A Fresh Start

The year 2020 was, to put it blatantly, a complete waste of time that had forced the world to a halt with its disastrous impacts. With the unforgiving year of 2020 welcoming a new decade, it is safe to assume that people are skeptical about what 2021 has to offer. Rather than wait and see what the year 2021 brings me, I have decided to take control of my future and opportunities by deciding on several different focus areas I would like to improve on, and how I can improve them. My key areas of improvement are: reduce money spent by ditching fast fashion and adopting thrift shopping, critiquing the necessity of purchases, appreciating friends and family, and prioritising myself to find happiness from within.

As a teenage girl with a major spending problem, I find it difficult to put money into my ‘savings’ account, and then keep it in there. If I had the funds to see a specialist about my terrible spending habits, I would. Do you see my problem? It is a continuous loop of brokenness. As it is a new year, I thought it would be a suitable time to devise a plan on how to not spend every cent I earn. An area of improvement is to reduce the amount of money I spend and therefore, thrift shopping has officially become my new go-to retail therapy. If I can not conquer my addiction, the least I can do is reuse and recycle to help the environment (and my savings).

Another strategy I will be implementing into my savings scheme is to question myself when I want to make a purchase. Craving a coffee? It will give me five minutes of pleasure and thirty minutes of terrible bowel movements. Want to buy a dog? I can’t even take care of myself, let alone another living thing. This self-criticizing method has worked wonders for my money issues.

The experience of a pandemic lockdown was not a highlight of 2020 for me and many others, however, this incident made me appreciate the company of friends and family. Spending months alone, entrapped in my home was a big eye-opener. Why did I take my friends and family for granted? I am so grateful to say that I did not lose anyone to the coronavirus, but the thought that others were suffering was distressing. After months of keeping myself company, I realised that I need to meet up with people when this lockdown ends. I need to show the people I love that I appreciate them and their company. I want to check up on everyone as this has been a mentally exhausting year for most. I have realised that anyone can leave this world in a matter of seconds, so I want to cherish the moments I spend with others. Since becoming a young adult, family and friend time has decreased significantly. We all lead busy lives; constantly working, taking care of children, and trying to figure out what’s for dinner every night, but we all need to slow down and appreciate each other’s company.

After further self-reflection, I have come to the realisation that I need to prioritise myself. I mean, if I’m being realistic, I haven’t indulged in a glass of wine whilst melting away in a bubble bath in years. Personally, this is a different level of therapy that even professionals can't achieve. Moving forward in 2021, I want to put myself first. I want to buy myself gifts that make me feel good, I want to nourish my body with healthy yet delicious food that I make with love, I want to go for picnics by myself while my skin soaks up the hot sun and wind blows through my hair. I want to feel good about myself, and not have to depend on anyone else for my happiness. I want to learn how to enjoy being alone and cherish the moments I spend by myself.