Happy New Year / Bonne année / 新年快樂!

We’ve just wrapped up our first year of the 2020’s, and wow, what a ride it has been. Looking back, I’m sure we can all agree that many of us did not expect 2020 to be the way it was at all. From the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic (still ongoing today) to the results of the presidential elections in the United States, this year gave us many ups and downs that have set the tone for what’s to happen in the rest of the decade…maybe, or maybe not.

This marks my third year that I’m celebrating the New Year back home in Los Angeles; I’d gone home in 2018-2019 for a brief reunion with my family before I returned to France to complete my final year of work, and I was home for 2019-2020. The memories I had celebrating New Year’s in France still remain in my brain, albeit somewhat hazy: one in Vernon, another in Saint-Étienne, and another in Calais…now that I’m almost two years removed from my time abroad, I’m finding comfort in celebrating the New Year back in Los Angeles, which I’d done for many years in my childhood, prior to my time overseas.

I’ve already discussed my 2020 year in my “Life Update” a few weeks back, but to put it in a nutshell, it was a WILD year. Just as I would assume for many people out there, too. From witnessing the deaths of close family members to getting laid off from my job to finding another job and *finally* starting a stable career…well, I can say that I had quite the ride in these past 12 months.

And it’s surreal, actually. To see where I am now compared to where I was just a couple of years ago when I was still living in France. Heck, if we were to rewind all the way back to the beginning of the 2010’s, I’d be astounded to see where I’ve ended up since then. It’s as if one minute I’m still 20, still in college with no idea of what I wanted to do after graduation. Or as if I’m 25 and in my prime of travel and expat life abroad. Really, where have the years of my twenties gone? I’m closer to 30 than 20 now, and I’m apprehensive, yet curious, to see where I ended up at the end of the 2020’s, which by then I’ll be in my late thirties.

Whereas a lot of my peers got stable careers after college and traveled afterwards, I did the opposite: I traveled a ton before I settled in my career. Not to say that one or the other’s the better choice, but I think my path was just right for me; I knew at some point I would settle, but I didn’t expect for it to come sooner than later. It was scary and a struggle at first to make the change, but I think I’ve more-or-less stabilized since then, and so far, it has been working out for me.

Even if the start of the 2020’s has been rough, I believe at some point, things will balance out and improve for the better. Granted, I still believe that COVID-19 will continue to be a notable presence in 2021, but it also won’t be here forever. There are still nine more years of the decade to go, and I’m looking forward to seeing what joys and challenges I’ll experience along the way. No matter what happens, I believe I’ll be okay, knowing that I’ve grown and learned a ton throughout the 2010’s and my early to mid-twenties to tackle anything thrown at me as I ride out the rest of my twenties (and into my thirties).

Let’s see where 2021 takes us– with COVID-19, a new US president, and my new career. Bring it on.


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— Rebecca

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Published by Rebecca

Blogger, world traveler, poet, foodie, part-time penguin. Welcome!

57 thoughts on “Happy New Year 2021!”

  4. Should we simply postpone to 2021 what could not be done in 2020, or simply deal with the new situation, which will also include new events that are just as unpredictable, but perhaps less global and less impacting. 2021 will have its share of surprises and opportunities; we have proved ourselves capable of adapting in the face of difficulties. This should give us the confidence and ability to continue to do so.
    Bon courage pour cette nouvelle année.

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    1. I believe that it’s not a matter of postponing anything for the new year, but as you wrote, simply dealing with and accepting what life throws at us. Life doesn’t pause, and we’ve proved ourselves resilient to have gotten through the toughest of times in 2020. I have no doubt we’ll continue to be resilient into 2021, and we’ll just have to see how it goes.

      Bon courage, et j’ai hâte de voir ce que tu feras dès que tu reviendras en France!

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  5. Happy New Year, Rebecca. I hope that 2021 treats you with all of the prosperity and happiness you so absolutely deserve. It’s amazing what you’ve been through in the past year and while COVID 19 is going to be a big factor in this year ahead, I know that it won’t control the year. Sending you my best. ❤

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    1. Happy New Year to you, too, V! I hope 2021 is better, but at the very least, I hope that it remains consistent like the last four months of the past year (i.e. when I got my new job). I expect 2021 to be a “transitional” kind of year, as we’ll continue to deal with COVID-19, usher in a new US president, etc. There’s no way of knowing just how this year will pan out, but all we can do is go along for the ride. 🙂

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  7. Happy New Year to you Rebecca. I agree wholeheartedly with you that we need to remain resilient during the pandemic and learn to live with the virus in the best way we can. I’m quietly confident that this year will be so much better for all of us. Let’s hope so.

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    1. I have no doubt that we’ll remain resilient despite these hard times; if we could survive much of last year’s pandemic, we’ll be able to do the same this year. Keep up the hope!

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  10. Yaaaaaaay! It worked. I’m getting post notifications now. 🙃

    You lived in France? Wow!

    Southern Europe is very high on my travel list. I’m particularly interested in heading over to Spain.

    I don’t think 2021 will be the

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    1. Hey, Alexis! Glad you joined my blog. I lived in France for four years, and I had a good time. 🙂 Spain is a gorgeous country, and I hope you can make it over there some day!

      (btw, the last part of your comment got cut off, but in any case, I wish you a great 2021 and more exciting RV adventures ahead!).

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      1. WordPress has it for me as usual! I was saying that I don’t think 2021 will be the end of our encounter with the pandemic, but I think it will start to improve. Will we ever return to life before the pandemic? Probably not.

        I’m going to Spain for the gorgeous men! Don’t judge me! 😂

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      2. I agree. The pandemic is going to be around for much of 2021, if not for the entire year. But I predict it’s also going to be a “transitional year” of some sort, as we already have the vaccine and at least distributing it out to the general public to fight off the main strain of the virus. We’ll just have to see where the year goes.

        Haha, enjoy the eye candy, should you ever step onto Spain! 🙂

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  11. “Let our New Year’s resolution be this: We will be there for one another as fellow members of humanity, in the finest sense of the word.” – Göran Persson

    As the New Year approaches us with hopes anew, here is to wishing you and your family a wonderful year ahead.

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    1. Life really is a journey. While it appears that many of us are in the “down” stage of it, knowing that it’ll go up is a reassuring mindset to keep going and enjoy what we’ve got close to us. Thanks for commenting, and happy New Year!

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  19. Wishing you and yours a happy, healthy, and abundant 2021! We may not be able to roam freely for the first few months of the year, but there’s so much we can still do to enrich our lives! Wishing you all the best! Aiva 🙂

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    1. Thanks, Aiva! Personally, I don’t think we’ll be able to travel much (if at all) for the majority of this year, but here’s hoping that things get resolved soon, so that we can plan for our next adventure. Wishing you a wonderful and safe 2021!

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  21. Happy New Year Rebecca! Hopefully 2021 will be better as you say, but things are starting to get better as we can actually see the end of this pandemic – which wasn’t the case in 2020. Here’s to a better year 😊

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    1. We’ll have to see. Personally, I don’t think we’ll eradicate COVID-19 completely in 2021, but hopefully we can decrease cases significantly and move forward from there! Hope you have a great New Year, Juliette. 🙂

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    1. 2020 wasn’t an easy year, but it’s through the challenges and struggles that we emerge stronger and more-appreciative of life. Thanks for commenting, and have a great new year!

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