Looking back at 2021

### Hello Dear Stranger,

It’s been a long time. I hope this piece finds you well and that you had a lovely start to the new year.

Today, we are looking back at the year 2021, a year in which humanity was put through true chaos.

**But Hey!! We Survived?**

We may just have to be grateful that we survived 2021, considering more than 3.5 million beautiful souls lost their precious lives to the never-ending COVID-19 pandemic. It is our responsibility to remember every single one of them and hope they’ve found peace and their respective heavens up there. RIP.

**We Survived, But Did We?**

Back to us, the survivors. We may think that just because we survived, we are alive. While this may be true for some, I am certain this year has buried some of us alive, killed the joy inside us, and that may or may not come back anytime soon. Just because we survived, because we are breathing, does not mean we are alive. Some people buried themselves with their loved ones; some succumbed to depression; some had to kill a part of themselves to move on.

**2021 & I**

Holy mother of Jesus, what a year it was! I feel like 2021 was never a year itself, but rather an extension of late 2019 and the year 2020. It did not feel like a new year in January 2021, as everything plus more trouble was directly transferred from 2020. For this reason, I will include the whole package in the coming parts of this writing.

The pandemic is single-handedly one of the hardest trials humanity has gone through in the last 100 years, and it was my hardest as well. At the very beginning, it did not feel any different than any other diseases out there like cancer, diabetes, and so on. You think that it does not matter as long as you don’t have them. You wouldn’t want to empathize with those who have it, right?

**RIGHT**

As time passed, I started to feel a little off, a little strange, and a little empty. I thought this wouldn’t affect me a single bit, that I was strong, that I had seen worse. Sadly, I was wrong. Another major breakthrough was approaching me at a thousand miles an hour; that strange feeling was just the calm before the storm.

**Knock Knock, Depression Has Arrived!**

**The Aftermath:**

This chunk was left empty on purpose as it reflects how depression makes you feel when you have it.

It took a lot of things I liked about myself and gave me things that no other experience could. Everything comes at a price, so I will only accept it as it is and be forever grateful.

At the very beginning of this year, I lost someone that I loved. His name was Murat, he is actually a distant relative of mine and older than me with I guess 3 kids. We were expecting his father to die, but god only takes those who are good from this life in an unfair way. I imagine he had a son, little one he is probably 13 or 14 years of age now. I feel sad for him as he is the only male in the family now, a lot is waiting for him which will be hard and full of difficulties. Murat was a lovely person, he was a giant with a heart of little kitten. Even when I was a little kid, he would’ve invited me over the business dinners ask my day and future plans, man I am sad. My father cried when we lost him, I was unable to attend his funeral because of health reasons I will one day visit his tomb if I have the chance and pray, possibly sit down and talk to him to thank him for showing me how being good does not come with age but rather with experiences. Too many complex thoughts right now, but I will find his son in the future and support that kid till my last breath, that I promised myself, as the goodness must be passed down from generation to generation, the doer must be found..

**I Am Grateful to 2021**

**The Gains**

All the trouble I went through in 2021 was worth it, as each trouble paid back in gains in ways I never could have imagined. I know it might sound a little off, a little crazy to be grateful to a year that was literally a 365-day torture, but I am truly grateful because what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

I met many different people from various socio-economic backgrounds, people of every color, every culture. They were so random that if you’d want to plan it, it would take an eternity to achieve such diversity. Every single one of them helped me differently; some taught me how to walk again, some taught me when to take a break, and some when to leave things behind. It was very strange to see all these once-strangers trying to help, putting you back on the right track, involving themselves in your life, becoming part of it. Just strange, weirdly beautiful.

Thank you, 2021, for all the pain and joy you brought. Each experience was unique and will never happen again. Here are some memoirs from the year 2021, with its ups and downs:

—

**Farewell**

— Giray

My wishes for the year 2022 

Whatever this coming year brings, we are ready to take it, with all its ups and downs, as they are. 

Dear stranger,  I wish you have a wonderful year with the loved ones, I hope your greatest pain would be not being able to find  a pair of your socks or not being able to get out of bed because you are drunk af. 

love you to greatest, 

bye for now.