusing to be silenced. The world may not have listened back in 2020, but the drums are still beating, and this time, I hope the sound is impossible to ignore.

[falsegoodnight]

five favorites of 2020

RULES: it’s time to love yourselves! choose your 5 (ish) favorite works you created in the past year (fics, art, edits, etc.) and link them below to reflect on the amazing things you brought into the world in 2020. tag as many writers/artists/etc. as you want (fan or original) so we can spread the love and link each other to awesome work.

this was kind of hard because i’m proud of everything i posted this year to some extent, but i think i settled on the right order!! thank you @harryanthus for tagging me! (edit: and also @mercurial-madhouse!!)

1. just a flicker in the dark - this is by far my favorite thing i’ve ever written. it’s a culmination of all my favorite things: exes to lovers, enemies to lovers, ghosts, magic, paranormal elements, mystery, world-building, etcetera, and i’m so proud of it! pretty sure writing this was the most fun i’ve ever had writing a fic and i genuinely felt sad when it was over! it’s a true representation of “write what you want to read,” because this is everything i love to read!! this fic is truly everything to me and i’m so glad i wrote it! (would love to write more fics like it in the future!)

2. feeling borrowed, always blue - so this fic isn’t actually out yet, but it wrote it this year so i’m including it! it’s my second fic for the blff and it’s also a culmination of many things i love: exes to lovers (i just love it okay), slow burn, angst with a happy ending, mpreg, friendship, and family :’) i’m so proud of this one too and it’s maybe my second favorite thing i’ve ever written (for now, at least)

3. in a world alone - this was my first attempt at fantasy and historical and i was really proud of the outcome! it’s not perfect by any means but it gave me the courage to continue writing stories out of my comfort-zone, but also stories that are closer to fitting what i most love (fantasy/paranormal reader for life, and fantasy/paranormal writer at heart). it was also the first long abo i wrote but certainly not the last!

4. before we knew - this fic is on here because i’m proud of myself for writing/posting it, more so than the story itself (though i do still love it with all my heart). i posted this at a rough time irl and i was so so nervous but i did it anyway and i’m so glad i did! writing this fic brought me closer to some good friends of mine but it also introduced me to my best friend online and i’m forever grateful for that!! loved the minor world-building i got to do here too for the soulmates aspect!

5. peach series - this series was super fun to write!! it’s definitely the most smutty of everything i’ve ever written but it was also an opportunity to experiment with dynamics and kinks i had little experience with before, while also seeing how those things affect characters and relationships. i’m also really really fond of these characters still, which is why i still intend to continue this ‘verse in the form of drabbles. 

special shout-out to works like a charm because i’m so happy with how that one turned out!!

i’ll tag @soldouthaz, @yvesaintlourent, @cowboyharrystan, @raspberryoatss, @mugglemirror, @thepolourryexpress, and @hadestyles to do this if you want! no pressure!

[seatosomert]

Its been a while.....

Hey there. So yes, it's been a while since I last posted.

So what have I been doing?

Quite a bit actually. Covid 19 restrictions have taken their toll on everyone l varying degrees.

I have been determined however to continue create images whilst sticking to the law and Covid regs.

It would have been easier to have given in and just done as little as possible. I can't though. Its not within my character.

I've always had a sense of adventure and get up and go. My Dad was the same at one time and he rubbed off on me.

So I've continued to train, despite one or two physical set backs with little injuries and stuff here and there.

I've learned to jump rope. Explorer the lesser walked areas of my neighbourhood and local woodlands and trails.

I bought a modestly priced mountain bike and started up with that again.

I'm currently learning to speed read and enhance retention of information.

I bought a second hand electric guitar and was gifted an amp for it so I'm learning that too.

I've started to write a short book.

Coached a lad at work with his photography.

Had one trip to the Lake District in the summer (when restrictions allowed) with my beautiful wife for our wedding anniversary. Got some great images whilst up there too.

I had a trip to London with my youngest lad and took an adrenaline filled trip on the Thames Rocket boat in July. I highly recommend that by the way. It was awesome!

I sat some exams at work (and failed them by a few percent) but hey, I gave it a go and learned some new shit in the process.

I bought a new camera, the Fujifilm XE3 and learned how to create my own film simulation recipes.

Connected with professional photographers at the top of their game.

I've mentored others to help them realise and start using their full potential.

I've started learning how to create my own podcast (watch this space for that guys) which will be looking at adventurers and photographers.

I've helped my son with his home schooling during the school closures.

Taught both of my sons some Photography skills. Gotten back into Bushcraft after a year or two lay off, so I'm getting into the outdoors.

And after almost a full year of no business activity, I shot a wedding just a few days ago and I'm just in the editing phase to finish them off.

Finally, I just agreed to coach a guy with his Photography for a few months as a business client.

In and amongst all this, I've found quality time with my wife and boys. Had a little time to myself to meditate, do some yoga and get out into nature where restrictions have allowed.

I have a full time job also! When I review this year, yes I want to moan about the impact of Covid on my extended family relationships, my business and it's restrictions on my personal projects (that have mostly gone onto the back burner). Yet I have to say that on reflection, in light of all the obstacles and challenges that have been in the way, I've done a lot. I mean A LOT!

Its when I reflect in this way, right now that I am actually quite proud of myself for doing the best that I could. For not giving up.

For supporting others and for loving my family and close friends in the little ways I know I have.

2020 has been unprecedented and has been challenging to say the least. Yet I feel I can finish this year and head into the next, satisfied in the knowledge that I did my best. It was not easy. But the effort was sure worth it.

Thank you all for your continued support on this Feed. Just by following and viewing you help to drive me on and if even a tiny bit of my rambling gives you all a little enjoyment, information or images you enjoy browsing, then my job is done.

Enjoy the rest of Christmas and have a most wonderful and prosperous New Year.

I'll try not to leave it as long to post next time.

Much love.

Neil 😊❤️

[waffleswafa712]

Looking at The Silver Lining

"So many adventures given up today

So many songs we forgot to play

So many dreams swinging out of the blue

Oh let it come true"

- Forever Young by Alphaville

I was very excited for the year 2020. I think everyone were. I had been very excited as to what the Bagong Dekada "New Decade" have in store for me. I imagine a lot of exciting activities and experiences. I anticipated a lot of learning possibilities. But just like everyone else, I did not foresee the widespread of CoVId-19 and I did not expect the sudden lockdowns. We were asked to stay at home, wear masks and observe safety precautions when going out and even inside our home. Then I started counting days, weeks, and MONTHS. I dreaded every flash report that appears on TV. Then the holy month of Ramadhan came but night congregation were prohibited and even EID celebrations were spent at home. My calendar was very empty because I don' t have any activities to work on, deadlines to meet, and exams to study about. I found my days spent binge watching K-drama series, reading books, sleeping, and bonding with my parents and siblings since I did not have the luxury to do it since I started college. I read and watched all the stuffs I wanted to before the lockdown. I slept a lot, ate a lot and slept a lot more. Then suddenly I woke up realizing I had to be productive or do something worth my time. And just like that, I found my new skill.

Realizations and Learnings:

As a teen, I never really took effort to learn about cooking but now that I have plenty of time to spare, I decided to try it and I'm glad I did! It is very fulfilling to see your hard work paid off. That is, seeing other people enjoy in eating something that I cooked. Of course, my journey of finding something productive to do did not end there, I attended webinars that I find interesting. I watched documentaries and TedTalks, read spiritual and islamic books, and I even joined in a national youth-led organization. When classes started, I focused on my online learning but I made sure I spent some time for myself to protect my mental health. After all, is must be one of our top priorities in life; taking care of our mental health. 💚

Post—pandemic Plans:

I would like to share with you the things I'm looking forward to after the pandemic. The very first thing on my list is to praise God the Almighty for all the blessings and for giving us the opportunity to rise again after testing our faiths. Then I would set my track again after my setbacks. I would allow myself to learning possibilities that I had not been able to have because of the limitations of the pandemic. I would catch up with my friends that I have not met in person for the longest time. I would try to be more involved in my community. Lastly, I would strive to be a better version of myself.

Reflection:

Looking back, I can say that the quarantine is not so bad at all. If we all just look at the brighter side, we can appreciate the silver lining given by our situation. As for mine, I became closer with my family, learned new things and perspectives in life and most importantly, strengthen my connection with my God Allaah (S.A.W.). In the end, when we overcome this adversity, In God's time, we can continue living our lives but I think, personally, I can never go back to what I was before the lockdown. My new normal is going to be different because I knew a part of me changed and my growth will affect my life positively, Allaah willing.👼🌺

| Photo taken on October 30, 2020 at Santa Elena, Iligan City, Philippines

[kemaladiah]

2020 akan berakhir dalam hitungan menit

Tahun yang sungguh sangat unpredictable yet full of lesson to learn,

Untuk semua rencana yang berantakan dan tidak berjalan sebagaimana harusnya

Untuk semua ingin dan harapan yang masih belum tampak wujud nyatanya

Untuk merasakan kehilangan yang bahkan tak sempat disiapkan

Untuk menghargai apa saja yang sudah dimiliki tanpa harus merasa iri pada yang lain

Untuk turut bahagia atas kebahagiaan orang-orang terdekat

Untuk selalu ada bagi mereka yang juga melakukan hal yang sama,

Untuk menjadi kuat ketika tak ada pilihan lain selain bertahan

Untuk berupaya jujur karena dengan begitu kau paham mengenai ketulusan orang-orang

Untuk bertanggungjawab dan menjadi yang diandalkan karena memang sebuah keharusan

Untuk selalu bersabar atas semua yang kau anggap cobaan/ujian padahal sesungguhnya itu bentuk kasih sayang-Nya

Untuk selalu bersyukur dan merasa cukup karena itulah yang membuatmu tak pernah kekurangan,

Untuk kehadiran mereka yang membuatmu paham bahwa hidup memang tak pernah bisa kau jalani sendirian,

TERIMA KASIH

Untuk semua Tawa dan airmata, hari hari bahagia atau masa berduka, untuk semangat yang lebih sering ada walau terkadang rasa malas mendera,

Terima Kasih;

dan tak lupa, Untuk Diri Sendiri yang sudah mau berjuang untuk hal-hal baik. Untuk lebih memilih optimis walau banyak ketidak mungkinan yang tampak. Untuk selalu berusaha berpikiran positif setiap kali hal-hal buruk datang menimpa,

YOU'RE DOING GREAT JOB!!!

Mari akhiri tahun ini dengan berlapang dada untuk semua yang tak bisa kau paksakan, memaafkan untuk siapa dan/atau siapa saja yang menyakitkan, dan bersyukur atas setiap kesempatan yang kau dapatkan.

✨🎇🎊 Bye, 2020

[purelafemme]

Mid 2020 reflections

The older I grow, the more important I realize it is to extend myself grace, and to practice patience. All the pieces of my life will come together. This pandemic has taught me to be still. 

A few days ago I woke up in a grumpy mood. Over the last few months, some days will go by and I will feel fine. Others, not too hot. Recently, I decided to practice a tip from one of the former therapists. I took the time to “check in” with myself and pinpoint all the reasons I was feeling so out of tune. 

A big reason for this “out-of-tuneness” is coming from my job. I don’t feel as connected and engaged to my work, as I would imagine it would be if we were in the office. Its difficult for me to focus and relax in my room. All my life I have struggled with performance anxiety, which has become heightened due to my experience in the AEA program. Teleworking has blurred the lines between my home life and my work life, making it difficult for my brain to separate the two. Also, I feel cramped and restricted due to the lack of independence and freedom I am experiencing living in my parents house. I miss my freedom and independence of living in my own apartment. I’m going to stay here until January to try and save more money (at least $8,000). Just like I felt with Morgan back in fall of 2017, I can feel that I have outgrown living in my parents house and living in Baltimore. It’s time for a new beginning and a fresh start. I don’t want the pandemic to prevent me from pushing back my plans further, or allow it to cause time to get away from me. It’s important that I take this step towards moving out for me.

 A second reason propelling my dismay comes from a realization that I had realized over the past weekend. I have a strong tendency to over give in a lot of the relationships I have. I went out of my way to plan something to do with my estranged friendship group from middle school, and I am not too pleased with how it went. In Boston, I didn’t have many friends nor did I engage in many social activities. One of the reasons I wanted to return back to this area is so I could hang out with my friends and resume social activities again. Earlier this summer, I started putting a lot of energy into hanging out and doing things with and for my friends. But after these two-three years of me being away, I’ve realized that some of my friend groups/dynamics are not the same. Honestly, I feel like a big part of the reason why I started hanging out a lot with my friends is because since my love life is not going the way that I want it to, I want to keep people around me a lot to avoid feeling lonely, to mask the loneliness. But I want to shed those feelings and really take the time to get into myself. One of the reasons I delayed grad school was because I really wanted to take space for myself to develop myself (Develop myself spiritually, mentally--develop my fashion, my interests, my personality, knowledge). This has made me realize that I want and need to feel more comfortable being alone, which is another reason why I think living alone would be good for my personal growth. Additionally, even though things didn't work out the way I intended them to with my partner earlier this Spring, that situation has finally taught me, after 24 years of age (8 years of dating), how I deserve to be treated and what qualities I want in a partner. Given this, I think I need to now branch out and truly get comfortable with being alone. Over the last couple of years, I have struggled with being alone and I realized that I will go run to go hang out with people to avoid that feeling, or I will spend my time being alone and wishing I laid up with a nigga. I want to truly embrace the idea of just truly being alone, and being happy and content. 

Sometimes I experience a weird sadness about me not following through with my previous academic plans, which causes me to feel like im a funk. I went to research conference today where my peers who have continued with their academic plans were present, I couldn’t help but feel a tinge bit of sad that I didn't continue mine. This month would have been the month I would be starting my PhD program if everything had went as planned. Although I realized this was not right for me, I am still kind of bummed in a weird way about it. I worked exceedingly hard and invested a lot of time and energy into this goal, and now that things haven't gone as planned and I have seemingly abandoned my PhD dreams, I feel a weird sense of sadness about it. I may be still interested in research, but honestly, I am not sure. From doing the AEA program twice, witnessing the AEA Climate Survey, surviving the Harvard program, and reading Claudia’s blog post, I feel kind an overwhelming sense of jadedness by this whole thing-- and now I cannot seem to make up my mind about an exact alternative career path or graduate degree. All I know is that I would really like to have a concrete plan once this job is over, because I am not getting any younger and I want to have security when it comes to my career goals by the time I approach my mid thirties. 

Now that I have just written a list of reasons why I am in a funk because I am not where I wanna be, I want to take just as much time to reflect on all the reasons why I am proud of myself. I am very proud of myself for landing my current job opportunity. It took me over six months of applying to land my current position, and there was several times over the course of those months where I was bogged down with anxiety and self-doubt crept it! Literally the day I got the offer, I was laying in bed CRYING because it was April and my program was going to end in May and I hadn't secured a reasonable opportunity yet. My God is good, and he for sure came right on time. Of course, there are some days where my performance anxiety at work is on high, but  really in those moments need to take a step back and praise him for granting me the opportunity to get a job in my field, with a nice salary, with nice people and meaningful, clear growth opportunities. I am so grateful, and I need to acknowledge this more as well as congratulate myself for this. Even though things didn’t go as planned with the whole PhD thing, I am EXACTLY where God wants me to be in my life, and that is a beautiful thing. I am proud of where I am, and I know this opportunity will give me the tools to make the best career decision for me moving forward. I am claiming it now. Honestly, this is my first time since I graduated undergrad where I feel like I can breathe. 

I am also proud of myself for giving myself the space to develop ME for ME. There is so much other parts of life and myself that I want to explore, and now that I am no longer suffocated by the pressures of academia, I am excited to dive in ! I recently hired a trainer, and started my own business! Being in grad school is a huge educational investment that comes at a cost. The stress of that program didn't leave time for me to dedicate to other parts of my life, which I realized I did not like. My twenties are my formative years. So yeah, it does suck to have invested so much time in doing all those things to be a perfect PhD applicant and then to not even apply to PhD programs lol, but I am soo proud of myself for listening to my gut, taking a step out on faith and choosing a different direction! It wasn't an easy decision at first, but I am excited about where this side business will take me, and I am happy that this will be a chance for me to explore my artistic side more! I have always had this side to myself, but never fully dived into it because of the lack of time and resources. So I am proud of using this space and time to unlock a new side of myself. I also think there will be a lot of personal growth opportunities that will come from being a small business owner, which I have confidence I can tackle and that it will make me more mature, and help develop sounder financial practices ! :)

I am super proud of myself for taking charge of my health!!! My weight is something I have always struggled with since elementary school. I was never particularly fat, but I was never as skinny as people like my sister and my cousins. From a young age, I internalized a sense of being uncomfortable with my body, which has followed me into adulthood. However it wasn't until the later half of high school when I started to develop some health problems as a result of my poor diet and lifestyle habits. My period has been irregular since 2012-2013, which I am sure was triggered by the anxiety I faced from switching schools, eating predominantly restaurant food from working at Charlestown, and having a poor sleeping schedule. After four years or random, scattered periods, I got diagnosed with PCOS in 2016. In 2017 I turned 21. I started drinking alcohol a lot more, causing me that fall to weigh in at my biggest size ever--over 180 pounds. Since the middle of high school, my weight had always been in the 160-170s range. That spring, I was able to get serious about diet and exercise and shed some pounds due to my leave from school. However, over the past two years in the Harvard program, I have not been able to manage my weight properly, causing me to explode to the biggest size I have ever been--195.. And im not sure what’s going on with my hormone production now, but I know my gut is a hot mess. (This spring I just got diagnosed with IBS.) Since the pandemic started, I have tried to work out consistently and eat a balanced diet. However over the last five months I have not seen many changes in my body which has been disappointing. This week on impulse, I made the decision to hire a trainer-- this is going to be the first step towards making some serious lifestyle changes for me and I am excited to get into the best physical shape I have ever been in! Regardless of the number on the scale, I really want to do this for the improvement of my overall health. I want to develop a healthier relationship with food (stop binge eating/seeking food as comfort) and I also want to train myself to not only eat out of boredom, or because food is available. I know developing this habits will help me develop more discipline! Also, I think our bodies as humans are capable of so much, and I really want to treat my body good so I can get the best use out of it ! I want to learn how to swim, I want to build endurance and start running, I want to be able to sustain my own body weight, and become proficient at aerial yoga! Also, sometime in the future I want to have kids and before this happens I want to already be in shape and be in the position to have a happy and healthy pregnancy. Being a mother is one of my biggest aspirations in my life ! I am hoping that this change to my lifestyle will support better hormonal health and regulate my menstrual cycle, which would actually help me get pregnant easier in the future. I am also tired of having all these stomach problems (indigestion, acid reflux, constipation, etc)--clearly something inside of me is inflamed and thats why I am having these issues. Overall, I am very proud of myself in taking these actions and I am excited to see how my body will look, how I will feel, and in what ways I can grow mentally and financially with my business ! 

One last reason why I am proud of myself is because I have been making small strides to become more money conscious. However, I know I can definitely improve in this area over the next couple of months, and it is important that I tackle this since I have my first real job, (plus a side business) and I want to live on my own. I have always struggled with managing my personal finances, so I am excited to learn tips and develop practices that will help me be smarter with my money. This is also very important to me because one day I would like to have a family, and I want to be able to provide for them. So it is important that I take the steps now to ensure that I am living below my means, and that I can set myself up to be financially comfortable and not cash strapped. 

I was inspired to write this post because I woke up one day in a sour mood about my current circumstances and the fact that I am seemingly not where I want to be and I felt down about it. But then I woke up the next day and realized how much I really had to be grateful for, and how proud I am of myself for all that I have accomplished throughout my life even with various obstacles I have encountered. God truly has favored me. Even through this crisis, God has found ways to bless me and I have taken actions to better myself. For that I am super thankful for. There are people that have lost their life and their livelihoods in 2020, but for some reason God still choose me to protect, and to take me to the next level. So I want to take this time to publicly thank him for all that he has done on the inside! Instead of focusing on the all the areas of my life that I am not too satisfied with, I vow to constantly cultivate a heart, mind and spirit full of gratitude and praise. 

Other short term goals I want to accomplish 

- Join a church home/integrate other practices into my life to develop my relationship with him in addition to keeping the prayer journal (reading the bible, starting a gratitude book)

- Take better care of my hair: be more consistent with protective styles, trims, and deep conditioning! 

- Read more books (I have watched too much TV this year lol) I especially want to read more books written by Black women and the experience of Black women!

-Try new hobbies (in addition to swimming, I want to go horseback riding, etc)

[mylchee]

✨🗓 REFLECTIONS FOR 2020 🗓✨ #mylchee #reflections #2020 ✨ Reflecting on themes from the past year. ✨ For each month of 2020: 🎉 1. Jan - Resiliency: Vacay 1wk Bedridden 🎉 2. Feb - Foodie: #Winterlicious 🎉 3. Mar - Perseverance: Lockdown Workouts 🎉 4. Apr - Hectic: Scrambling on Food Stores 🎉 5. May - House: Watching it be built by @brookfieldresidentialon 🎉 6. Jun - Staging: Townhouse up for Sale. Thank you @creatingspaceshomestaging for beautifully staging our home! 🎉 7. Jul - Respite: Sunshine and Packing 🎉 8. Aug - Transition: Moved House 🎉 9. Sep - Discovery: Birthdays and Hiking 🎉 10. Oct - Grind: House Projects @behrpaint 🎉 11. Nov - Crucible: Hike, Reduce Stress! 🎉 12. Dec - Accomplishment: GradEx Online ✨ What are you reflecting on this year? 💬 Leave a comment below! 👇 👍 Like this post if you liked it. 💖 💫 Share this post if it loved it. ❤️ 🔆 Follow for more good vibes! ✨ 👉 Check out the link in the bio for more goodies! 🔗🔝 #reflection #2020reflections #byebye2020 #endof2020 #endoftheyear #yearendreview #yearendreflection #yearend #endoftheyear #lastdaysoftheyear #yearendplanning #year #ayearinlockdown #2020isoversoon #mentalclarity #clarity #goalsetting #goals #hello2021 #thankful #pickering #ontario #canada (at Pickering, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJd-nWEhSma/?igshid=3vr1kwd7ao07

[tinabraham]

huh you don’t say

[rueluxprince]

What are your favorite books of 2020? - Welcome to the first installment in my “Reflecting on 2020 as a way to gain some perspective and get my life back on track” post series. Surprisingly, I did actually gain quite a few Favorite books in the worst year of my life, across a wide variety of genres too. So, silver lining? I can stop being so anxious about my “inevitable doom” now? - 1. On a Sunbeam: lesbians space saga is gorgeous. Everything from the world building to the characters and the art style is absolutely bonkers. Just. Plain wonderful. 2. Sawkill Girls: lesbian monster horror is awesome. A very clear case of don’t listen to the Goodreads score. Complex female characters finding strength in each other. I’m constantly starved for that. 3. The entire Truly Devious series: Ravenclaw protagonist is extremely scary. Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie would’ve been proud to have created such a mystery. 4. Red at the Bone: one of the most unexpected and beautiful literary fictions I’ve ever read. I wish I could somehow get my professor to teach it. 5. Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race: killed me into the non-fiction world. Succinct and crisp and biting. Lays it out so cleanly you cannot look away. Really appreciate that. 6. The Voices: did not think a novel in prose can be this good. Turns out to be amazing. What did I say about me salivating over complex female characters? Yeah that. Here. Love it. • • • • #bookgramph #booklr #readerlife #booksofinstagram #2020reflections #booksaremylife #favoritebooks #booksfordays #readingismagic #bookster #favorites #becauseofreading #amreading #alwaysreading #pursuepretty #bookcommunity #currentlyreading #chooselovely #cozyreading #thevoices https://www.instagram.com/p/CJlehLugkPv/?igshid=7e92siuwp05q

[jimmytrantheasianman]

When I think back on this year, I remember the people. The people who went on outdoor adventures with me. The people who reached out to check in on me. The people who gave me a hand and supported me. I don't know what I would have done without y'all. #togetherwerise #2020reflections https://www.instagram.com/p/CJflfGSrwJMMAb1rVSvMN0-25HprrPVoxePmE40/?igshid=12fwmh4xw71cn

[falsegoodnight]

2020 in writing

this year has been a crazy ride from start to finish and writing fics quickly became my method of coping, for good and bad. i’m so grateful to have been able to express myself in this form, and am so grateful for the positive reactions i’ve received in doing so!! without further ado, here’s my year in review on ao3!

note: for some reason, ao3 collected all the data for my first fic (which was posted as an ongoing wip from september 2019 to march 2020) into the data for 2020 so these statistics are a bit off!

✰ amount of works posted: 16! (and 17 written!)

✰ total word-count: 659,748 (uh, wow, wasn’t expecting that)

✰ longest fic: Don’t Let It (Me) Break (168,566)

✰ shortest fic: move so pretty (you’re all i see) (10,548)

✰ fic with the most kudos: before we knew  

✰ fic with the most bookmarks: before we knew  

✰ fic with the most comment threads: Don’t Let It (Me) Break

✰ total amount of kudos: 14,639 kudos

✰ total amount of bookmarks: 7,824 bookmarks

✰ total amount of comment threads: 1,266 threads

✰ fandoms written for: just one direction! 

✰ fests you’ve written for: i only participated in the @bottomlouisficfest which i wrote two fics for: 

- sweet like honey back in november!

- feeling borrowed, always blue which isn’t out yet and won’t be out this year which is why i’m not including it in any of the above data.

✰ pairings i’ve written for: 

main: harry/louis (for every single one of them)

side: zayn/liam (6?), gigi/zayn (2), niall/barbara (1)

✰ favorite fic written this year: just a flicker in the dark by far, but i do love them all!

✰ goals for next year: 

- write/post ten fics (not including the one i already have set to post) 

- focus on some bigger projects (including tangled au, mandalorian series, and greek au)

- write more fantasy/paranormal/sci-fi fics

- finally finish & post my oldest wip: the fake dating au

i’m so incredibly grateful to everyone who’s read my fics whether it was one or all of them, and even more grateful for those who left kudos, commented, reblogged/retweeted, or let me know in some other form their thoughts!! it means the world to me and there’s no way i would have wrote/posted so much this year without that encouragement and support! 

thank you @zanniscaramouche​ and @soldouthaz for tagging me to do this and allowing me to reflect over the year! 

i’m pretty sure most people have been tagged to do this sometime already by this point but i’ll still tag @solvetheminourdreams, @raspberryoatss, and @tomlinvelvetfics if they want to do this! no pressure at all!

[vivadivageri]

2020 was a year like no other I was so excited for 2020 because I love even numbered years It was also the year of our 20th wedding anniversary 🎉 Who would have guessed that we would lose friends and see the world shutdown with a pandemic? I pray that 2021 is a much better year for you and the world 🙏 Happy New Year’s Eve 🎩🎉🎊 #newyearseve #newyearwishes #vivadivamagic #2021eve #positivevibes #2020reflections https://www.instagram.com/p/CJd8lbbDI-y/?igshid=3xsxnvt3fgzs

[theworkshopn4]

H N Y Happy New Year you lovely lot! I hope 2021 brings all of us some semblance of normality soon. Here I am back in the height of lockdown working away in my studio, I am very lucky to have to myself. This is one of my happy places and I’m looking forward to getting back in there after a little break over Christmas. I have been busy foraging, mapping and making paint before I get stuck into creating lots of new work! I can’t wait to share it with you all and I always love the kind feedback you pass on. Thank you for all your support and encouragement this year, I’ve needed it and it’s spurred me along! Here are some of the ‘normal’ things I hope to see return soon in 2021: galleries reopening, dining out at a nice restaurant, drinking cocktails with friends in a bar, dancing out out, popping home to see family, going abroad and lying on a beach in the sun, seeing my art in a physical exhibition (predominantly for the privates views so I can chat and drink wine! 😉) What are some of the things you’re hoping will return to ‘normal’ soon? #happynewyear #2020reflections #londonartist #returntonormal #thingsimiss #thursdaythrowback #memoriesof2020 #2020highlights #nye2020 #newyearseve2020 #lookingbackontheyear #positiveoutcomes #personalachievements #celebratethewins #studiotime #artinthemaking (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJd1hpvHg5C/?igshid=1fpi8zxr3dkfm

[doodlesinabox]

2020 How will you remember 2020? For me, it was a year of mindfulness. Mindfulness of the fragility of life, the interconnectedness of the world, the preciousness of social connection, the beauty of the outdoors, the importance of science, the power of democracy, And the resilience of the human race. The problems of 2020 will not end at the stroke of midnight. But I hope we bring into the new year this mindfulness. Only when we remain mindful can we recognise the problems and attempt to solve them. I wish you good health, peace and mindfulness in 2021. Happy New Year! #newyear #happynewyear #farewell2020 #welcome2021 #newyearcountdown #newyearwishes #mindfulness #2020 #2020reflections #reflection #lookback #endoftheyear #history #lookingback #newyearnewstart #newyearnewgoals #motivation (at Planet Earth) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJcp9lKHk78/?igshid=1f206j6t1bi40

[thenursegreg]

Sometimes you just have to laugh, right? It hasn't always been easy to do this year, because although 2020 is a joke, it's a bad one 😂 : But if I look close, this year has had it's silver linings. : I built a recording studio at home, and made more music than ever. : I discovered a love for photography and video, both as a hobby and professional services. : I got a cute cat who has been my little buddy whenever I feel lonely. : I started writing again, realized I enjoy it, and realized I'm actually pretty good at it. : I connected with a lot of new awesome people, both in real life and right here online. : I started a transition from employee to self-employed, something I've dreamed of for a decade. : My kids are healthy, happy, and thriving despite the madness around us. : And greatest of all: I've started to accept myself. I've started to understand myself. I've started to find my purpose. : I've started to love myself. : Thanks for being a part of it. : (Side note - if you're a professional or small business/startup, I have a whole team that can help you with creative marketing, branding, and personal branding - let's work together in 2021!) . . . #justlaugh #laughtherapy #smilingismyfavorite #2020reflections #sentimental #newpurpose #findingpurpose #findingmeaning #courageouscreative #myidentity #healthymindset #positiveliving #youaremagic #youaremagical (at Victor, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJJOn75MvzB/?igshid=1stugthihzp2j

[awesomeredhds02]

iamaliciagerrard

2020 was a strange year for us all - but I can't help but look back on it as a year of growth and for the most part, positive change. Despite the difficulties and strain, I've seen so many people persevere with resilience and hope. That's how I want to remember it. The most important things that come to my mind when I reflect on the past year... 

-A solid circle of people I truly trust has been a must - though its hard letting go of people who do not serve your soul, this makes way for those who are in line with your journey. And I've met some incredibly positive and supportive genuine people. -Strength through the fear of change. I really felt that fear - and still do! Perks of anxiety. But I've learned to challenge myself more than ever when it comes to creating the life I want to live. -Self-care and self-love. Doesn't come easily when you're conditioned to think serving others is all about self-sacrifice. To have opened my eyes more than ever to the fact that I serve better when I feel love towards myself is something I'm extremely grateful for. -Doing what I love most despite lockdown was the most wonderful gift. To be professionally acting unless you're an a-lister is already a feast-or-famine situation so I feel very blessed to have continued my acting career throughout covid. And my heart has been so full every time I see a fellow artist working and creating work as well. Nothing has brought me more joy than being part of such a great support system of incredibly hard-working artists despite the odds. -My family are healthy and I have been lucky enough to have spent time with them for Christmas and other important occasions. -And the basics of course - I have a roof over my head, food in my fridge and plenty of passion in my heart with hope for the future. 2020 should not be seen as a year that came without loss, fear, uncertainty and hardship - but I can honestly say that I'm counting every blessing that came with it. It revealed the things that truly matter in this world. Compassion, strength, family, friends, creativity, love, acceptance and hope. I wish you all a truly prosperous 2021 ✨❤️

#countingtheblessings#happynewyear2021 #2020reflections