2021: A LOOK BACK ON THE YEAR

This year was a test of patience and so much more.

I've been debating whether or not to start writing posts. The reasons are so many that it could probably be its own post. Maybe the most important being not wanting to seem like a jaded and cynical 30 something shouting into the void on LinkedIn during a global pandemic that has killed millions of people and could have killed me and my dad. (After my dad already had a near-death experience before COVID was even a thing.)

(Sometimes I use dad, grandpa, and Papa interchangeably. My grandparents raised me. Apologies for any future confusion this may cause.)

Google puts out a "Year in Search" every year and this year I thought it would be the time to start my journey of something I have recommended to every small business I've ever consulted for "start a content library." So here we are... Let's get into this. Today we will be going through some trends from Google's 2021 Year in Search and I'll provide some commentary.

"This year, the world searched how to heal more than ever before."

Whoa... What an idea. How to heal. Heal from what? Life? Living? Being human? I think I've come to a conclusion we are always healing from something and being presented the opportunity to grow from something.

"how to cure burnout?was a breakout U.S. search in 2021. A breakout search is one that has increased at least 5,000% over the prior time period. It’s a big deal."

Having suffered from burnout most of my career and life this one makes a lot of sense. It seems like the rest of the world is finally starting to tire from screens, scrolling, ads, dread, woe, judgment, and shame constantly shoved in their faces. Having worked in technology for over a decade I can relate.

"oración de los enfermos?searches reached an all-time high in the U.S. in January 2021."

I can almost hear my grandmother praying. This year marked 18 years since she's been gone. She raised me and I like to think that the best parts of me come from her. During my dad's multiple near-death experiences over the past decade, I have been in a hospital room with him and a priest praying while he's been on the verge of death more times than I am comfortable sharing in this post. Maybe another time. If you are a caretaker reading this post, know you are loved and be gentle with yourself.

"Worldwide, search for?how to comfort someone?hit the highest level in Google Search history."

I again can almost hear my grandmother. She showed me what loving someone who was difficult to love was like. I think that's ultimately what comfort is... The ability to be vulnerable. This makes a lot of sense in a world that teaches the opposite of being vulnerable. How do you comfort someone who is unable to be vulnerable? Google countered with How To Be Vulnerable from WebMD as one of the top search results. ??

"stop Asian hate?surged worldwide in March 2021, after the mass murder of Korean women in Atlanta brought attention to the ongoing racist attacks against Asian Americans."

Here's another fact from my friends at Code Nation I received during an event with students where shocking tech industry statistics were shared and discussed. "White Asians are represented at a higher rate in the tech workforce than the private sector overall, white people are 1.5 times more likely than Asians to rise to an executive rank."

"In 2021, the world searched?how to ask for help?more than ever before."

I will be vulnerable and admit I have searched for this more times than I care to admit throughout my entire life... I am uncomfortable even thinking about how much help I need asking for help...

"U.S. search interest for?black owned?in 2021 is more than double the level set in 2019."

I am hopeful this is not a vanity metric and is an indicator of the future progress of all minority-owned businesses. Searching for black, woman, minority-owned is a start. (Start with my services as a digital product manager if you're considering a purchase. ??)

"U.S. search for gender binary,?genderqueer, and genderfluid hit all-time highs this year."

Reminds me of an experience educating an intern on genderfluidity and respecting another person's personhood. Where ever you are, I hope this lesson stuck. If you need a book recommendation for someone you care about on this journey of learning to respect another person's personhood I recommend The Social Justice Advocate's Handbook: A Guide to Gender.

"In 2021, global search for?mental health?reached the highest level ever."

Not surprised.

"This year, the Sunshine State searched?cambio climático?more than any other state in the U.S."

Some more fun facts about the Latinx community from the 2020 Census:

• Between 2010 and 2020, the Hispanic or Latino population grew by 23%.
• Slightly more than half (51.1%) of the total U.S. population growth between 2010 and 2020 came from growth in the Hispanic or Latino population.

"This year, the U.S. searched for?dating over 50 3x more than?dating over 30."

This makes me smile. It also makes me wonder what mobile application development is taking place for the 50 plus dating scene... Yeah, you can be any age on most dating platforms, but if my mom (biological mom) who had me at 19 and is in her 50s now were on a dating app would she want to use Bumble... or Tinder!?!? ?? (I don't have any intention of asking this question, but a very interesting area of user experience research as older populations begin to make up most of the percentage of traffic on mobile devices globally.)

Nat King Cole & Eden Ahbez put it very well 60 years ago...

"While we spoke of many things

Fools and Kings

This he said to me

The greatest thing you'll ever learn

Is just to love and be loved in return"

"This year, the world searched?how to help the environment?more than ever before."

Another one I hope is not a vanity metric. While I think it's great that individuals are searching, at scale help to the environment means the entire planet transitioning to a green-renewable economy. I am hopeful this happens in my life as many nations have already made commitments to be carbon neutral by the time I retire. (Or at least will hopefully have enough money to retire. ????)

"vaccination volunteer?was the top trending volunteer opportunity worldwide in 2021."

Other top searches in this category were library volunteer and animal shelter volunteer. The pandemic has taught me that I am a dog person. The pandemic has also taught me that I will absolutely 100% need an emotional support animal when my dad is no longer with us. Thank you, Skylar White and Choco Taco. You have helped me become a slightly better hooman and I will be furever grateful.

Till next time. ??