Surviving 2021

“Surviving 2021” is a phrase that will probably be used for a documentary or movie someday in the future. For now, I’m using it to recap on the past year we’ve had as a country—even globally. It’s been a long year, not only because we’ve literally lived for another 365 days but it’s been a long year because of the things many of us had to endure during 2021. Maybe, the movie producers mixed the title of the movie; 2012. That’s how exhausting my year was. Most of us have enjoyed a sense of normalcy since 2019. It’s been two years since we last went out without having to worry about wearing a face mask, without knowing what a Covid-19 test was, without the many travel restrictions or without loving our friends and family from afar due to social distancing. We’re social beings. As such, many of us; including myself, had a very difficult time adjusting to the “new normals” of our world.

With that in mind, some of you who might be reading this might have experienced a “normal year”. I still must congratulate you on surviving this year. For some of us, like myself, we’ve had a very tough and exhausting year. Personally, I’ve had to deal with death and grief all year long. I will not share further details on these events, but it was my first time experiencing, enduring, and overcoming grief. These deaths were the result of the pandemic itself. The question still remains, “What if—?”. What if someone wore their mask? Or took their vaccine? What if Guyana had stricter travel restrictions to decrease the amount of imported cases we have? What if there was no pandemic to begin with? Would they still be alive? Would things be different?


When you lose someone due to the pandemic, you feel and endure the worst of the worst. There are many unanswered questions and triggers. A simple trigger for me is seeing someone not wearing a mask or refusing to be vaccinated—it’s exhausting. I’ve shared the pain and agony I’ve felt throughout the year because I know that many other Guyanese experienced similar situations during this year. You’re not alone. Even though you’ve possibly experienced the worst possible year ever, please remember that there is strength after pain. Ensure that you seek professional help to help you process and analyze the trauma and pain you’ve felt—no matter how big or small your problems may seem.

I told myself in 2020 that the year 2021 will be a better one. It turns out that it was just another year of trials and lessons to be learned. As the new year resolution posts pop up on your social media, remember that “surviving” is enough of a reason to celebrate the year. You didn’t need to pass your exams with straight As, graduate from a school or programme or even land a new and highly paid job. You should celebrate your life and this year because you’ve endured and survived yet another year amidst a pandemic. You’re alive and that’s worth celebrating. If you feel as though New Year’s resolutions on social media are triggers for your mental health, stay away from social media until Mid-January. If you’re still looking for a New Year’s resolution for the new year; you can simply say, “I’ll do and be better than I was”, as a resolution for 2022. It should not be a competition on who had the most successful year—don’t ever let people make you feel that way. Learn how to celebrate the smallest of wins and find satisfaction in the little things.

With that said, thank you all for reading my column pieces for the past year; 2021. I am hopeful that we all have a better 2022 and I look forward to writing more interesting and topical pieces for the youths of Guyana.

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