My first blog post for this year was one where I expressed my anxiety and fears surrounding this pandemic. Even though I still feel anxious and afraid, there are also many things I need to be very appreciative and thankful for. In previous posts I have shared some of my personal feelings, but it has been years since I blogged and shared something truly personal. So without further ado, these are all, well most of the things I’m thankful for this year.

About two years ago I made a vision board. In order to maintain focus on all your visions and goals you need to place this board in a spot that you see or pass by frequently. I figured that because I spent most of my time on the computer, I would make my vision board my desktop background image. For years I would stare at all these hopes and dreams with one being my ideal salary, written down in bright red numbers. Well towards the end of last year, I was finally able to achieve this goal. And for that I’m thankful.

One of my hobbies is watching shows about real estate or interior design. I start most of my days of by perusing on Funda, an Dutch real estate listings website. Just to dream, just to imagine myself in those spaces. I would draw the floor plan, measure out where I would place my furniture, take down a wall here, reorient the kitchen. Yes, I liked to do that with houses and apartments I thought I would probably never be able to afford. However, because of the previously mentioned salary increase, I was able to move into one of those apartments listed on Funda this year. And it’s everything I need. I’m very thankful for the previous roof over my head, but I also can’t imagine living through a pandemic there. Moving into this apartment came just in time, and I couldn’t me more thankful

I was able to furnish it the way I wanted. I’m not done yet, but hee, I have everything I need. And for that I’m very thankful. Some of the things I bought don’t work the way I wanted them to, because frugal me opted to go for the more cheaper options in stead of investing in quality. However, those are all luxury problems in the grand scheme of things. I’m thankful for the fact that most of the problems I’m personally facing now could be considered luxury problems.

I am thankful for the fact that I work for a company that has allowed their employees to work from home full time. I am thankful for still having a job considering others haven’t been this fortunate.

Considering the circumstances and my anxiety, I haven’t done a whole lot of the little things I liked to do pre- the pandemic. One of those little things being eating out. However, I have been constantly ordering food from my favorite restaurants. I started the first few months of ‘good’ by saving money and not spending it on expensive meals. But I got bored and the last few months I have been spending like crazy on take-out. I have promised myself that I will do better in the new year. But I’m thankful for being able to afford a luxury meal and I’m thankful for living in a country where I can have this food delivered all the way to my front door.

I mentioned wasting money on takeout food, and I do need to do better. However, I’m also thankful that this is an issue I have full control over, and that’s it not something beyond my control. I just need to do better, and I will do better. Even though the main reason I was ordering out was to satisfy myself, I am also thankful that I was able to help keep local businesses stay afloat.

Right now this blog is more of a hobby for me. I only post when I feel inspired of when I have something interesting to share. This year I was probably very inspired, because I posted a lot more than normally. I’m thankful for my inspiration! I’m also very thankful for everybody who has stopped by, who has read, who has commented and liked, who has subscribed. Thank you! I know I say it every time someone comments, and I hope it doesn’t come off as cliche. But I really am appreciative of every one taking time out of their day to visit my blog.

I’m thankful for my health. We’re in the middle of a pandemic, I have been moving less, I have been getting less of the real vitamin D. But I’m healthy. And I’m so thankful for that!

I’m thankful for my family and for their health. My mother was supposed to visit this year but that fell through because of everything. But we’re able to communicate everyday, and even though I miss her, I know that she’s save. Everybody is healthy. And that is really what I am most thankful for.