2020: A Year of Triumphs and Trepidation

Hi all; George here, and this is my 2020 master post; so be aware that this is going to be a long one, as it will detail MY experiences within this year.

Let's get into it!

January

The usual slog after the Xmas period left the first month feeling empty; little did we know what was to come...

February

Another 'dry' month with nothing to report, as I was swamped with college work relating to my BTEC Extended Diploma.

March

Before the world bunkered down against the virus now known as COVID-19; I travelled into the capital, to the western outcrop at Acton Town, in order to attend a guided tour of the London Transport Museum Depot, showcasing multiple eras of LU stock, from steam, very limited diesel traction, and the current electric Metro units seen rumbling under the streets of London today. THEN the 23rd of March hit, and the UK, along with the rest of the world (excluding China) went into a national lockdown in order to curb the virus' spread. As I was classed as high-risk, I was placed on the government 'shielding' list, meaning that from March up until mid-August, I was stuck at home.

March - September 2020

The days all began merging into one, as I weathered the storm, distracted by college work and my general anxieties surrounding my return to college and what adaptations I would have to make to my life. Amid the anxieties of daily life, a beacon of hope shone out across the country: on the 20th of May 2020, Sir Captain Tom Moore was awarded a knighthood by the Queen after raising £32 million for NHS charities by walking 100 laps before his 100th birthday, I saw his achievements as a true inspiration and a boost to many people's morale during this pandemic.

September - December 2020

After my final year at USP Palmer's College began; we were told that due to the worsening situation within the education sector, students would be required to attend a 2/3 share of classes on-site and 1/3 WFH (working from home); I managed to stomach this; however my anxieties were skyrocketing and thus in late October, I was prescribed a low dosage of the SSRI Sertraline or Zoloft in America, in order to tackle my anxieties, this was combined with a remedial CBT routine that began with a trilogy of Time for Change webinars offered by Inclusions Thurrock.

And that's where we are now: (writing this on Xmas Eve) about to head into the new year of 2021; I'm fairly optimistic for the future and I feel more confident in my abilities after surviving this year.

Thanks for reading this ramble of a post; I'll see you in the new year!

See you on the other side.