Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!
– Psalm 107:1
I don’t know about you but this year’s Christmas doesn’t feel like last year’s muted, simple celebration. This year’s festivities, the traffic, the crowds at the malls — all these feel like pre-pandemic holiday season.
Truth be told, I felt stressed and overwhelmed by my calendar, deadlines, personal errands. I love Christmas and New Year’s Day. The busyness that comes with these holidays? Not so much.
Pandemic or not (but maybe even more necessary at this time), there is something I do every year that helps me get in a better frame of mind before going all-out holiday mode or turning a leaf over. And that is looking back at the year that was and counting my blessings.
I know, I know, it sounds cheesy. But there are many science-backed benefits to practicing gratitude. For me, taking stock of where I am and what I have (and what I don’t have, because that counts, too) allows me to recognize how good God has been to me. That makes me feel better emotionally but I can say it has also helped me gain mental strength over the years.
You see, listing down things we are grateful for requires pausing. And we all need that pause, that break, amid our crazy, busy schedules.
So, here are 10 of the things I’m been blessed with this 2021. I listed only 10 for brevity’s sake but if I wanted to make to list jot down more, I’m sure there are more I can add. In no particular order of importance, here they are:
1. The gift of writing
Ah, the gift that keeps on giving.
Over the last few years, I’ve been doing freelance writing. I had a full-time job so I only write occasionally, and in 2020, it became a part-time gig. This year, I became a full-time freelance writer. And I love it.
In 2021 I got to write about so many different topics that ranged from fun to technical. I wrote about travel and culture, Airbnbs, language apps and books, organic products, coffee, camping gear, and so many more. Some days, I wrote about stuff I loved but I also enjoyed writing about things I knew nothing about before.
I didn’t know it was possible but I loved writing even more now. In many ways, my job as a writer helped me grow. It also sparked a desire to revive my blog, which is why I’m here now.
Oh, and because of (letter)writing, I received the 9th item on this list. 😆
2. The desire to learn
Content writing requires a lot of research, a part of my job that I thoroughly enjoy doing. I love learning and this year, I got to do just that.
Not only did I spend my time researching my writing assignments; I was also deep into podcasts (most of them educational like Stuff You Should Know), books, Duolingo (been studying Latin for three months now and Korean since forever), online course platforms like Coursera and Skillshare, and YouTube channels like TED and Science Insider. In short, I was a full-on nerd.
3. Books
In December 2020, I committed to a reading challenge: finish 15 books in 2021.
As of writing, I’ve finished 18 books (most of them by Asian writers). I love reading as much as I love writing but in previous years, I allowed work and online distractions and Netflix to get in the way.
So, with this goal also came the commitment to lessen my screen time. Being a freelancer allowed me to make my own schedule, so that also helped. I read whenever I can — during breaks, on sleepless nights, and while waiting in line at the dentist.
4. Cooking
adlai ala yang chow 
chicken teriyaki soba 
chicken tikka masala
The first time I told my best friend that I started cooking, he laughed. That should give you an idea of how much it was unlike me to get into domestic hobbies like cooking. But like I said, I wanted to learn new stuff and cooking was one of those things.
They say practice makes perfect. I am far away from being perfect, or even great, but I know I’m so much better than I used to be. I cook more frequently and manage to make not just something edible but something actually delicious, if I may say so myself.
The best part? I enjoy it. I like feeding people and I like experimenting. Cooking lets me do both.
5. Family
Many of us got stuck at home with our families during the pandemic and I’m aware that some felt that this is more of a trap than a blessing. For some, this has been the longest time we had to be with family. We had to coexist in one space and it wasn’t always easy or fun, especially if you don’t live in a big house.
I am very fortunate to not have felt trapped. On the contrary, I felt very much grateful that I spent the last 22 months with my mother and sister. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Sure, there were days when I wanted to go out and meet friends. But I had a healthy balance of family time and private time.
This Christmas was the first time in two years that we got to celebrate as a complete family. It’s a very special time. Like many others, the pandemic taught me to never take for granted the time I get to spend with my loved ones.
6. Friends
2020 was the year of lost friendships, goes a Harper’s Bazaar article. It doesn’t take rocket science to grasp why so many people went through romantic and platonic breakups last year. Some conscious, some unintentional.
It took a lot to maintain the friendships that I didn’t lose. But even with my closest friends, it’s undeniable that our relationships also evolved, having to adapt to mostly online interactions.
That said, I’m really grateful for my friends who understand when I go MIA, who support whatever hobby I’m currently engrossed in, friends who pray for me, friends who try to remain present even if they’re going through rough patches, too.
7. Clients
Before I started freelancing, I was a bit apprehensive about where I’d get my income. Turns out I didn’t have to worry at all because I didn’t have a shortage of projects. I was actually blessed with more than I expected or needed.
More than the money though, I’m really thankful for the trust and all the learning opportunities that these people have given me. Special mention to Dina, my editor at Hey Explorer (and other sites she spawned) who trusted me, encouraged me, and gave me countless opportunities to hone my craft.
8. Vaccines
Can you imagine being stuck in ECQ, MECQ, and all sorts of strict lockdowns for a few more years? We don’t have to, thanks to the scientists and pharmaceutical companies who developed COVID-19 vaccines relatively quickly. We may never come back to our old normal but at least, we can move around with more freedom now compared to last year.
9. The love of my life
In December 2020, I met Kiko through Slowly. We started dating early this year. A story for another time, perhaps, but suffice it to say that this man has brought me immense joy. Words just aren’t enough to say how grateful I am to have someone who shares a lot of similarities with me, someone who accepts our many differences, and someone who loves me through it all. And to come at such an unexpected time… God indeed has a sense of humor. [Update, a few hours after I published this, he proposed to me. Did I mention how grateful I am?]
10. God’s faithfulness
This has been true all my life but I’ve felt in even more in the last couple of years:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
– Lamentations 3:22-23
Great is His faithfulness indeed. Every morning is a reminder of that. Whether it’s a great day and I’m thriving or it’s a tough one and I’m barely able to survive, His love is real and He is an unlimited source of strength, joy, and peace. He is the source of all the things in this list and He trumps all of them.
The pandemic is proof of how fleeting things can be – relationships, careers, fame, wealth. And no matter how we plan our lives to minute details, life can put us in our rightful places and make us realize that WE.ARE.NOT.IN.CONTROL.
But God is unchanging. He is not surprised by any of these. The thought that I can tap into His wisdom, His grace, His strength and might… That comforts me every single time. He was, is, and will always be my Savior, my Father, my King.
What are you thankful for this year? I urge you to pause and make a list of your own before you face this new chapter called 2022. Look back and then look forward.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
