2020-2021
It is difficult for me to begin writing reflections like this. I have a love for journaling and self improvement, but when it comes to assessing an entire year, it sort of brings me an anxiety that stems from incomprehensible concepts like time moving too quickly and other philosophical subjects. It does feel crazy that another year has passed… especially such a crazy one as 2020 has been for everyone. In thinking about this past year, I want to write about my discovery of a certain pattern of thinking that I tend to gravitate towards. I have come to the realization that I love to come to conclusions and learn from observation and experience. For example, I learn things about the way the world works from experiencing it and listening to others talk about their experience to make assumptions almost scientifically. From these assumptions, I have come to conclusions about what I find most important in living - those things being the people in your life, and the things you are able to experience and learn.
From this, I want to make a connection to a social issue that was significant to me throughout the year, which is the importance of balance and flexibility in life. In my opinion, it is so important to do more of what makes you happy and less of what makes you unhappy. And I feel that so often people get caught up in life and forget that they have the freedom to be flexible and change the way that their life is if they are unhappy. With everyone working from home and unable to experience large gatherings and travel, I believe that there was sort of a communal realization of what people value - and work was not top of the list - especially work in unhealthy environments. So it is important to take action and enforce the need for balance so that we can gain control of our lives as a society to take time to do the things we value!
Conclusions from all of these thoughts are just the importance of mental health and spreading smiles and happiness throughout the people and communities that we are surrounded by. This is something that I feel is my passion and mission in my life. I feel that I can translate these learnings to my professional career as well because I can understand what kind of projects I enjoy working on and what kind of company culture I am looking for. You live and you learn as they say!