2021 in the Rearview
It seems a disturbingly short time ago that I was in London, hopefully watching fireworks going up from the gardens of my fellow residents in lockdown. After Christmas was quite literally canceled by the Alpha variant, one could feel the entire city giving 2020 the finger that night. It was a truly horrible year for everyone around the world. The following year was better, but only marginally so. The 2020s have thus far been so chock full of bad shit that NBC published an end-of-year trivia that asks, “Was that 2020… or 2021?” I keep up with current events fairly well and still scored 70%. Time dilation is totally a thing.
Like many, I have felt the gloom of the Covid era and its myriad rippling effects hanging in the air like an impermeable fog at times. The negativity of the news cycle and the general uncertainty of the near future can sap your energy if you let it. That’s why it’s important to celebrate the bright moments of the last year despite the extraordinary times we’re living in. Positivity put to purpose can give us the momentum to keep going on and bettering ourselves. I’m going to cultivate some of those good vibes today by giving myself a big pat on the back for the things I accomplished in between doomscrolling sessions.
I kicked off the year with travel.
This one is kind of cheating since I was nearing the end of my trip at the very beginning of the year, but by god, I’m counting it. We need all the help we can get! From November 2020 to January 2021, I had a wonderful yet bittersweet time in the UK. This trip began with a carefree romp through the isles and highlands of Scotland and ended with London’s strictest lockdown of the pandemic…so far. I prefer to think about the in-between bits, like the glorious sea lochs, majestic mountains, and incredible whisky. Taking in the unforgettable vistas on the Isle of Skye and knocking about the lovely coastal town of Oban reignited that spirit of wanderlust that had died down to a pale flicker after leaving China.
“Suddenly, the side hustle became the main hustle.”
My business grew by nearly 25%.
My Covid story began when I left China in January of 2020 for vacation during the Spring Festival break. I have a vivid memory of reading a news article in the airport about a strange illness in Wuhan that had killed about 40 people. Well, things quickly hit the fan, and I never returned.
At that point, teaching English was still my primary source of income. My design and writing work had already been steadily growing thanks to the generous 20-hour teaching contracts I was accustomed to (and relying on). Suddenly, the side hustle became the main hustle. I’m proud of my graphic arts degree, but there’s no education quite like managing marketing, accounting, client communications, and the actual work all at once. I would like to thank my longtime clients who took a chance on me and made this level of growth possible. Also, here’s a special shoutout to new clients who entrusted me with your business in such an uncertain time. You know who you are!
I overhauled my brand.
With all the new business, I felt that it was time to take myself a bit more seriously. I wanted to build a cohesive brand that represented my values and suited my personality. Before, I think I went too hard in pursuit of minimalism and making the brand too much about me. It’s important to consider the client and try to incorporate them into the narrative of the brand because it wouldn’t exist without them. I maintained a minimal style and incorporated my love for the outdoors in the design elements. The client assumes the role of an adventurer on a mountain expedition, and I provide them with the tools (graphic design, web design, content writing) and guidance to reach the summit (their business goals). Check out the full write-up and portfolio entry about this long (and honestly still ongoing) process on my Behance page!
I completed the first chapter of my postcard project.
The close of 2021 also marks a pretty significant milestone in my life: nearly 10 years of travel. I like to travel with as little as possible because it allows me to see and do more without lugging a bunch of crap around with me. It’s hard to fit a ton of souvenirs into my travel bag. Solution: Make my own! I compiled some of the best photos from my favorite destinations and worked some Adobe Illustrator magic on them. This project was quite an intimate one that conjured up all sorts of memories while looking back at my photos and journals. Then, spending the time to actually create these with a fresh perspective of those places and the many people I met gifted me with the best souvenir one could hope for: a solid period of reflection and internalization of these incredible experiences. Take a look at the full portfolio entry and browse the prints in my shop!
I ran a half-marathon in under 2 hours.
Bit of a boast, but yeah. I stick to an exercise routine much more faithfully if I have a firm goal. Signing up for a race, which isn’t exactly cheap, and then publicly posting your intentions is a good way to light a fire under your ass. Sure, I started out coerced by the threat of failure and a humiliating lack of finish line photos, but once I put some miles under my belt, I hated to miss a day of running some of Greensboro’s beautiful trails. At first, I just wanted to finish. I started getting more ambitious as time went on and set my sights for a time under 2 hours - not easy on hilly and rooty trails. Despite a very necessary bathroom break, I managed to cross the line at 1:58, finishing 11th out of 100 overall. I’m already looking for a race in 2022. Full marathon? Stranger things have happened!
2022: The year that got better
We live in an uncertain era, and that uncertainty is set to become a defining characteristic of the 2020s. There are some things we can change and many things that we are powerless to change. The things we have control over begin with the self, and that is what we should focus on during these strange times. You may not be able to change the world, but you can always improve yourself a little bit at a time. I don’t really believe in New Year resolutions and I’m not about to start, but I will raise a glass to the slow march of progress. In 2022, don’t wait for the world to change. Start changing yourself! Happy New Year! ◉
Written by Seth Barham
