What a year! (2024 Reflection)
I can't believe this year is finally coming to a dreadful close! Feeling like it's been forever.
Yes, 2024 really has been a true rollercoaster of ups, downs, and loops of all kinds. It was the best of times and was the worst of times. Especially for me, 2024 was truly the hardest to get through, mentally, emotionally, and socially. Struggling with my identity and social skills, I was kinda at my low point, not as bad as 2022 however but it was definitely stressful and anxiety-inducing.
Initially, I lost many of my IRL friends and family connections started withering, locked away a bunch of my hobbies in the drawer, started slowly isolating myself (a second time, can you believe it?), and basically called it quits. I also struggled heavily with my queer identity, wondering who I really am and hating myself for being what people called "confused" and "mentally ill". It was honestly dreadful having to deal with the first half of the year like this. Worse thing is, some online friends I trusted for a while were... not really the best people I thought they were. Really shattered everything.
However, in the second half of this awful year, there was good news! I decided enough was enough and tried to reconnect with people IRL again, which surprisingly worked alright for me (not really easy to be honest but it was all worth it). I regained and made new IRL friends, especially a queer friend group whom they're really supportive and are essentially a second family (shoutout to them!). I slowly started reconnecting with my family again and inevitably came out to them as trans, which I didn't get the exact results that I expected but it was far better than nothing at all. I started doing art again which I strive to make progress with, got back into reading books, learning more about different world cultures and languages, gaining more interest in world affairs, and enjoying my photography and music listening hobbies too! It was a load of stuff to work on and get back to but it was definitely worth it in the end. Overcoming my social anxiety, and especially the struggles of recognising myself, has helped me get through this year and live to see tomorrow once again.
Look, to all the people who have had a really rough 2024, I understand how everything is right now. The world is really at a chaotic standpoint: raging wars, climate change, rise of the far-right, anti-queer sentiment, despicable autocrats trying to gain influence, all that awful crap that happened and is still happening this year. However, staying strong, helping and comforting one another, taking action, all that stuff can really make a difference. No matter what, always try to be there for each other, because when we are united we can really change and progress towards the future. We can't change the past, but the future can be made to our liking and can make all the difference. Let's make 2025 amazing <3
- Signed, Jade Topaz