2020 Appreciation Thread

[jordansmywinner]

So I know this year has had some real shit - mental health, death, redundancy etc.

I've read a book to help with my mental health issues and something it has lead to is reflecting on the positive things as we have a habit to think only of the worst.

So I ask you lovely lot to please tell me at least ONE thing that is good that's happened this year!

I also beg you to not respond "I can't think of anything, it's shit'. I'm hoping that we can spread some more positivity.

I will start:
I found the wedding dress I loved that was £2.4k in the shop for £68 on ebay inc p&p in my size - it's perfect. I was buzzing for a week.

Not as heartwarming as some of yours, but we got quotes for a much needed and long wished-for new kitchen and realised we weren't going to be able to do it without saving for a lot longer. Then unexpectedly found out that dh's great aunt who had passed away (peacefully in her late 90s) a few months before had left us some money, so we were able to do it straight away. I think of her a lot when I'm in there, though she was a highly reluctant, random and verging on health-hazardous cook herself, bless her!

Ours twins were born last Dec. DH has been WFH since March so although he is working upstairs all day, he starts at 9 and finishes at 5 instead of being out 9-6 and he's hear to help of o need ig

Congratulations on your wedding dress op. I bought mine this year too

Also 4 new babies this year! A niece & a nephew and 2 friends of mine had babies.

I had my first baby at the age of 40!

After 3 years of struggling to conceive, I’m now 38 weeks pregnant and our little girl will be born on Friday.

These are all so lovely!

@Matilda15 CONGRATULATIONS to beautiful you and your beautiful family

I love this thread 🥰

I had my first baby in the early Summer, and the hospital staff were so so lovely (I was really scared beforehand due to Covid). Also, I had probably the healthiest pregnancy I could; there were no cars and I had to WFH so had an extra hour in bed, no stressful commuting, peaceful walks in the fresh air, and home cooked meals every day. I was so upset and anxious during my pregnancy, but looking back I really miss those days...

Oh, and congrats on finding your wedding dress!!

We’ve finally got full flexible working!

Ooh lots!

The kids have coped with lockdown, one especially so. His anxiety reduced and happiness went up.

We got our puppy who has just been perfect.

I loved being home all the time.

I found a hobby i'm good at and have made a lot of money from this year.

Thankful for living where we do, for our house with a garden, for the business that is surviving well considering.

Appreciating how lucky we are.

I landed my dream job, which is a fantastic career move. I'd been secretly sad watching people I'd mentored shoot past me as I was working part time. 2020 means DH is retraining and the right move for my career is also the right move for my family.

Me and DH brought our first house
We got our beautiful little kitten

@jordansmywinner

So I know this year has had some real shit - mental health, death, redundancy etc.

I've read a book to help with my mental health issues and something it has lead to is reflecting on the positive things as we have a habit to think only of the worst.

So I ask you lovely lot to please tell me at least ONE thing that is good that's happened this year!

I also beg you to not respond "I can't think of anything, it's shit'. I'm hoping that we can spread some more positivity.

I will start:
I found the wedding dress I loved that was £2.4k in the shop for £68 on ebay inc p&p in my size - it's perfect. I was buzzing for a week.

I found my wedding dress worth £3k on eBay for £40, when it turned up it was not as described as it had marks on it so I messaged the seller who got right arsey and refunded the £40. I got it dry cleaned for £50 so my dress cost me £10. I then went to my local secondhand shop before lockdown 2 for some books to keep me occupied and found a £300 veil for £2 and a flower dress, brand new from Monsoon for £6 for my god daughter. Felt like someone was reminding me to keep hopeful for next year's reorganised date. I'm also terrifically thankful for my marvellous collection of mates for the bottles of wine on the doorstep on our original date, for the can't get them in the UK Ru Paul tops our friend found, bought and gave DD to cheer her up and for the opportunity to really realise how epic our circle is.

I learnt to drive at 40 years old.Still have to take my test in Feb but I love it.

We moved house, from a house with small rooms and a tiny garden in an estate, to a country bungalow with bigger living rooms (though smaller bedrooms!) on half an acre. It's dated as anything and needs stuff done to it that we can't begin to afford at the moment, but I'm so much happier out here

I had a ‘big’ birthday, my brother got married and my nephew was born. We potty trained and dummy fairied DS during lockdown 1.0 and Older DS has learnt to read.

I have managed to move 80% of job I hate that involved driving 1000 miles a week to online from my dining room and I absolutely love it. Working on moving that last 20% of my income to home based but mentally I am in a much much better place than I was this time last year!

I am a night owl p, ie not a morning person, and although I hate working from home, I love the fact that I don’t have to get up until 8.15 every day. It has transformed my well-being and happiness.

I did C25k and managed to get into running for the first time ever.

I know what I miss and what I don’t miss from normal life thanks to lockdown, and that’s no small thing.

I’ve enjoyed not commuting too, and being there for the kids more. That’s been a plus.

We managed a nice holiday in the UK in the summer and I got to go horse riding with DS which was lovely.

Got a new job which means more time with DS and we've definitely bonded more as a family through the good and bad aspects of 2020. 😊

Despite everything else going on I’ve managed to reduce my dose of antidepressants, and should get it down even further by the end of the year. I went through IVF and got 8 embryos, even though I’m nearly 43. The first hasn’t worked but I’ll be trying again in Jan with 2 embryos this time. I started a new job a week before lockdown 1.0, and am only 90 mins from my parents instead of the usual 4.5hrs.