2020 Mapped out:

Goal #01- January- Make this a fantastic new decade

I can’t believe this. This is the start of a fresh year. A year that is the very first of a whole new decade! It is something almost the entire world has been anticipating. I’m on top of the world right now. I need to follow every last resolution of mine this time. Whatever happens, this decade is going to be different, and I can feel it in my bones. Let’s make it a better decade in a better world!

Goal #02- February- Continue the ‘smooth sail’

So far, everything has been smooth. I’m enjoying my life, of course, and I’m certain many others are. I’ve heard of this virus, though. I don’t think it is going to be very contagious, like the Spanish Flu or Black Death or anything. It has affected a few people, and although it seems to be adverse, I hope it’s short term. I don’t want anyone to suffer!

Goal #03- March- Stay at home!

Okay. Things are getting a little crazy. I thought this virus would be gone long ago, but it’s only spreading. It has reached our own city, now. They canceled exams and closed schools because we’re to remain at home. I rejoiced a little when I got to know our exams would not happen but immediately regretted it because it means this virus is catching and serious.

Goal #04- April and May- While away time effectively

This is the longest I have ever been stuck at home. I haven’t even seen the other side of my front door for the past two months! We’re going to attend school online for a while, so I suppose it’ll be something new to try out. I wonder how it’s going to be? Other than that, I try to pass my time in my writing. For now, all I need is my books and some music.

Goal #05- June and July- Day and night, all the time

Rinse and repeat getting up, attending virtual classes, studying, writing stories, and you’ve got my ordinary schedule. I haven’t got bored with it yet, but I’m afraid things might get tedious after a while. I’m longing to get out into the open and roam about without any constraints. I hope this pandemic passes over by New Year. I can’t think how it has affected the entire world in just a few months!

Goal #06- August- Carry on with your life

I’ve been a bit busy this month. Aside from ordinary school, I edited my novel and got it published on Amazon. It felt so very nice to see its cover on the net, but I’m afraid it will be a while before I can hold it in my own hands. Every time we have veggies, fruits, or other things brought over, we don’t touch them for two whole weeks. Then there’s the thorough sanitizing to be taken care of. I thought this year would be different. Yes, it is different, but in a way none of us thought possible.

Goal #07- September- Play the waiting game

Exams to be written online. Great. Well, all I have to do is start preparing and do my best. This Pandemic is surely not temporary. I’ve grasped it by now. Cases are rising every day. Yesterday’s extraordinary has become today’s norm. The virus has reached our home, though we’re lucky nothing bad happened. I still can’t understand how it came so far. None of us ever stepped out or acted negligently. Well, I suppose it finds ways. I hope everything gets better.

Goal #08- October- Live your dreams

Outdoorsy life is a distant dream. I can only reminisce about the life we used to lead before all this happened. I miss actual school so much. It’s only now I realize how fortunate we all were last year. At least I’m safe at home for now, and I can live my life as ordinarily as possible, even while I’m indoors. Maybe I shouldn’t complain so much, but sometimes I can’t help it.

Goal #09- November- Exercise your interests and skills

This month will not be the same. I’ve found a website called ‘Reedsy’ where I can write and post short stories every week. I’ve put out a few stories, and I enjoy this very much. I’ve met other authors and friends online who are really nice and supportive. At least this is the upside of having extra time in my hands. I can meet other like-minded writers and we can all sharpen our writing skills. My schedule is slowly turning busy again, now that people have found ways to bring back some things we used to do before.

Goal #10- December- Fingers crossed for what the future will bring

Really, I don’t have many whimsical goals or fantasies. I do want things to go back to how they were, but I know nothing is certain. The future will be as unpredictable as it has always been. We can’t guarantee anything. But that doesn’t mean we all have to melt into a pool of hopelessness. Sure, this year has been like no other, and many of us are eager to get done with ‘2020’, but we can remember the many things we did. For me, it is getting my second novel published, trying out a new type of schooling, meeting many like-minded authors online, and learning a LOT about writing. Besides keeping in mind the various atrocities of this year, I will treasure these experiences because they are one in a million.

Fingers crossed for 2021! Let’s see what it brings and let’s hope it is something better for all of us!