This year has been shit as hell

[Elite Piranha]

My condolences, Jonster. I hope things get better as soon as possible.

[Steo]

I've got real life stress that had been bothersome too, but I'm hoping things get better. Not just for me, but for everyone in general. I'd like to see good things happen again.

[ScalieDan]

Yeah this year hasn’t been working out really well for me either.

My cousin recently passed away about 2 weeks ago due to covid. I was sad to hear this as I hadn’t seen him in years.

And earlier today I tried to open my laptop but it wasn’t booting up correctly and after hours of attempting to boot it up (and be stuck on the loading screen) I am now worried that there is another issue with the laptop that this time may not be able to be fixed by myself. Which is pretty bad since I have lots of data on there that will probably take me a long time to gather again from the internet.

Now with me getting that stuff off my chest, I want to give my own condolences to Plum and Dan for their losses. I hope this year will get better for you guys.

My condolence Jonster. Terrible times.

[Rsandee]

PluM and Jonster, that's absolutely horrible, my sincere condolences.

I won't forget the exact moment I realized the virus was going to be a legitimate issue. Back in 2008 I overreacted because I was young when I heard of the swine flu and was lead to believe it would result in a pandemic. I became more sceptical about such claims afterwards and of course thought that it wouldn't be any different this time, why would it be? I was doing my bachelors' thesis in Chemistry at the time and I was having a discussion with my colleagues and professors in the research group about the virus and I remember how these discussions became more grim every time. I remember the dread, the slow creeping realization that what we used to joke about became no laughing matter. I have been quarantining and following the measures closely, I haven't partied, haven't been on a holiday (though I don't have anything against people who did). It's been tough, especially since a long-term and long-distance relationship with someone I loved deeply ended a few months before and the pandemic started right when I started getting into a good headspace again. I've felt more bored than ever in my entire life and haven't exactly dealt with the frustration in a very healthy way at times. But the fact of the matter is: I shouldn't complain, or at least that's what I tell myself. The reality is that I'm under no financial pressure and that nobody in my family or friend group has died, or even suffered from covid. Sure I could complain because it's okay to complain (some modern 2021 it's okay to not be okay mentality and all that), but it's also what keeps me focussed in a way. I have the feeling that if I allow myself to go down that hill, that it'd be difficult to stop and easy to fall down that pit.

Whenever I talk with friends, short or long distance, we always try to rationalize that for people younger than us it's even worse, but damn man. It's tough keeping the motivation to study when mostly you're locked up alone in your own apartment, surrounded by four walls and having no opportunity to meet and connect with new people. What used to be my favorite activity when I was a teenager (go online, watch Netflix or play videogames) became my worst nightmare as an adult or near-adult (I'm 24). All I want to do is meet people again in a way like I used to, like an event or bar, without having to join a dating app (which deservedly so have a terrible reputation). I also would like to be able to exercise again by going to the gym and either go swimming or lifting weights. On a last note, I also noticed my family and people around me becoming increasingly more polarized politically and I do not like the feeling of this political climate, I don't mean to overreact, but in terms of politics and such this pandemic feels like a war to me. I have one student house I go to where some of my friends live, I stay there in the weekends and I am grateful I have that at least.

[Hunchman801]

Well, using a dating app when all the bars and restaurants are closed is not of much use anyway! That probably makes them even worse.

[Rsandee]

It's not like there are many choices, so instead I just decided to focus on my studies.

[Hunchman801]

It's a different kind of chemistry, I guess.

[PluMGMK]

So how's 2021 so far? Record Day is terrible, but what about the rest of it?

[Hunchman801]

Quiet, but good. Professionally, all is well, and while the pandemic has led me to spending more time with family and friends than random chicks, I guess it's not something I can complain about!

[Steo]

2020 was smelly, but 2021 smelled slightly less bad in some ways. Some very smelly things happened in my case, but some very amazing pleasant smelling things happened too.

[Cairnie]

It's getting so hard to tell which year has been more shitty - 2020 or 2021. There's only one way to find out:

[Steo]

All I can say is 2020 was really really shit for me, and 2021 had so many shit things too, including two family losses, but still some good things at least happened too. Both are pretty crappy, but 2021 had some good things about it.

[PluMGMK]

I guess it's summed up by this:

[The Jonster]

Well I’m still alive and here so my year hasn’t been too shit.

[PluMGMK]

That's the spirit!

[Hunchman801]

The image PluM posted reminds me of how companies in a good shape are comparing their 2021 results to 2019, while others prefer to highlight the difference with pandemic-stricken 2020.

[PluMGMK]

Lies, damn lies and statistics?