12 GOOD Things That Happened in 2020 | Discussion

December 21, 2020 Kirsty Hanson

I know that I’ve spoken a lot about how awful 2020 was, but I want to take a moment to try and remember some of the good things that happened this year. There hasn’t been that many, but I’m sure I can think of some. I had originally planned to do 20 things, but when I started writing the post, I genuinely couldn’t think of 20 things… So, you get 12 instead! 😂

Most of these are positive personal things that have happened to me this year, others have been good things that have happened in general. So, without any further ago, let’s get into the list!

1. I graduated from university with a 2:1 in my English and Media degree

This was waaaaaayyyy back in January, and it feels like it was 2019, not 2020. But still, I worked my absolute arse off for this degree. There had been some tough times during my second and third year, but I ploughed through it, and all the hard work finally paid off.

2. I started a new job

I actually started the new job in November in 2019, but it took me a couple of months to warm up to the new environment, and the new people, so I’m counting it as 2020 instead. Working in a pub in 2020 has been so hard. I worked from January to March, and then there was the first lockdown until July… Which then I worked from July to October, and then there was the second lockdown. So, I’ve hardly worked this year which has been shit, but hey, what can you do about it?

3. I bought a Nintendo Switch and ANIMAL CROSSING!

Everyone and their bloody neighbour wouldn’t shut up talking about the Nintendo Switch and Animal Crossing, so as soon as lockdown started, I bought the Nintendo Switch Lite, and the game. I was lucky that I bought them both when I did because a week later, they were both out of stock! That happened in April, and now it’s December, I’ve re-designed my island 3 times, and racked up 700 hours worth of gameplay. I’ve just got to get my hands on the PS5 now!

4. We got a rabbit!

My sister had been wanting another rabbit for absolute ages, and when my mom found this one, my sister just HAD to get her, but I’m so glad that we did. We called her Bean, and she’s the cutest little thing ever. Bean and Luna (our dog) are completely fine around each other which is an added bonus. Bean will be 1 in February.

5. Finished my MA in Creative Writing

Trying to write your masters during a pandemic is not an easy thing to do. AT ALL. Lessons were stopped in March, and then we had to do the rest ourselves. The deadline was September. That’s 6 MONTHS WITHOUT ANY HELP. With my mental health being majorly low as well, I’m surprised I even managed to finish it. But, there we have it! The finished product next to the certificate that came in the mail a couple of days ago. I’m pretty proud of myself, to be honest.

6. I had my last therapy session

Obviously, I don’t have any pictures of my therapy sessions. This was also a hard thing to finish. I had only had a few face-to-face sessions, and then when COVID hit, it turned into over-the-phone sessions which really weren’t the same. The therapy sessions I had were part of the Talking Therapies thing that are in the NHS, so we only get a set amount of sessions. I keep thinking that I might want to go and see a personal therapist, one that I have to pay for, but I can’t afford that right now. I’ve managed 4 months without therapy, and there are still a lot of down days, but I’m trying to work through them by myself!

7. I FINALLY got back into blogging

First thing is first, I need someone to design me a new logo/blog header, so if any of you readers out there are accepting commissions, let me know and we can talk! I’ve tried to do it myself but I couldn’t afford Adobe anymore 😭.

But yes, I’M BACK! For the past couple of years, blogging hasn’t really been my main focus in life, since I’ve been dealing with a lot of personal things, but during the second lockdown, I made it my mission to get back into blogging, and OH MY GOD. I’ve been catching up on reviews, and then I’ve been posting a new blog post every day in December. IT FEELS SO GOOD to be writing again.

8. Wagamama released their katsu curry recipe

Look, it may not LOOK great, but IT TASTES SO GOOD. Wagamamas’ katsu curry is one of my favourite things ever, and when the restaurants closed down, I was gutted. I love going out and getting food. And then… That’s when something magical happened. Wagamama released their recipe for the katsu curry.

The first couple of attempts were awful, I’m not gonna lie. But then, I stopped trying to follow the recipe so strictly, and just put the number of spices in I thought looked right. And as the number of attempts went on, I knew what worked well, and didn’t, and now we have this. Mom absolutely loves it. I make mine a little bit spicier than the Wagamama one because I love spicy stuff. And as you can see, I have a lot more sauce than what they give you in the restaurant. 😂

9. The U.K. were the first country to have the Pfizer vaccine

I know that this isn’t a personal thing, but the fact that we now have a vaccine to COVID is a bloody miracle. Scientists and Doctors have worked their arses off to try and get it into the public domain as quickly as they possibly and safely can. I haven’t had my vaccine yet as I’m a 25-year-old. I’m not really a priority, but when my chance comes, I’m definitely going to take it!

10. Trump was kicked out of the White House (I had to get political)

If anyone knows where I can purchase a copy of this issue of The New York Times, please let me know, as I need it in my life.

Some of you may follow me on social media, some of you may not. But if you do, you will know how political I am, and how outspoken I am about the issues within today’s society. I’m not going to apologise for including politics in this post, because Biden/Harris winning the 2020 presidential election was probably one of the best things that has happened this year. My sister and I followed it so closely, and I was up till 4 in the morning most days, watching CNN. Then, on 7th November (on my sister’s birthday), it was announced that Biden had won.

Don’t get me wrong, Biden isn’t the best person to have in the White House, but anything beats having that prick of a man in office. Rant over. Thanks.

11. Let’s be real: Taylor Swift dropping two albums was one of the best things of 2020

I never used to be a Taylor Swift fan. I can tell you right now which songs I had heard of her before I listened to Folklore and Evermore: Love Story, Teardrops on My Guitar, I Knew You Were Trouble, and You Need to Calm Down.

And then when Evermore was released, everyone was hyping the shit out of it, and I was intrigued. What exactly had I been missing out on? So, I listened to Folklore… Then Evermore… And now, they’re on repeat. I love them so much.

I’m yet to venture into the rest of Taylor Swift’s discography, but maybe one day, I’ll give her other albums a go. For now, the gothic sounds of her two latest albums are good enough for me.

12. Being off work meant I got to spend more time with family

EWWWWW SENTIMENTAL FEELINGS. Joking aside, I have loved spending more time with my mom and my sister. With me working 35 hours a week, mom working, and my sister in college, it’s hard to find time to spend with each other that isn’t just at the dinner table. This year, I’ve tried to spend more time with my mom, I’ve tried to make more of an effort to better mine and my sister’s relationship, and it really has worked out well. We’re still family, so there are still stupid arguments, and all that jazz, but I’m just grateful for them.