The 2020 Diary

Dear Blog,

This was the article I posted around this time, last year:

I was not ready for 2020. And I think no one really was.

It’s hard to talk about this year. It will take a few more years to understand what 2020 meant and to see how it has impacted us in the long-term. But that’s what history feels like. We lived history this year.

I’d say that it was a hard year. I miss my family and friends, I miss the Youth Center back home and I miss all the events and projects that didn’t happen this year. I miss going out whenever, wherever, and with whoever. I miss my Blacky who passed this year. I miss many things, but I can’t say I miss ‘normality’. Normality was never normal. This year made sure to surface all the inequalities in our ‘perfect’ society. We never had a perfect society, but we liked to pretend. We can’t pretend anymore. Essential fields for our future such as medicine, education, justice, or the economy are shaking and crumbling under all the pressure that 2020 has put on them. We need to identify the weaknesses and start working on them.

This year I’ve read about our past (Sapiens and The Archeology of Love), our future (Homo Deus), and many dystopian Sci-Fi novels. The future sounds good and bad at the same time. We can grow and live a happy life or we can self-destruct in no time. The scariest thing is that everything depends on us. But I’m not too scared of that because I trust youth. I know what young people can and will do. All they (we) need is guidance and support. I am a youth worker and a writer, so I’m happy with the part I play and will play in shaping the future. We are aware and concerned about climate, health, education, equality, etc. and we seem to have a great affinity working together. I see more and more youth-led movements all over the world and that gives me a lot of hope. Of course, there’s still a lot to learn and balance, but isn’t that how we get better?

No matter how strange 2020 was, I’m looking forward to 2021. With a mask in my pocket from now on, I can finally say that I’m ready for the future, for my mission. I will be growing my blog and I’ll write articles and stories in a more organized manner. I might even publish a book or two if all goes well. I will start to address a wider audience with short videos. I will host more workshops and share my knowledge with everyone who wants to learn. I will also (hopefully) get my first tattoo in 2021. Above all, I will start DEIS UK - my dream, has turned into a wish, and now it’s finally an objective with a clear plan of action - all that while continuing to get involved with DEIS Baia Mare and the organization that offers me the growth and support I need here, in the UK, Collab Training Academy. And who knows what else I will do in 2021. As always, I have my objectives and I’m open to whatever else may come my way.

After this crazy year, I hope y’all are going to do whatever you want in 2021. Nothing is impossible. Don’t be scared to ask for help if you need it and don’t be scared to believe in yourself. There will always be good people, happy to support you anytime. (I am one of them so feel free to message me any time).

I wish you a (physically and mentally) Healthy New Year! Let’s make the new normal a better normal. Together.