Okay, hold up. This year has been absolutely nuts, and for even surviving it we deserve all of the praise. I don't care if all you did was survive this year, we're living through a pandemic. I know this year has been hard. I know next year will be hard. I know that it doesn't seem like this but in a few years Covid won't even seem real anymore. That's the hope isn't it.
(My Quarantine Birthday in May)
What did I do this year? This has been the worlds longest and shortest year ever. I was going through the normal year, working at my non-profit part time and just riding the waves. Then March hit. I feel like everyone knows that feeling. Being told that you no longer have a job. I haven't not had a job since Katimavik ended. That's a weird sentence. I was lucky, I was able to return to work in late July after having been laid off in March. It was weird being off that long, like I felt like I should have been productive but I could barely find the motivation to function as a human. That is where I find my camaraderie with others. The feeling of hopelessness, lack of motivation, and just what next. I didn't know, I still don't know what's next. It's honestly like trying to live through the waves right now. I can't even see my identical twin sister, we haven't been apart this long since again Katimavik.
(Setting up social distance signs at work)
This year I had goals and plans yeah, but honestly at this point, I survived a year in a pandemic. I'm pretty proud of myself for being able to accomplish that. I struggled with a lot of things this year in relation to the pandemic but I'm still here. Maybe I can have my hot girl summer next year, or the year after that.
(At the pumpkin patch before lockdown restrictions came down like a hammer)
I don't want to sound like I'm bitter. This year hasn't been the year any of us predicted but I did have a lot of small victories if I look back. I PAID OFF MY STUDENT DEBT, I'm moving out of my parents house next month, I started baking breads and such like in Katimavik, I started greatly appreciating the small moments with people when I got them, I learned what I need versus what I want, I learned that I can live in a pandemic (not well, but I can live), I learned that for an introvert I do crave a lot more human interaction than I previously thought.
I'm still thinking about 41164. One got married and bought a house?! Another bought a house?! One is very active politically and vocal about what they believe in. Thats just on the surface what I get to see. I hope they are doing well. I miss them a lot, and this year has made me think a lot about them. It also makes me wonder how the new Katimavik groups have been fairing during this crazy year.
Thank you 41164, for still 9 years later giving me memories and a shining example of the person that I want to be and put forward into the world.
Next year will be 10 years since the program ended. That's absolutely mad. (I am still thinking of dropping everything to become a Project Leader...one day).
Find me as usual on instagram if you wanna see more of my face @keagannagy
