Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and I couldn’t let 2021 end without a gratitude post. This has been another challenging year and I’ve often had to remind myself not to lose sight of the good things that happened this year. With that in mind, here are 21 things I’m grateful for in 2021.
What I’m grateful for in 2021
- My immediate family has remained healthy through the pandemic.
- All four of us were fully vaccinated by the beginning of July.
- Life started to look somewhat more normal as things gradually reopened throughout the year.
- Being able to visit my mum again.
- My daughter Colleen got her driver’s license, creating lots of free time for me now that I don’t have to drive her to work any more.
- My daughter Laura turned 21 (and Colleen turned 18).
- Colleen graduated from high school and was awarded a scholarship for her first year of college.
- Our great-niece Amelia arrived safely in August.
- Singing! Christmas came early for me a couple of weeks ago when I was asked to join a group of former School of Rock friends for a weekly jam session.
- A fabulous year for my blog with several blogging collaborations, steady growth in views and new followers.
- Completing three more courses toward the Plain Language Certificate I’m working on.
- Having a job that gives me flexibility to work from home.
- Colleen got a new job with no more overnight shifts!
- A bumper crop of tomatoes in the garden this year.
- Exploring lots of local hiking trails.
- Technology that helps us stay connected even when we can’t be physically together.
- Celebrating my 10 year “cancerversary” in June.
- Taking a week off work in October so I could spend fall reading week at home with the girls.
- Getting together for lunch with my mum and my sisters in November—the first time we had all been together in two and a half years.
- Working with awesome people who make even the crappiest of days better.
- You! Thank you for reading and supporting my blog.
What will 2022 look like?
Despite the pandemic dragging on far longer than any of us anticipated, 2021 turned out to be a decent year. Let’s hope for a return to more normal life in 2022!
What are you grateful for this year? Tell me in the comments below.
Your daughters are thriving! I’m also very glad to hear that you’ve all kept safe and had a pretty decent year. Here’s to a continuation in 2022 😉
Thanks Shelly. Yes, my girls are doing well despite life being far from normal. These times are difficult for everyone, but I do feel for young people because they’re missing out on so many life experiences that will shape their future.
Great list, Michelle! Staying focused on gratitude is super important. Recently, I have begun meditating on the feeling of gratitude. It’s quite blissful “going inside” the feeling. Wishing you a beautiful 2022! 🌞
Thanks Lisa. I think we have to try to stay focused on the big and small things we’re grateful for. It’s too easy to get dragged into all the negativity that seems to be everywhere these days. Happy New Year!
Agreed! All the best! 🌞
A gratitude list is such a great way to end the year <3
I've been so grateful for my coworkers this year. We work in a really stressful environment and they've made a tough year a lot of fun. I also fell in love with a boy this year, so that's brought a lot of happy and gratitude in 😉
Isn’t it amazing how great co-workers can make even the crummy days at work better? It always make me sad when I hear some of my young co-workers say they have too much work to be bothered with any team socials. When I look back on my career, I’ve forgotten a lot of details about the work that I did, but I always remember the people.
And yeah for love! ❤️
Great list! I can tell you’re so selfless bc your gratitude list involves others happiness!
Like you, I am so thankful everyone I care for and love is happy, healthy and safe! 2021 was also the year I found my writing voice! So thankful for my blog and this community! ❤️🎉👌
Thanks! Yes, our blogging community is very supportive and positive.
I’m grateful my family stayed healthy and we were able to see some extended family and friends. I’m also grateful for the extra time I had for self care.
I think more time for ourselves is something we can all take away as a positive of the pandemic.
Love this post! I’m very grateful for my blogging tribe too, especially you xx
Aww. Thank you! 💚
Hurrah for making music together with School Of Rock friends, for your increasing web traffic, and most of all for HEALTH in the midst of this ongoing, ever-evolving public health crisis! I am grateful for your balanced, inspiring (“monkey see-monkey do”) blog posts which make me feel like I am not alone in being concerned about our shared human future here on planet earth.
Thanks so much Will. I always appreciate your thoughtful comments.
Those are all great items to be grateful for! I’ve been thinking a lot about that myself, after losing my dad and then immediately getting COVID, I still find things to be grateful for. Getting together with family for my husband’s nephews wedding reception, having enough money to make some treats for friends and neighbors, and a few thrifty finds for tiny gifts for our Christmas Eve get together. My husband, for being my rock and my brother for helping me get through the hardest time in my life since losing my mother. Quitting vaping. My volunteer job that wants me back after the holidays. 🤗
Merry Christmas 🎄
Thanks Kim. It is so important not to lose sight of the positives when we go through difficult times. Here’s to better days ahead in 2022!
These are great things to celebrate. Ten years is wonderful. Also bumper tomatoes – win!
Thanks Jamie. Yes, I’m not sure what I did right with the tomatoes this year. Hopefully I can replicate the success next summer.