As this year draws to a close, I realize there are many positive things that have happened in my life that I’ve avoided sharing on the blog. It’s been hard to talk about things that have gone well when so many others have been struggling financially, emotionally, and physically. Yet during this season normally filled to the brim with hope, love, and joy (which this year is paired with so much grief, anxiety, and isolation), it’s still important to name the things which have given us reason to celebrate this year.
After all, it’s often in adversity that we learn the most about ourselves, our values, and our desires for the future. Maybe it’s something new you’ve learned about yourself or a new healthy habit you’ve established. Perhaps you and your spouse have learned how to work better as a team. If you have experienced financial hardship, maybe you’ve learned new ways to stretch a dollar, discovered that some of the best things in life don’t cost a lot of money, or anticipate a possible new job on the horizon.
I humbly acknowledge that my husband and I have not been directly impacted financially by the pandemic. We both have steady jobs that have allowed us to work from home without any reductions in wages or hours. I realize this places us in a position of great privilege. We have tried our best to use that privilege to show strong support for local businesses, increase our charitable giving, and leave extra-large tips where possible, but we know that those actions alone cannot save struggling businesses, end systemic racism, or alleviate the stress of struggling essential workers.
Here’s what I’m celebrating from 2020 that’s giving me energy as I head into 2021. I hope you’ll take a moment to identify reasons you can celebrate as you reflect back on this unusual year:
A simpler life can still be a good one: Pre-pandemic, there was so much I thought I “needed” in order to create a happy and fulfilled life. Of course I am looking forward to traveling, dining out, seeing my family and friends, and going to theater performances, again. I can’t wait! But this year has taught me that the simple pleasures of baking, concentrated time with my spouse, or a walk outside can bring so much joy. While I hope we never have to do this again, I’ve realized I can do what would have likely felt impossible in March of this year.
A job I’m passionate about that challenges me every day: When I started looking for a new job last fall I was so anxious I wouldn’t find a working environment that was a good fit for my personality and a position that would challenge me, use my current gifts, and help me cultivate new skills. Now, after nine months in this new role, I can say with confidence that it has been an even better fit than I could have possibly imagined. My stress and anxiety levels (at least the work-related ones) are remarkably lower than this time last year, and the level of fulfillment I have found in this job is deeper than I have ever experienced. I look forward to sharing more about this new job and the story of how I got there next year.
Negotiating isn’t as difficult as I thought: I’m a pretty big people-pleaser, so I’ve typically tried to avoid negotiating as much as possible, but this year I’ve had to face my fears head-on working out the details of my new job and the pay rates for my speaking engagements. I’ve learned that even though you won’t always get what you want, it’s always worth asking. With my new job, I wasn’t able to negotiate on salary, but I was able to tack on additional vacation days, which I know will be helpful down the road. On the speaking side, I realized that by not negotiating I was underpricing myself and contributing to the underpayment of others in my industry. Doing the research and taking a moment to put a fair monetary value on my time allowed me to step into the “negotiation ring” with a lot more confidence.
3+ months of emergency savings: For years, I’ve espoused the traditional financial advice that you should have 3-6 months of expenses saved up as your emergency fund … but I’ve also often wondered how realistic it is to be able to set aside that much. Even the number for three months was big and scary; how on earth would we ever make it to six? I’ve been saving up for emergencies consistently for the past ten years and my husband and I have really made it a focus for the last few years. We realized at our last money date night that we have finally achieved the three month benchmark. Reaching this big milestone was such a big deal for us. Especially in the midst of an uncertain economy, it’s nice to know we are well on our way to meeting our final goal.
Adventure awaits right outside our front door: Anyone who’s been following my blog for a long time knows we LOVE to travel. While we haven’t felt comfortable getting on a plane (or even taking a long road trip), we have found a way to satisfy our wanderlust: We started hiking in local parks every weekend. It’s been a great way to get exercise, get out of the house, and discover hidden gems within an hour of our home. We also purchased the Jeep we have been saving up for for two years. We can’t wait to discover new avenues of adventure with this vehicle in the new year.
What are you celebrating this year? Let me know below!
I won’t be posting next week as I savor the Christmas holiday and look forward to New Year’s. My next post will be on Jan. 5, 2021. Happy Holidays!