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Mental health

2020 was a somber year for me and I'm sure it's the same for a lot of people. As if the global pandemic wasn't enough bringing in the isolation, restriction of travel, and a general sense of change to everyone's way of life -- it was made harder by wanting to keep a semblance of a regular life. I still worked, albeit from home, trying to maintain the same level of productivity as I did before all the change was imposed upon everyone. I still tried to keep up my hobbies like playing video games and supporting some streamers I follow -- what I lack in time to play it seems other people appreciate the financial support I can offer to do the gaming instead, so I and others can live vicariously through them. It wasn't easy and it didn't help that I seem to be really hard on myself.

Personally, there were some daemons that I've had to tackle on my own and some that I've had to ask for others' help. It's been a struggle to keep an even keel while everything else is in a constant state of flux more so than usual. It's also not just the pandemic either -- it's the Black Lives Matter movement and the recent attempted takeover of the US Capitol. While I personally am not affected by these important historical events in Australia and by virtue of my ancestral heritage, I do have family and friends there that could be. The thought of having one of my extended family being adversely affected both physically and mentally by all that's been happening weighs heavily whenever I hear of news about what's going on in the USA.

What I'm taking away from 2020 is a realisation that I need to be listening to my body and my mind more and taking more care of myself. Remembering the little things like smiling and checking in on people to genuinely listen and be available goes a long way -- I know because I appreciate those little things a lot more now than I used to.

The grind will always be there waiting but life is here and now. So in 2021 I've been choosing life before the grind of making a difference out there.

Thank you for reading. May you have peace and good fortunes this year.

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