You’re probably reading the title & thinking, “were you on the same planet as the rest of us, because 2020 was ANYTHING but great.” Let me explain…
So, yes 2020 was probably the most trying year for many reasons. But I found it brought on needed change that in turn caused me to have intense growth. Which was something I desperately needed for a while. I was just too afraid of said change.

The coronavirus caused me to GROW THE F**K UP.
To sum it up, my priorities changed. I mean, I’m going to be 30 this year! This doesn’t mean I’m fully throwing in the towel & replacing my high heels with flats, but to be completely honest the thought of going out & partying until 4am for no reason every weekend is no longer on my “things I gotta do today.”
It’s a start of a new chapter of expanding my aspirations & career path, marriage & being a mother in the future. And I’m really really excited about it. Not to mention, I finally am at a point in my life where I truly know who I am & who I want to be as a person. I’ve accepted myself completely, flaws & all. I’m finally content & it feels amazing.
MY INTERESTS WENT FROM 0 to 100 REAL QUICK
This past year has taught me what I truly enjoy in this life & they aren’t extravagant things. For one, I actually enjoy cooking now. I love reading about different recipes to try or kitchen gadgets to buy. Both my grandmothers were huge cooks so I guess I had that quality hidden away for a while. Obviously, I’ve let my creative side run wild with blogging, which was my saving grace of getting through such a trying year. Now I love graphic design, marketing & all things social media. I love interior design & having home improvement projects. I helped paint the inside of our house, I stained a freaking deck of all things & tons of yard work. I read more books & watched shows of a multitude of topics (mainly because of boredom) that caused me to expand my thinking. Who says you can only be limited to a few interests? This past year taught me never stop learning new things.
MY RELATIONSHIPS CHANGED
I feel like the pandemic either made or broke couples. For us, we became even more closer (which I didn’t think was possible because we know each other like the back of ours hands). When you see each other 24 /7 (especially during stay at home order) you see EVERYTHING. Makeup vs. no makeup, hair done vs. the messiest of buns with a few stragglers at the ends. Moods all over the place with maybe a few breakdowns as well. At the end of all that, if you can look at your partner & still love them to pieces, you’ve got a winner. Never let that person go.
Friendships were another thing that changed this past year. When the world is telling you to limit social interaction due to a global pandemic you choose those interactions wisely. For the most part I stuck with spending tons of time with family. But when it came to friends outside of that circle, I could count those people on one hand. We didn’t get to have a proper party at our house or tons of events during the holidays. Some of my favorite people are out of state so visiting in person was impossible. The pandemic taught me who my favorite people are in my life & the ones I’ve missed terribly.
THERE IS STILL GOOD DURING TOUGH TIMES
It seems like it was so easy to focus on the negative parts of last year as there were plenty to go around. And believe me it was for good reason. But I refused to sit around being miserable all the time, so I tried to find happiness despite it all. I’m not saying it was easy & that I didn’t have nights of sadness & frustration, but miraculously I found the good even in the smallest of cracks. I realized I don’t need a whole lot to be happy. I only need my family, good friends, a few pets & good health. Everything else is just an added bonus.

Has the past year changed you? What are you grateful for moving forward to 2021?
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Love everything about this post! 😍 Your perspective on this past year is inspiring! Discovering and accepting yourself during this pandemic is leading to wonderful things for you 😊 I’m hoping 2021 is even better!
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Thank you so much! 😊 trying to think positive during such strange times haha
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Fantastic!! I love when you write that there is good in the negative. It’s a lovely reminder that no matter how bad things get, there is always a silver lining. Always.
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Exactly!! 😊🙌🏻 thank you
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I am also happy with my own personal growth in 202. I have become a published author and learned so much, from creating a blog to marketing. It has been a wild ride!
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Congrats!! That’s amazing 😊💕 a wild but success ride indeed!
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Well said! I have been struck by all the negativity as 2020 came to a close. We have to look on the bright side. For me, I finally shook off the negative comments from a high school teacher (over 35 years ago) who told me I was a terrible writer and I should stick to typing. I enrolled, and completed two courses, in a part-time university program with a goal become a plain language communication specialist and possibly starting my own business when I leave my full-time career behind.
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Good for you!! I’ve always believed if you listened too hard to others opinions about you, you aren’t truly living
So glad you let those comments from that teacher roll off your shoulder.
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That’s very sweet! You and your man definitely are lucky to have each other! I also enjoyed spending so much time with my family, watching my little one grow and really learning about my hubby. We’ve never really stopped to just be together until now 😊
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I feel like a lot of us were given time we wouldn’t usually have had to spend with the ones we love. 💕 it truly has been a special thing
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I definitely agree that being forced to slow down helps us take time to reflect and dedicate time to personal growth. My year was pretty full with self-discovery as well. You make a great point about the Corona virus either making or breaking relationships. I would definitely agree and I’m happy to say that my relationship has done quite well during this time Even though we have both been out of work since March and it will probably be a few months yet before we can return. Thanks for sharing and happy New Year!
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That’s so great you two are sticking by each other during such tough times. Hoping for good fortune for you both this year. 🙂
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Yesss there’s still good in the world!!! I love this post because I can relate to you on 2020 being a year of growth! My blog has been getting more attention due to the pandemic actually, so that alone is a reason for me to be thankful. 2020 also taught me to be grateful for what I have and I can’t always get what I want, but that’s ok. I was supposed to see my favorite band on tour this past summer, but it allowed me to get into other bands. I’m glad you found a love for cooking interior designing, and social media, and that the pandemic brought you and your loved ones closer!
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Yess I think 2020 was a great year for bloggers! Ugh I miss concerts soo much.
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Who have you seen in concert?
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2020 was a crazy year but I definitely got some self growth from it. Really great to see that you had so many positives from the year, hopefully 2021 can be even greater to you 😊.
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Thank you! 😊💕💕💕
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2020 also made me better I think. I began to focus more on having other incomes than my fulltime job. There’s at least one good thing!
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That’s amazing! Yes, I think we all learned it’s important to have side hustles & other ways for income.
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Yes indeed!
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Your writing feels like a giant hug🤗🙌🏽
This pandemic has truly changed all of us in our own ways. Growth for me has been massive. I surprised myself on more than one occasion last year.
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That’s so great to hear! Cheers to growth 🥂💕
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Wow, I can totally relate. Even though, 2020 was a year of hardship after hardship, my short time of unemployment actually forced me to finally work on my blog that I had put on the back burner for over a year. By the end of March 2020, I officially published lifelivedcandidly.com and I’m so proud of the work I’ve put into it. Since then, my interests in writing and a career in writing has only grown. I’m pushing myself more than ever. Thank you for the lovely post!
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I love to hear stories like this! I too lost my job this past year, and if it weren’t for blogging & putting my energy into it, idk what i would have done. now i feel like i’ve discovered a new person in myself because of it. cheers to more amazing milestones met in 2021!
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Really nice post. Despite what happened, 2020 was a good year for me. I got exposed to a lot of courses and I got to learn about myself, invest in myself and just work to become a better person. I also met some amazing people last year that have really been valuable to me.
I’m grateful for 2020 because I had the chance to work on self love, know my worth and all the good stuff, plus I started my blog revolving around all this topics so 2020 wasn’t all that bad.
Looking forward to better things in 2021, wish you all the best.
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this is amazing! yes! working on oneself and becoming a better person is such a priority. cheers to more accomplishments met in 2021!
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Cheers 🍾🥂
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Really nice post. Despite what happened, 2020 was a good year for me. I got exposed to a lot of courses and I got to learn about myself, invest in myself and just work to become a better person. I also met some amazing people last year that have really been valuable to me.
I’m grateful for 2020 because I had the chance to work on self love, know my worth and all the good stuff, plus I started my blog revolving around all this topics so 2020 wasn’t all that bad.
Looking forward to better things in 2021, wish you all the best. I hope 2021 is even greater.
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what a lovely post – it is nice to see some positives! I love the fact that you have got a stronger relationship out of it, the same thing happened to me. We’re in the position now of thinking we can get through anything if we can handle the pandemic. Thanks for this!
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Exactly! 😂🙌🏻 we thought the same thing. Thank you 😊
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2020 was my best year for sure as well! It really forced me to trust myself and set boundaries. I was always a yes person to so many plans and family/friends and now, I’m very aware that my energy and time is a currency and should be be used wisely. Thanks for sharing! Here’s to 2021 being amazing too xo
http://www.lynnmumbingmejia.com
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Yes 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 our time is precious and we don’t have time for people pleasing. Cheers!
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I’m with you 2020 was a trying year, but I’m glad it made me realize what my priorities are and my interests are. I’m investing more into myself and my hobbies.
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Yes 👏🏻 We have to remember to prioritize ourselves sometimes and grow as a person
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Love this post. Love how you saw the good thing from 2020. I hate people talking about the negatives. We all need to be more positive.
2020 was a great year for me too. I prioritised my mental health issue, working on my blog, amongst other things. I can’t wait to see what 2021 has for us all?
Charlotte
goalofhappiness.com
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That’s so great!! Yes, I’m thinking 2021 will be much better
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I love that you’re looking at the positives in what was a devastating year ❤ xx
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Thank you!! ♥️
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It is great that 2020 got you to become more independent and mature. I found that being in lockdown isn’t the best, but it opens some opportunities like hobbies. Totally agree with you – there is some good, we just need to keep searching for them
Nancy ✨ mdrnminimalists.com
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My interests went from 0 to 100 real fast too! For starters my $3 betta fish now has a 5-gallon, heated, cycled, filtered tank. There are other examples too, such as now making my own kombucha. I wonder if some of our new hobbies will fizzle out when ‘normal’ life returns, or if our new mindsets and habits will influence us far into the future.
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That’s an interesting thought! Time will tell
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“The coronavirus caused me to GROW THE F**K UP.” – Ooooo Brittany I felt THIS. This happened to me too. It really changed my goals and wants in life. I have such a new direction and focus just from being forced to stay in my house. How crazy is that?!
There was so much bad in 2020, but the good for sure out weighs that!
Olivia | https://olivialucieblake.com
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LOL! 😂 it is crazy! But I’m grateful for it. And yes! Couldn’t agree more
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So happy to hear how good 2020 was to you despite all its obstacles! ✨💖
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Thank you!!
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I’m so happy that 2020 was an amazing year for you! Despite everything, it was actually pretty great for me too. It’s such a blessing to have come out of the year with more ups than downs. Here’s to an even better year this year!
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That’s so great to hear! 😊💕 cheers to an even better 2021
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I absolutely agree!! Upon reflection, I learnt a lot in 2020. I moved out, which was a huge learning curve and I learnt who my true friends are when I need them. I’ve developed my cooking skills through living alone and I’ve learnt how to manage my money and furnish my own place. Overall 2020 was good for me as a person, but very hard, I learnt about my own strength and resilience and how to keep myself happy and strong during the hardest thing I’ve ever had to deal with!! Xxx
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Love that!! I feel like if we can get through this tough time we can get through anything!
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Beautifully written. You put things into perspective. Lots of blessings to think on and even more to be grateful for. Glad to hear you had growth and that ot was a great year for you.
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Thank you Glen!
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You are so very welcome Bee!
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Couldn’t agree more about this year almost forcing personal change and reflection. I’m happy that you found so much “good” in what was a crazy year! Cheers to reaching all your goals in 2021
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Yes exactly!! Thanks for reading 🙂
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It’s nice to see someone who’s 2020 wasn’t all bad
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I love that I found this! I has a similar experience with last year! As the year went on, and the quarantine went on longer, I did that much more thinking. I realized I wasn’t doing much for myself, let alone my family. So I signed up for college courses, opened up my blog, and am trying something new and out of my comfort zone!!! Good for you, and I hope it only gets better and better for you! 😉
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Thank you!! Getting out of your comfort zone is crucial. Starting my blog during quarantine was the best thing for me. Glad you are here. Thanks for the follow as well.
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Reblogged this on worldtraveller70.
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Thanks 😊💕
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