Looking Back on 2021

Before switching to OneNote, I used Evernote which I completely abandoned. Recently, a friend of mine shared some information with me via Evernote. I had to remember my username and password to log in. I ended up going through the old records left in that application. Suddenly I stumbled upon "30 questions to be answered at the end of the year."

These are not my questions. And to be honest, I haven't found the author. There are many such articles on the Internet ― 30 questions for yourself on the eve of the new year, 100 questions that you need to ask yourself before setting goals for the next year, etc.

It also says that you need to answer honestly, write down the answers and not show anyone. I haven't decided on the last point yet. Let's see how it goes.

Let's go.

UPD

Okay, I'll post it. At times, it was a very tough exercise. Even keeping in mind that I might not publish it and keep it to myself, it was still hard to be honest with myself. I am posting this to inspire you to do the same. It's worth it. You will understand yourself better, you will be surprised what a great though difficult year you have had, and you will want to do more next year.

1.????????The best moment of the year is …

An off-road vehicle trip to the Big Bermamyt plateau in the Caucasus. It was summer, the weather was fine, but in the mountains everything is always unpredictable ― it was foggy and rainy. At the top, it cleared for a moment, a gorgeous view opened up, and then everything was clouded with fog. For some reason, this moment is remembered as the best this year.

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2.????????What particularly inspired me this year?

Other people. A lot of other people.

For example, a friend of mine who started singing in the choir as a hobby but now she performs in concerts and on television.

Another example, my mom who was headhunted to a senior position and is now at the top of her career. She is super busy but still finds time to workout every day and be in touch with her friends.

Another example, a former colleague who took up herself and in six months turned into an irresistible beauty. She is now jokingly called a witch because she is also a top manager at a large company, travels a lot and has two dogs.

I'd love to insert a bunch of their photos here, but they probably won't approve.

3.????????The main news of the year.

For some, this may not be news, but I have been going for this for a long time, so this is news for me. It turns out that you can be 100% yourself, be vulnerable and open up and trust people, and also do whatever you want. It is very difficult to start, but if you manage to do this, then you will be surrounded by like-minded people who love and appreciate you exactly as you are, you will do what you love at your favorite company and you will be adored precisely for those qualities that you so carefully hid ...

4.????????Anthem of the Year.

YouTube Music shared with me my 2021 recap. The most popular song I listened to is Dance Monkey by Tones and I. I love the singer's voice. I think I would sing the same way. It turns out that the song actually has a darker meaning. But I didn't really listen to its lyrics. This song is so energetic that it is very invigorating in the morning along with coffee.

5.????????The most important people in my life.

My family has always been, is and will be my top priority.

6.????????What was the hardest thing for me this year?

Let other people be different and let them go. Sometimes they stay, sometimes they leave. It was hard to stop controlling what was beyond my control. In fact, I am still learning.

7.????????What color was this year?

The Pantone's color of the year 2021 was "the union of an enduring Ultimate Gray with the vibrant yellow illuminating" which "expresses a message of positivity supported by fortitude". For me this year is associated with yellow. Probably it was more about positivity than fortitude.

8.????????What event this year would I like to remember forever?

My birthday. I celebrated it traditionally while traveling. This time in the Caucasus. I had a very full day. Congratulations poured in from the very early morning. It felt like the hospitable Caucasus was happy with me. And because of the congratulations of friends from all over the world, it seemed that the whole world loved me. In the evening I raised a glass of wine and drank so that my whole life was the same as that day.

9.????????What is the most common word I uttered?

Mute. "You're on mute!" "Sorry, I was on mute." Oops, this is last year's joke. But still relevant, right?

10.????????My most ridiculous purchase this year.

I couldn’t remember anything. The fact is that with the transition to remote work, I almost stopped shopping thoughtlessly, although before that I used to be a hopeless shopaholic. In general, I am glad that I began to consume more consciously.

11.????????Perhaps it was not worth experimenting with ...

I made an appointment for a full body massage at one wellness center and did not even learn in advance what kind of massage it was. It was a guasha massage. It is when they rub you with a stone. Stone! The massage was very expensive, so I decided to be patient. I was in great pain and my whole body was bruised. This is how it should be. The bruises really completely went away after three days and my body looked much better, as if I had lost three kilos. But all the same, I will never do it again. Ever.

12.????????This year has been great because …

I became, as they say, the best version of myself. More conscious, calm and whole.

13.????????What internal problem have I successfully solved?

I've learned to listen to advice but not necessarily to follow it. It is especially difficult when, for example, a close friend, my partner or dad strongly disagree with me and tell me what to do. Before, I would have either quarreled with them or did as they ordered, but I would have been unhappy in both cases. And now I calmly listen to their opinion, accept their point of view, but do it in my own way.

14.????????Whom did I hug at night?

My partner and I do not like to sleep with arms round each other. However, my cat doesn't care. She comes to me at night and climbs hugging. So I have to endure these fluffy hugs.

15.????????Whose wedding did I go to?

I hate weddings. I only hate clowns more. [Sorry, clowns, I know there are good people among you]. All in all, I'm notorious for not going to weddings chronically. Something always happens. One time was enough for me when my sister married and there were 300 guests and I was a bridesmaid. Never ever.

16.????????What was my average salary this year?

Less than I would like.

17.????????Did I have a conversation that turned everything around in my head?

Yes, I had. It's very personal.

18.????????What did I start in 2021?

In early summer, I started exercising almost every day and changed my diet a little (oddly enough, I began to eat more). As a result, I lost 8 kilograms, I look great and I feel accordingly.

19.????????If I could become a superhero for one day, what would I do?

It depends on what kind of superhero. What will be my superpowers. If Flash, then I would quickly run around the whole world. I would go everywhere.

20.????????What am I dreaming about?

I would like to sit in a cozy house on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea by the window with a laptop and write a novel, pensively peering into the distance.

21.????????What do I consider to be my main achievement?

I finally accepted myself. Maybe not all of myself yet, but a start has been made, and this is fantastic.

22.????????This year until today in one phrase.

Do what you must and come what may.

23.????????The last message I sent.

"Let's do it after the holidays." Okay, just kidding. The last message was "Thank you and have a nice day too!"

24.????????A quote suitable for this year.

"The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are."―Carl Gustav Jung

25.????????Have I completed everything that I have planned for this year?

Maybe even more than I planned. That's not because the goals are small. On the contrary, the goals are quite ambitious. I just allowed myself to do everything I dream about.

26.????????How many new friends have I made this year?

Probably two very good friends, but maybe more. In general, I have a wide circle of contacts and sometimes it is difficult to understand who is just a good acquaintance and who is a friend. Two for sure.

27.????????Who have I helped this year?

I do charity work, but I don't like to advertise it. Also at work I meet a lot of people and often hear the phrase "you helped me a lot." And I want to believe that my articles were useful to someone and inspired to improve something in their life.

28.????????Where have I been?

I continue to travel within Russia due to the restrictions of the pandemic. This year I visited Sochi, Adler, Tula, Pyatigorsk, Kislovodsk, Zheleznovodsk, Essentuki and near the Caucasian Mineral Waters (Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia).

29.????????What have I postponed for next year?

I have postponed my trips outside Russia for now. In general, I travel less than usual.

30.????????What do I want to achieve in the new year?

I want to get closer to my dream. See point number 20. A laptop and a pensive look are already there, a start has been made, I have a little left to do. In general, there are a lot of plans. I guess it's time now to write my new year resolutions.