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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think 2021 isn't going to be the amazing year we all want...

203 replies

Skyshale · 12/12/2020 03:40

...or am I being massively pessimistic?

Everyone is going on about next year, saying it will be amazing and that we can all travel again, see family and be as normal.

But the virus isn't going to think "Oh, look, the clock has struck 12 on New Years Day. I'm gone now...BYE EVERYONE forget I ever existed".

AIBU to think 2021 isn't going to be the amazing year we all imagined?

Can I just say (I've had a few wines and my thoughts are running away with me) I would LOVE 2021 to be an amazing, incredible year for us all but a horrible dark side of me thinks it ain't going to happen...

OP posts:
Aliferous · 12/12/2020 03:44

I'm really struggling to be optimistic too, and think plenty of others feel the same way. It's been such a rough year that I guess people are clinging onto any bit of hope but I can't see much changing before the spring and who knows after that. Still, things are looking up and I think it'll at least be a better year.

Original poster
Skyshale · 12/12/2020 03:46

It is so hard to be optimistic at the moment Sad I agree, we need something to look forward to, and with the vaccine here things may start looking up! I need to try and look more on the bright side I think...

OP posts:
whichwallywhere · 12/12/2020 03:47

I think it's going to be more of the same for most of the year. 2020 saw the death of my mother and it looks like 2021 will see the death of my father. I'm likely to lose my job in 2021 and my youngest child will have the uncertainty of leaving education. I can't find much optimism.

Rememberallball · 12/12/2020 03:49

I don’t think you’re a pessimist but very much a realist - especially about how things aren’t going to change just because the calendar has flicked over to 01/01/2021. All I hear people saying is how they will be ‘back to normal’ by Easter as everyone will have had the vaccine - now it’s great the vaccines are bringing to be rolled out and all that but, if we average out the U.K. population over 18 to be 52.5m, and people need 2 doses of vaccine, if they manage to give 1m doses a week then it’s going to take 2 years to vaccinate everyone over 18 - allowing for 2 appointments and assuming they’ll have both the workforce to facilitate 1m appointments a week and enough doses of vaccine to do this (for simplicity I’ve not taken out of the equation the people who can’t have the vaccine for whatever reason or the number of people who will turn 18 and join the list of people to be vaccinated). I seriously think it’s going to be nearer 2022 before things start to look nearer to any semblance of normality!!

Original poster
Skyshale · 12/12/2020 03:50

@whichwallywhere so sorry to hear about your parents - really horrible for you to have to go through, sending you my thoughts.
My DP may be losing his job too next year so it is looking bleak for us as well.

OP posts:
Manolinette · 12/12/2020 03:55

Your first two posts OP confirm that you just need to look for silver linings.

rachelbloomfan · 12/12/2020 04:05

I really think things are going to be a lot better next year and I am a natural pessimist (and an NHS doctor). Yes it’s going to take time to filter through and it will be gradual changes little by little, there is no magic happening on 1 January. But by spring many of the very elderly and highly vulnerable will hopefully have been vaccinated which will allow people under 50 who are reasonably healthy to start living s little more normally. If you’re 85, it’s probably going to take longer to see the positive changes and you’ll be cautious for longer. I think by the summer for the youngish and healthy we might be back to being able to do most things we used to including going to theatres etc, but probably still being asked to do some social distancing, wash hands well and wear masks in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces. I reckon by next winter we might be able to do away with social distancing masks and all. That’s my hope anyway. I guess with the timing of next winter it could be the following spring before those final steps are taken but I feel like I could live with masks and distancing if we can otherwise live life like we used to. Fingers crossed!

EnPoinsettia · 12/12/2020 04:12

You’re not unreasonable to think that, and probably not incorrect in a lot of ways either.

It is unreasonable if you say it out loud and burst other people’s bubbles.

Some people don’t think next year will be all rainbows and unicorns, but may still be deriving some significant comfort from some small rays of sunlight and glimpses of green shoots. And they’ve every right to think like that if it brings them strength.

It’s been a horrendous year. But it is amazing that the first vaccination shots have already been given. Truly amazing. There are some stars shining in the darkness. Let them twinkle.

Monty27 · 12/12/2020 04:14

Optimistically I hope it's not as crap as this one.
Please tell me it won't be worse 😳

Suzi888 · 12/12/2020 04:19

I think you are probably right. The vaccine isn’t going to be a magical cure in any case.

nocturnalke · 12/12/2020 04:19

Don't worry, I feel the same! Our wedding is booked for July 2021 and we are thinking of still postponing to the following year. Mainly because we're being realistic! I am an optimistic person but I think this is going to be with us for a while yet.

ShirleyPhallus · 12/12/2020 04:24

Doesn’t everyone always get to December end then say “wow, next year will be my year, I can feel it!”

It’s always bollocks. But thanks for your positivity Grin

Marchitectmummy · 12/12/2020 04:35

Either way as with every other year some of it is out of your control so might as well try with optimism.

Some people and things have thrived in this time or more to the point have chosen to see thr positives rather than negative.

Our income is vastly different, however we have had nearly a year or more time day to day with our children. We are both more relaxed and some alterations we will retain regardless of covid erc. We have learnt to appreciate our house and garden during lockdown and still play a quick game of rounders in the garden most days and stil all laugh and have fun doing it.

We haven't been on our normal holidays but we have had some experiences that in a normal year we wouldn't have even tried, we stayed in a caravan for the first time ever and while I personally wouldn't do it again our children loved it so it was worth it completely.

We haven't been to all the events we normally would but the other side of that is that we have spent the time together really focusing on each other thats a lovely opportunity.

I miss my parents dreadfully and would love to see them as we did before and hug them. But we have had some giggles with tech and manage to speak daily so not as bad as it could be.

These are of course my negatives that have become positive for me. Look for the happiness out there in 2021 rather than wish for a time that we can't control enjoy today this minute.

Rhubarbcrumblerules · 12/12/2020 04:35

Covid or no covid, next year will be my year. Will finally be divorced and will be buying and moving into my own house.

Jocasta2018 · 12/12/2020 04:53

I believe that 2021 is not going to be a great year for anyone & I don't believe I'm being pessimistic just a realist.
Vaccines are coming out for Covid which is a massive positive and hopefully that situation should improve.
However there is the not-so-minor matter of the rest of the nation's health as a whole.
This year treatments have been delayed, postponed or ended, people have not been receiving primary healthcare, they have not been referred or getting diagnosed.
The NHS in this country was put on hold to deal with Covid & the resulting health issues & deaths from non-Covid issues will make the figures from Covid look like a walk in the park.
And this to the fact that GB is teetering on the edge of a political & economic abyss. We have no idea how Brexit is going to play out but as a country, we're in for a rocky ride.
Oh & we have a government that is utterly incompetent.
2021 will hopefully see the tapering off of Covid however all other health issues will come to the fore & Brexit will be a day-to-day reality rather something that can be put off or dealt with tomorrow.

CutToChase · 12/12/2020 04:56

2021 is going to be my year. I know it

whichwallywhere · 12/12/2020 05:15

[quote Skyshale]@whichwallywhere so sorry to hear about your parents - really horrible for you to have to go through, sending you my thoughts.
My DP may be losing his job too next year so it is looking bleak for us as well.[/quote]
I hope that your dh keeps his job.

RedRiverShore · 12/12/2020 05:16

No it won't be that marvellous, I have already had one postponed concert cancelled and it will be difficult to go on holiday abroad so we will just have UK touring caravan holidays to look forward to. we will still be wearing masks no doubt and have to distance. It will probably be slightly better than 2020 though, at least DH will be retired so won't be wfh anymore.

Backbee · 12/12/2020 05:55

I don't think the bar is overly high for it to be better than this year, seen as though this year has been shite.

HaggieMaggie · 12/12/2020 06:03

Not great but nothing can be as bad as the one I’ve had.

AverageHuman · 12/12/2020 06:05

I think come Spring things will be better. Even without a vaccine things would improve in the warmer weather, with the most vulnerable getting vaccinated it will improve further. You are not pessimistic. Anyone thinking 2021 will be completely back to normal from 1 Jan could be in for disappointment!

gongy · 12/12/2020 06:13

I think Jan is going to be mega shit, it's always a bit crap but this one will be worse. Hoping the summer will be good though.

Dongdingdong · 12/12/2020 06:17

Anyone thinking 2021 will be completely back to normal from 1 Jan could be in for disappointment!

Literally no one with half a brain cell thinks this.

TrickorTreacle · 12/12/2020 06:23

MNHQ - please ban all of the dementors from the Harry Potter books. I.e. half of the posters in this thread.

Life will improve.

Let the positivity rule over the negativity.

SnuggyBuggy · 12/12/2020 06:30

It's Brexit and the economic fall out of last year that concerns me. That's not to say things will never ever be better but there could be a lot of shit to process before it does.