Happy New Year!

Ringing in 2021: Reflections, Resolutions, and Rewards

WOW has it been a year, folks! I'm returning to this site from this months-long hiatus to wish all my friends, family, and colleagues a happy science-filled new year. 

This year has proven to be challenging and trying for many people and I think just about everyone is happy to say "see ya" to 2020. While we were all tested in new ways this past year (personally and probably for COVID as some point), we are coming out the other end with hope and excitement for the future. This year provided many frustrations for myself and my family, but it also provided a lot of opportunities that I am grateful for. 

This year, I moved to a new city, started a new career, left that career and started another one, reflected a lot on my experiences, and so much more. I spent a lot of time focusing on self-care and mental health, and I'm entering 2021 with a distinct commitment to maintaining these practices. I'm not one for new years resolutions, especially ones that focus on things like weight and dieting; I personally believe it is more realistic and healthy to create little goals or expectations for yourself that you can chip away at throughout the year. However, this year I'm making promises and expectations for myself that I'm NOT calling resolutions. Some of these are things I can actively work on every day and others are goals and achievements I'm hoping to contribute to throughout the year. Either way, I'm looking forward to bettering myself in 2021, so without further ado:

My Promises and Expectations for 2021

1. Continue to make mental health and self-care a priority 
2. Make SciComm a priority by actively contributing to this blog and Twitter
3. Network within the science community and explore opportunities
4. Complete a reading challenge! 
5. Be open-minded, try new things, and explore as much as possible

What promises are you making yourself for this new year? Whether you decide to make a resolution this year or not, remember to reward yourself for making it through this last year and for all the things you accomplished, small or large. 2020 taught us a lot of lessons and that in and of itself is a reward. We can also look forward to all of the trips, milestones, and opportunities we missed in 2020 in the years to come, and that, I believe, is the ultimate reward. 

Even though the future of the country and the COVID-19 situation is still unknown and doesn't change overnight because the calendar flipped, I am hopeful that we are reaching a breakthrough with the new vaccine. Regardless of where we stand one week from now or 12 months from now, let's make 2021 a great one! As always, thank you for stopping by and reading and find me on Twitter, send me an email, or leave a comment with your thoughts! See you again soon, I promise!