2021 Highlights

Hello! It’s certainly been a while.

2021 was a big year filled with a lot of change for me. I saw a post on Instagram recently that said something like “I feel like I’ve lived three years this past year”, and I definitely felt that. With a lot of changes came a lot of growth, and some of it was…tough. It definitely wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. But even though there were some rough times, looking back on this past year I feel confident saying that I’m in a better place than I was when I entered 2021. And so, since I’m feeling like I’m in a better place now at the end of the year, I wanted to focus on expressing gratitude and sharing some highlights from this past year.

So, without further ado, here are some of my 2021 highlights…

Therapy

This year I started therapy for the first time, and I immediately fell in love with it. I highly recommend it to everyone, even if you don’t think you need it, it’s such a great opportunity to learn about yourself. Therapy has allowed me to learn so much about my thought patterns, how that impacts my actions and behaviours, and helped me realize my self-worth. It provided me with the tools to speak up for myself and confidently speak my mind, as well as developing my overall communication skills with people in my life. Opening up to others is something I always struggled with, and getting over that hurdle has honestly been life-changing.

I know a lot of people think that therapy is only necessary if you’re really struggling mentally, like if you’re severely depressed, but I don’t think that’s the case at all. It’s a great way to learn new strategies and skills to benefit yourself, and take care of your mental health, as well as learning what you need in order to live a happy and peaceful life! I wish it was more accessible to everyone, and I feel incredibly privileged that it is something I have access to. But if you don’t have barriers preventing you from accessing therapy, I’d highly recommend giving it a shot! You never know what you might discover about yourself.

Buying my Dream Car

At the start of summer I was in need of a new car, and the thought of searching for a car was very overwhelming. I don’t know anything about cars, or how much to expect to pay for a decent car, or what kind of car I would need for winter driving. And honestly, because the more practical car stuff doesn’t interest me in the slightest, all I cared about was driving a cute car (don’t judge me).

I’ve always wanted a Mini Cooper, but for some reason it felt like a bit of a far-away, unrealistic goal. The moment I considered the possibility of getting one, self-doubt crept in and I just told myself it wasn’t going to happen. Not even for any particular reason – I just have this bad habit of convincing myself I simply can’t have certain things in life. It’s like I convince myself it’s somehow too far out of reach or maybe like I don’t deserve certain things I want to have. But I really wanted a Mini Cooper, and I finally had a moment of clarity where I asked myself, ‘why not? why can’t I buy one?’. Because really…there’s no reason I shouldn’t be able to get the things I want in life.

So, when I found one within my budget, I sent it to my dad to take a look at (because again, I know nothing about cars and have no idea what to look for to know if it’s reliable or not), and he approved! It felt too good to be true, but I went and bought it and I couldn’t be happier! It was such a nice treat to myself to get my dream car, and I’m absolutely in love with it. It felt extra special because it was also a moment where I realized, see? You can go after the things you want and make them a reality. And that was an incredibly liberating realization.

Practicing Independence

This year I did two things in particular that I never would have thought I’d be confident or independent enough to be capable of doing. The first thing was road-tripping to Canmore all by myself! Shortly after I got my Mini, I had some vacation time already booked, and I really didn’t want to just sit around at home for a week. So, I decided to head down to Canmore for a little solo vacation. It was my first time driving to the mountains (I’ve always just been the passenger), and my first time ever going on a road-trip alone. I was obviously very nervous, but I made it there and back in one piece, and it felt so empowering to manage everything all on my own!

I wasn’t quite brave enough to go on a big hike alone while I was there, but I did check out a lot of walking trails in Canmore, and I enjoyed that opportunity to just go on a lot of peaceful walks on my own. Honestly, when I got home from that trip, it felt so exhilarating and I felt capable of anything!

Do I still prefer going on roadtrips with other people? Yes. But now I know that I can go on my own if I really want to get out of the city and nobody else is available to join me.

The second big act of independence for me would be attending barre classes alone. The first barre class I went to I attended with a friend, because I figured it would be easier to laugh at myself if I messed up while there with a friend than if I was there by myself. But after that, I really enjoyed the class and I attended a couple more all on my own! The first one I attended alone I was a bit nervous for, but I had so much fun with it. I think it helps that the environment is so supportive – the instructors are really friendly and approachable, and everyone there seems to be at different levels. My big concern was that it would be a very intimidating space, and that everyone would be an expert while I just fumbled my way through it all. But it’s not like that at all – everyone is just having fun with it, and there’s no pressure at all to be ‘perfect’. In fact, they encourage you to just do your best and to actually modify the exercises as needed!

Attending fitness classes alone might seem like a small thing for a lot of people, but I’m incredibly shy and not a naturally outgoing person at all, so the fact that I was able to work up the courage to go, and the fact that I actually enjoyed it enough to want to continue attending classes on my own? That feels like a huge breakthrough in my work towards becoming a more independent person.

Friends

My friends really made this year for me. I honestly cannot put into words how eternally grateful I am for them. I don’t know how I got so lucky to have such incredibly supportive, caring, and understanding people in my life. Everything that I’ve been through this year – the good times, the bad times, the confusing times, the times I felt like giving up on things – they were right there for me to offer their support without hesitation. They’ve cheered me on, picked me up when I was down, and celebrated all my wins with me (no matter how big or small). I know I can go to them with anything, and they’ll offer exactly the words and support that I need in that moment. I feel so lucky to have friends who create a safe space that allows me to open up to them about every and anything without fear of judgment. I have made such amazing memories with them this year, and I can’t wait to continue making more memories with them going forward, and continuing to grow with them and celebrate all of our wins together in the future. They truly make me feel blessed, and above all else made this year one worth celebrating.

I hope everyone else is able to reflect on happy moments to celebrate this past year, regardless of what hard times you may have been through. Life can be difficult sometimes, but just remember that you grow from the pain, and there’s always something worth celebrating. Just keep looking out for the positives whenever you can.

Until next time,
Nadine