The Year 2020: Coming to a Close

 

Turns out, I actually did a decent amount of art this year!

So here we are, at the end of the year 12,020 HE (thanks, Kurzgesagt). It has been a bit of a weird one. 

Livelihoods have been disrupted irreversibly, in ways that perhaps many could have predicted but few were really prepared for. Let's not beat about the bush; this was an unprecedented year for... webcams! 

Originally I planned to engage with others more through social events and boy did plans for that take a sharp turn. I did of course continue to visit friends and family, going for meals and casual game nights, but everything happened through video calls, takeaways, and streamed jackbox parties. Surprisingly enough it would be fair to say that this has been a very social year all things considered; everyone's now online and more connected than ever. It shows that despite a global pandemic and cultural unrest, people will always find ways to carry on as if almost nothing happened.

So then, how did 2020 fare? Let's go through the list. This year I...

• Binged a whole bunch of TV shows with friends.
• Finished multiplayer playthroughs of Terraria, Code Vein, and Divinity: Original Sin 2.
• Joined in on Inktober 2020, trying different styles every day.
  
• Learned a lot about AWS, in particular Lambda and ECR+ECS. Also Jupyter.
  
• Somehow, made some new friends!

 

Normally, I would hold myself accountable and guilty for not being productive, but more recently I've realised there's more to what you do during downtime than just what you publish - and that it's equally important to look after yourself. This year I've been focussing more on how to better manage my time - which has been super important for organising socials and planning recurring events.

I feel like I am in a more comfortable position for 2021 to begin picking up personal projects again. Things like modding have fallen somewhat at the wayside whilst figuring out how to deal with this year... but I've still had a little bit of fun!

 - - -

Nevertheless, it would be amiss to acknowledge how tough of a year it has been for so many people. So, I dedicate this final section to my family who continue to put up with me, my friends who continue to support me, and funny internet videos and their creators for keeping me sane in the silence of the house. I'm proud of all those who heeded common sense and safety advice to avoid making themselves covid vectors, and relieved for those who fell ill, and recovered or well on the road to recovery! And, for those loved ones we've lost, we respect their legacy, and cherish the memories. It feels like there is never enough time to mourn but, this too shall pass.

Rest in Piece, Uncle J.

- - -