…and obviously hopefully my last. 

2020, the year of challenge, resilience, change, tears, laughter, and realignment. A transformative few months, a year that for many, has been life-changing. In many ways, life continued on; many continued to work, babies were born, creators continued to share their talents with the world. In other ways, the world completely shut down. 

Looking back, the last nine months have changed us, in ways that will stay with us long beyond the last day of 2020. Even typing the words NINE MONTHS is horrifying, have we honestly been living in this bubble for almost a year? But hey, at least Primark are set to do an all-nighter… (to confirm this is absolute sarcasm, you’ll not find me swapping my bed for the Abbeycentre anytime soon).

Remember when we had it all? By all I mean every single tiny aspect of everyday life we completely took for granted. For me personally, this whole Covid carry on has highlighted something for me, I have so much more than I ever thought I had. So many little elements of life that I never focused on, have this year become things I appreciate above all else. 

Aside from the harsh reality that the Government haven’t got much of a clue what they’re doing, I’ve learnt a lot more this year than I had truly realised.

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Wherever you are, be all there

Be content with where you are at this very moment, otherwise you’ll miss your life. 

I’m so guilty of dreaming the days away. Some may think I’m quite optimistic, others probably think flip she’s awful laid back. Then there are my close friends who know I’m a wee ball of stress half of the time. The way we come across to others is a crazy concept, the construct that two people could view you in two completely different ways. Realistically, this exact notion tells us all we need to know – no matter how you intend to come across, those around you will see you from the perspective they choose too. Put yourself first and be you, always, the people who view you in the way you hope will find you. 

I’ll share a blog post or a photo on Instagram and possibly come across as someone who may ‘have my life together’ at least a tiny bit. In reality, I really don’t. I overthink everything, that picture took 45 mins and has 250 outtakes, I’m 10x more anxious about things than I would usually show, and I have many a down day. Guess what, that’s ok. It’s normal to worry, it’s normal to doubt yourself, but what’s important is that for every time you fall, you rise stronger. 

Albert Einstein once said “the best preparation for the future is to live as if there were none”. If ever a year were to shine a light on this sentiment, it’s 2020. I was in Edinburgh only a few weeks before the country went into lockdown back in March. We laughed at the dramatics of it all at the airport… all this for a wee virus? Surely not? Awk it’ll be yesterday’s news in a few weeks. I never would’ve believed anyone who’d told me I’d still be living through this all these months later.  Just look at how quickly the world can change, how our lives can be flipped upside down and inside out without a minutes’ warning. Our time is now.

Coffee makes the world spin

I may not be gracing the counters of every branch of Caffè Nero within Belfast and surrounding areas, but our caffeinated friend is still very much part of my daily life. It’s the little things like this that make all the difference when the days are so repetitive and realistically quite dull.  Saying that though, we’d be needing a Starbucks drive through in West Belfast because that queue at Connswater is horrific. 

I really did define ‘getting my money’s worth’ out of our Nespresso this year.

This is just a chapter, not our full story

Sometimes in life we feel tired, not because we have done too much, but because we haven’t done enough of what sets our heart alight and makes us truly happy.

Furlough and the general idea of isolation was a turning point for me, a time I truly learnt to value and enjoy my own company. Usually I would be the type of person who’d feel the day had been wasted if I hadn’t engaged in at least one social activity, but this year I learnt that productivity is not measured by speed, and that it is more important than ever to slow down and find the peace that lives beneath the chaos.

It’s funny how it takes the world to come to a complete standstill for us to take a bit of time for ourselves. Whether it be that hobby you parted ways with when life got too busy, or that instrument you’ve been threatening to learn how to play for the last 6 years but have never found the time to start. Sometimes slowing down is a healing experience. When we stop rushing through life we can be amazed at what we suddenly have time for. It may feel like the world is passing at lightening speed, progressing, changing, and trying to keep up seems almost impossible. The importance of taking time to breathe became apparent this year, most commonly the time we are in most need of taking a break is when we chose not too due to not having the time. 

Work hard and be nice to people, it’s important

As the saying goes, if it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you. A couple of months ago I started a new job, during one of the most up in the air years of my lifetime. Obviously I’d be the one to start a new chapter of my life mid global pandemic. I know, I was just as traumatised at the thought of leaving the routine I knew so well and jumping into something new. However, I’m glad to update that my new home from home is pretty great. Being at home for a couple of months on furlough really gave me time to work on myself, both professionally and personally, and encouraged me to take the leap and explore pastures new (after many rejections of course, it didn’t happen overnight). 

My family is something I have never taken for granted, however never did I imagine reaching a stage where we were separated to this extent. Having such a close family is all well and good until Boris and Arlene tell us we can’t see eachother in the ways we’re so used too. Something else that has been reinforced this year, hugs are really important. If you have people in your life that are worth missing, you have already won.

Stop apologising for being human

There are a few things in life we don’t have to apologise for. Crying, showing emotion, asking for help, or trusting your gut, to name but a few.

The world can very easily begin to cave in on top of us, there will be days when the weight of what we’re living through seems too heavy to bare. Trust me, you’re not the only one feeling like this. It’s ok to have days that feel a little duller than the rest. You won’t always be a priority to others, but you have to be a priority to yourself.

No matter what your mind may be telling you, you will get through this. Don’t get tired of being a good person with a good heart, it’ll all make sense someday. Life is full of challenges, and anyone who may say theirs’ isn’t, is probably lying (or possibly incredibly optimistic). Equally important would be something my Mum has told me over and over since I was a little girl, if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. Be grateful for what you do have, all day everyday, and remember, you are always enough. 

There is always something to be grateful for

A couple of months ago, not long after the whipped coffees and colouring in books period, I started journaling. What originally started as an excuse to stock up on stationary whilst on furlough and having absolutely zero need for it otherwise, ended up something I probably value the most in every day. Gratitude is something I admittedly did neglect slightly in the past, thinking surely it can’t be all that.

Every evening before going to bed I take note of two small wins of the day, two things I was grateful for that day, and how I felt overall throughout the day. On a Sunday, I set three goals for the week, two things to have less of that coming week, two things to have more of, and something I’m aiming to manifest. If anything, going back through past entries and reading through it all is great fun, and for someone with a brain as active as mine, this is a somewhat therapeutic little activity (and also means the poor individuals I spend my days with don’t have to listen to as much of the ins and outs of my brain). 

Taylor Swift is class

I’ve included this purely to make my bestfriends smile… After all, she gave us the masterpiece that is Folklore and I decided I am in fact a fan.

Our bodies deserve unconditional love

It can be incredibly tough facing huge changes. Once upon a time I spent 5 days a week in the gym, the same gym I haven’t graced with my presence since mid-March. Eat your greens, drink water (lots of it), and exercise. Whether you do an hours’ HIIT session or simply do a few laps of your street with the dog, movement is movement. It’s all good. There are definitely days working out is the last thing I want to do, but I always feel better afterwards. I personally got involved with Maeve Madden’s live Instagram workouts pretty early on in lockdown (check her out on Instagram @maeve_madden she’s absolutely fabulous). She has provided me with the sense of routine that the gym closures took away. Caring for your body, mind and spirit is your greatest responsibility.

Listen to your body, all day everyday. Don’t allow your mind to bully your body. One of the best bits of advice I have ever been given is to work out because you love your body, not because you hate it.

Together we are stronger

I guess the world will keep spinning, as much as some days it may seem as though it’s difficult to hold on, we can figure it out, together. Not everything in life is ours to carry. If this year has taught us anything, it’s that it is not what we have in life, but who we have that truly matters. Sometimes all we need is for someone to be there, not to necessarily do anything in particular, but to allow us to feel supported. It has been a year of ups and downs, but a year of lessons. A year of appreciation and exploration. After all, those forgotten talents came in handy. That knitting my Mum taught me when I was 8 kept me occupied for a whole weekend mid-lockdown.

In many ways I’m far from ‘having it all’, but in other ways this year has resonated with me in the form of a clear reminder that I have a home, a job, a family, and most importantly, my health. This time last year, all of the above were just a given, things I’ve always had and never worried too much about, however are now worth their weight in gold. Sometimes things in life happen to allow us to evaluate our priorities with much clearer vision, Covid-19 take a bow. It’ll all make sense someday, and in the meantime at least coffee shops are still open and Costa have a class Christmas menu. 

At the beginning of the year, I thought 2020 would be the year I would get everything I wanted. Looking back, 2020 has been the year that has taught me to appreciate everything I already have. 

Be kind, and keep turning left.

Nora xx

BSc Communication Management & Public Relations First Class Hons. Instagram – @noraellenb / Twitter – @noraellenb / LinkedIn- Nora Ellen Brennan.