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.

My DC has just had excellent results in the year 11 mocks despite a crap year for education and a close relative dying.

I got unnecessarily put on furlough. It was a cost saving thing but it really actually cost them as they won no sales for the 4 months I was gone.

How this was good for me? (not the sales my friends work there and I don’t want the business to fail.) I was sick when I was put on furlough thought felt unappreciated after 19 years new boss clearly didn’t want me around. However spending quality time with my DS10 precious time I think won’t be as easy to get as he grows. Getting fitter waking my dig miles enjoying the sunshine, thinking about my life getting made redundant (to my relief) and getting a new job in the same week (2 offers in fact). New job is good if daunting but this year I reprioritised myself and it can only be for the better.

What great things to hear. I’m so happy for everyone.

Got a new job which I really like, 10 minutes from home, I”m saving a fortune on gas!

Totally re-vamped the garden, which is now a delight to look at.

Photos as requested

Please ignore the "junk corner", we have storage problems.

The semi-feral cat who started visiting us at the start of the pandemic is currently curled up in the corner on a fluffy cushion with a furry blankie, purring away to his heart’s content. He chirrups in his sleep a lot too.

I’m finally sober after years of abusing alcohol. I’m present for my children and my relationship with my husband has improved 10 fold.

We also bought a beautiful flat to Airbnb as well as holiday in, by the coast.

I climbed a mountain in Wales
I got given a pay rise without even having to ask for it

I discovered just how fabulous my husband, children and work colleagues really are. I felt so much support and solidarity.

I am also substantially less terrible at my times tables now

Sounds silly but I'm coping so much better with life despite it having gotten harder and more complex. I've had mental health problems on and off all of my life but this year I seem to be really resilient and balanced. Whilst sometimes being a bit rubbish at normal everyday life stuff I'm actually pretty good in a crisis.

Seem to be connecting well with my classes and keeping on top of additional work and changes and getting to be the reliable one who's ahead of herself and can offer help to others who are struggling rather than feeling like I'm paddling frantically to stay afloat. Not sure how that happened but it's nice and nice to be able to give myself a pat on the back for it even though everyone else is too stressed and busy to acknowledge it or thank me for the extra things I'm doing.

I’m pregnant! That’s been the best bit for me. The baby is now due imminently and I can’t wait to meet them.

And a weird / bittersweet one; my beloved grandfather died (not COVID related). It was awful - really awful. But COVID led to one blessing, which is that his funeral was a small, family affair. He was a reasonably well known public figure and in normal circumstances I think his funeral would have involved hundreds of people and been very impersonal / focused on his work etc. Covid meant it was just 20 of us - his family and a handful of his closest friends - and we really got to celebrate who he was to us, not who he was to the public. He was such a warm, generous, funny, family man and to be able to celebrate that part of him exclusively was a privilege we wouldn’t have had without Covid.

I know that’s not a straightforward joy - but it was a small silver lining to an otherwise horrible experience event.

I found out I was 30 weeks pregnant 🤣🙈
Had some lovely time with my DS13 I felt like during the first lockdown was the most I had seen him since starting secondary school

Donald Trump was voted out of the White House.

• Started a new (much better paid) job after 3 months redundant
• Saved loads working from home/in lockdown
• Sold our 1 bed flat, and bought a lovely 2 bedroom cottage saving significant stamp duty
• now almost 10 weeks pregnant!

This time last year I'd just been made redundant and would NEVER have predicted how much could change in just a year

DD grew out of her peanut allergy. We were told that it would be extremely unlikely that she would given her reactions were getting worse but her last skin prick showed a substantial reduction and just after lockdown she passed her food challenge. I feel happy everytime I food shop and don't have to check ingredients that she's now got freedom to eat whatever takes her fancy and doesnt have to carry her epi pens everywhere.

@BobBobBobbing great news! Mine have outgrown allergies although still have some left. How lovely to be epipen free!

I managed to get a London work contract which I couldn't have done before Covid without a long commute.

We got two adorable kittens.

My DS got amazing predicted grades for his A levels.

I took up walking and have lost a lot of weight.