How was 2022 for you?

1. What was the biggest change in your life this year?
I started my zookeeping course this year! It's a dream I gave up on a long time ago but I was convinced into giving it a shot and it's actually been going super well!

2. What are your plans for the Christmas/New Years?
Tragically I'm covid positive over the Christmas period which is miserable and devastating for me but not something I can do anything about. Hopefully I'll be well enough to go to a new years eve party with my friends!

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?
No news for my relationship with my boyfriend, it's been another fun year and we love each other very much.

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2022?
In May this year Australia had an election where we voted out a terrible party that's been in power for a decade. It was a great moment and I hope for a repeat of it next year for my state election. The news articles around it were fantastic.

5. Favorite song/artist from the year?
NEXUS <PODv> by Laco is really good, I always have a soft spot for my favourite band The Crane Wives.

6. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them?
I don't believe in new years resolutions. If I want to make a change I should try as soon as possible.

7. Did you do anything you never thought you would do?
As part of my zookeeping course I got to volunteer weekly at my city's zoo/aquarium and it was so amazing I didn't think it would be possible!

8. Did you gain any new qualifications?
I completed the first part of my course which is just general Animal Studies Certificate II, which qualifies me to work in general animal related jobs like boarding kennels.

9. What is your happiest memory from the year?
None specifically, just any time I hung out with my friends and partner.

10. What were the best and worst months of 2022 for you?
I can't think of best, not because there wasn't anything good I just can't think of a stand out best month. October sucked because I had two different strains of tonsilitis in two different weeks that left me bedridden. December is a close second because my partner and his family caught covid in the middle of a trip away and so I had to isolate for a week to avoid catching it so I could get home safely but then I tested positive the first day back (I'd tested negative before that).

11. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2023? What do you hope will be different?
No new years resolutions again. All I can hope is that my friends living in bad circumstances have those improve.

12. How do you rate 2022 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)?
7! Overall pretty good but a couple of real shit parts.

13. Will you still be on EC this time next year?
I hope to be yeah! Though who knows what the future holds, there's always something to trip you up. Maybe I'll go blind and not be able to use the forum. Who knows.

 

1. What was the biggest change in your life this year?

I started a new job and made some serious inroads in my industry — but now I’m debating a career change :/ I’ve also started getting involved with my synagogue after years of being secular, and that’s had an incredibly positive impact.

2. What are your plans for the Christmas/New Years?

I don’t celebrate Christmas (Jewish), but some friends of mine own a restaurant and will be having a NYE party, so I’ll probably go to that.

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?

Meh. I had some one-nighters over the spring/summer, then briefly started hooking up with a guy I used to go out with again (he is beyond stunning, but we’re incompatible). Also, feel like I finally got some closure with my ex.

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2022?

The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the increased potential for nuclear weapons use. Also, the gay nightclub shooting and some of Ye’s comments were extremely upsetting and hit close to home. Easy to feel hated sometimes.

5. Favorite song/artist from the year?

I don’t think it came out this year, but Best Tears by Happy Fits was my most played on Spotify — found it this year, haha.

6. Did you make any new years resolutionsand if so, did you stick to them?

That’s not really a thing I do for NYE.

7. Did you do anything you never thought you would do?

I never put anything past myself.

8. Did you gain any new qualifications?

I have gained some professional competencies. Probably most notable is working with some artificial intelligence programs, but I also expanded on some existing skill sets.

9. What is your happiest memory from the year?

Getting drunk on a rainy day in Florence, Italy.

10. What were the best and worst months of 2022 for you?

November was pretty challenging. August was also challenging, but amazing.

11. Are you making any new yearsresolutions for 2023? What do you hope will be different?

See above.

12. How do you rate 2022 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)?

It isn’t over yet. If yesterday was the last day of 2022, I’d give the year a 7-8, but I’ll hold that judgment until January, lol.

13. Will you still be on EC this time next year?

Maybe?

 

1. What was the biggest change in your life this year?

I graduated uni after way too long.

2. What are your plans for the Christmas/New Years?

Xmas I'll hopefully be spending with family, new years I'll be working both new years eve and new years day.

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?

Ha, what relationships?

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2022?

None of them do. I could easily say what we're all thinking but honestly nothing surprises me anymore.

5. Favorite song/artist from the year?

It's gotta be Taylor Swift.

6. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them?

Nope. I just try to take each day as it comes.

7. Did you do anything you never thought you would do?

Hooked up with a few people - do NOT recommend.

8. Did you gain any new qualifications?

I graduated with a BSc degree so that's something I guess.

9. What is your happiest memory from the year?

Spending a night with someone I cared a lot about. Before they stopped caring about me.

10. What were the best and worst months of 2022 for you?

Best - probably January, when I met someone new. Which lo and behold turned out crap. But for a while it was good. Worst - probably September, when I messed up with employers in multiple ways.

11. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2023? What do you hope will be different?

Nope, don't see the point.

12. How do you rate 2022 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)?

1

13. Will you still be on EC this time next year?

Who knows.

 

1. What was the biggest change in your life this year?
Understanding I have a crush on one of my friend and understanding I’m not straight. I also have new friends who are all very nice and fun.

2. What are your plans for the Christmas/New Years?
For Christmas I’m with my mother and for new year eve I’m with my father

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?
Nonexistent

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2022?
I didn’t really pay attention to news story this year, I feel too bad after. But if I have to choose one, I’d say Ukraine War.

5. Favorite song/artist from the year?
I listen a lot of Toby Fox this year.

6. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them?
I don’t remember if I did any (probably not) so I don’t think I stick to them lol.

7. Did you do anything you never thought you would do?
A lot of thing… My coming out to most of my friends, doing homework on the last minutes, stealing an eraser from german’s classroom, burning stuff with friend in a graveyard, being jealous of a flat person…

8. Did you gain any new qualifications?
I did my first internship and I have passed the dnb with the maximum marks (dnb is a french diploma we passed around 15 year old).

9. What is your happiest memory from the year?
I don’t have a particular memory but any moment I hang out doing stupid stuff with my friend is a happy memory.

10. What were the best and worst months of 2022 for you?
Worst was clearly April. I was alone during an existential crisis and I thought about my death way too much.
Best was January because I had understand nothing about me yet and I was better mentally. September was really nice too because I meet new friends and saw old one who are absolutely great.

11. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2023? What do you hope will be different?
Not really, maybe doing my coming out to all my friends and my parents ? Idk. I hope things are going to be better.

12. How do you rate 2022 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)?
4, there were good stuff but too many things happened in a too short amount of time, it was hard to follow, and there were bad plot twist.

13. Will you still be on EC this time next year?
Probably but honestly I really don’t know how will evolve my life right now so maybe not.

 

1. What was the biggest change in your life this year?
Nothing really big, but lots and lots of smaller ones.

2. What are your plans for the Christmas/New Years?
I’ll be working trough most of the holidays. Other than that, spending time with family.

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?
Heavily turbulent.

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2022?
The horrors of war in Ukraine.

5. Favorite song/artist from the year?
Motörhead - ‘Till the End. Really strikes a chord in my heart and a tear from my eye.

6. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them?
I’ve had two. First one was to finally finish and release an album, which I did. The second one was to start running again, but this one is was undermined by covid.

7. Did you do anything you never thought you would do?
Yes. Climbed a watchtower on a dare, trying to get over my fear of heights.

8. Did you gain any new qualifications?
No, but took up courses, so hopefully I will get a new qualification next year.

9. What is your happiest memory from the year?
First public performance after a decade-long hiatus.

10. What were the best and worst months of 2022 for you?
Worst - April, my father passed away.

11. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2023? What do you hope will be different?
Yes. I hope I will stop double-guessing myself and hopefully will resolve relationship issues.

12. How do you rate 2022 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)?
5 is a very generous rating for this year.

13. Will you still be on EC this time next year?
Who knows? We’ll just have to wait and see.

 

It was alright.

 

Here are my answers...

1. What was the biggest change in your life this year?

I changed my name!

2. What are your plans for the Christmas/New Years?

Christmas Day is being spent with a friend who's also on her own. Then I've got my stepson back.

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?

I'm single and I will be for some time..

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2022?

So many. The most significant on a global scale was the Ukraine War. But the most pleasing was the beginning of the eclipse of right wing 'populism' (scare quotes used deliberately). As 2022 ends Trump is a busted flush, Bolsonaro and Johnson have both been ejected and in the UK the penny is finally starting to drop that Brexit was an act of utter imbecility. They're finally on the run (I think).

From a UK point what will probably be most remembered is our queen dying. We all know where we were when we first heard the news and a fixed point in nearly all our lives is no longer there.

5. Favorite song/artist from the year?

I wish I could answer that. I used to be able to...

6. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them?

No, not this year.

7. Did you do anything you never thought you would do?

Yes - I changed my name. And I played football as an FA registered female player - just writing those words makes me feel so happy!

8. Did you gain any new qualifications?

Nope

9. What is your happiest memory from the year?

Wembley 31/07/22. Seeing England women's football team with the Euros with 88,000 other people. I cried, of course. Many of us did.

10. What were the best and worst months of 2022 for you?

Hard to say. If one can catch momentary flickers of happiness in any given year, then that's something. But looking back at my diary entries for this year there have been some good times, amidst the slow attrition of grief, stress and everyday life spent under a toxic Tory government.

11. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2023? What do you hope will be different?

I never make resolutions unless I feel I'm at fault for something lacking in my life. I hope I'll be able to start my medical transition and that people treat each other with more courtesy and kindness.

12. How do you rate 2022 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)?

6. Could be better, could be worse.

13. Will you still be on EC this time next year?

Of course, my friends.

Beth x

 

Spoiler: 2022

1. What was the biggest change in your life this year?
End of a LDR, starting to work from home, and therapy.
2. What are your plans for the Christmas/New Years?
Not much, it'll be a low key holiday season.
3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?
Awful, then over LOL
4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2022?
Ukraine
5. Favorite song/artist from the year?
Loved Palaye Royale and The Chainsmoker's new albums
6. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them?
Can't remember lol
7. Did you do anything you never thought you would do?
Not really. Somethings kinda surprised me the way they turned out, but *never* would be a bit of an exaggeration.
8. Did you gain any new qualifications?
Nah
9. What is your happiest memory from the year?
Canada's Wonderland!!! So happy to have finally have gone!
10. What were the best and worst months of 2022 for you?
Worst: April- August. My mental health wasn't the greatest, then was down a bit because of the break up.

Best: September and October. Wonderland and was excited for a new routine that started in September.
11. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2023? What do you hope will be different?
&
12. How do you rate 2022 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)?
I'd say 6?7? It was a boring and kinda bad year. It sounds cliché, but after the dust settled, I truly feel like I'm the best mentally I have been in quite a while. And that my work in therapy is paying off. I looked back at my answers for every other year, and I hate that I've said "I hope to move out next year" on lots of the surveys, but I've actually been looking serious, so hopefully 2023 is actually the year lol
13. Will you still be on EC this time next year?

Yup

 

Biggest change: Joining the world of employment. Unfortunately, in a job I hate.

Unexpected events: I never thought I’d ever run or clean an industrial printer, but here I am.

Best Memory: Pride. This one was a lot better than the other one I went to previously. My birthday was also pretty nice - I went out for a meal.

Worst Month: It’s been pretty…eh. Nothing terrible, I’ve definitely had far, far worse years.

Best Month: July. That’s when I went to a late Pride event. I also stayed in a nice hotel.

The News: Definitely the rise of AI art and the online protests. AI still has a long way to go before it replaces us, but we are certainly living in a strange time. Even when it does, I still want to make art for the pure joy of it.

Education / Qualifications: Nothing new here.

Relationships: Well, I have a first date coming up…so, we’ll see.

Music: Apparently I’ve been rocking out to Noahfinnce, Mother Mother and Bo Burnham… make of that what you will.

Christmas/New Years: Just the usual.

Resolutions: I did get a job - but well, that’s bittersweet. Also, I started learning my theory but I haven’t actually been behind a wheel just yet. My cooking is still terrible. I definitely want to at least get behind the wheel next year (I'm learning how to drive a car). Also, I was going to make a resolution about going on a date, but that seems to be happening this year which is an unexpected development. I certainly need a new job. Oh, and I did go to a Pride march - that was something I wanted to do.

Ranking: Probably about a 5.

You sticking around? Unless something dramatic happens, I’ll be here.

 

1. What was the biggest change in your life this year?

I now live on my own in a new city

2. What are your plans for the Christmas/New Years?

Christmas with family. My best friend is coming over for the weekend on NYE.

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?

Had a bf at some point, didn't really work out cause we're not that compatible lmao. No bad blood whatsoever.

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2022?

Total Energy employees going on strike in the middle of a fuel shortage. Nothing but respect for them.

5. Favorite song/artist from the year?

Probably "Médine France" by Médine.

6. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them?

lmao no

7. Did you do anything you never thought you would do?

I built a few gunplas !

8. Did you gain any new qualifications?

Finally got an effin degree. I had been in depression/neet/wageslave limbo for the last 8 years, I'm so glad I finally have something better than my high school diploma.

9. What is your happiest memory from the year?

Spending a few days at my pal's in the South. It was the first time since I can remember that I felt happy to be alive. I love this dude.

10. What were the best and worst months of 2022 for you?

June was the worst cause I had exams and didn't know if I would be able to keep my job... April and may were nice cause I was able to spend time with internet friends and people I really care about, though it was exhausting seeing so many people.

11. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2023? What do you hope will be different?

I wanna find a reason to keep going. I've done the efforts, now I wanna find out what it was all for.

12. How do you rate 2022 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)?

A solid 5 I'd say. One of, if not the best year in my life.

13. Will you still be on EC this time next year?

If I don't feel too tired to come by, sure. Even when I was away this forum had a special place in my heart. We're really lucky to have a such a place. The world is a cold place and it's hard to find out who you are, this forum helped me and gave me warmth when it was especially cold, so I wanna make others feel even warmer than I did.
(that was corny as hell, but I'm too stupid to say it in a cooler manner.)

 

1. What was the biggest change in your life this year?
I became a manager at my job. It's... scary being responsible for people. It's also somewhat nerve-wracking to have to assess their performance, and deal with underperformance or address client concerns etc. A lot of people want to be a manager for the power they imagine it gives, but it comes with a lot of responsibility. All in all, I feel like I adapted well, though.

2. What are your plans for the Christmas/New Years?
Christmas with family. Then a week of just my boyfriend and myself catching up on series and movies and games and generally not getting out of our PJs as we avoid the outside world entirely. Then New Year's with my friends.

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?
On that front, I had a great year! When you've been together for a decade, it's easy to start taking things for granted, but I feel like we managed to really have a lot of quality time and a fair amount of romance. Ironically, a lot of stress in other parts of our lives made us really determined to destress around each otheer.

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2022?
The whole Ukraine situation. Hit close to home, and I actually did do some work for refugees, which also gave it a very personal face sometimes.

5. Favorite song/artist from the year?
I'm going to out myself as a monster here: I really don't care strongly about music. I will forever remember the half a minute of baffled silence and confused looks on my nieces' faces when they realised I had no clue who this "Taylor Swift" was. Turns out she is kinda famous.
That said, the Encanto soundtrack was on repeat for a lot of the year. As the eldest child of my family, I really felt like "surface pressure" hit home.

6. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them?
I was going to lose weight. I did. Though I regained it over Thanksgiving. So I guess I am going to redo it at the start of 2023, with the added benefit of knowing I have what it takes to do it all over again.

7. Did you do anything you never thought you would do?
See above: managing a team of people in a very challenging job.

8. Did you gain any new qualifications?
Food skills. General cooking got a lot better. I'm particularly proud of the advancement I made in cheeses (cooking with them, according them with other dishes, pairing them with wine or beer...). In general, working with food is my best stress reliever.

9. What is your happiest memory from the year?
My godchild's birthday. Went to a museum and had a lovely day bonding and talking.
Also, Thanksgiving week. Spent it in Idaho (where my BF is from), and it was just the loveliest quietest week in the mountains, away from all worries and expectations and responsibilities. Evenings luxuriating in the local hot springs were great.

10. What were the best and worst months of 2022 for you?
Worst: February. Total chaos in the world and my job and family
Best: September. Holidays, good weather, and general calmness.

11. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2023? What do you hope will be different?
Losing weight. Added goal of keeping it gone. Also, read more and get a bit more efficient at avoiding distractions.
I generally do hope all of the bad world news will die down a bit.

12. How do you rate 2022 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)?
5. Lots of stress, but what didn't kill me made me stronger.

13. Will you still be on EC this time next year?
I seem to forever disappear, but also forever find my way back. So I do hope to be here in 2023, yes!

 

This has been the worst year of my life since the death of my father.

I bought a car that turned out to be a lemon, relapsed and started drinking again, lost 2 jobs, I'm still stuck in a roach-infested hotel (for the 2nd year), my current job is making me miserable, I officially became estranged from a relative, I'll be spending Christmas alone again this year, I've got no food tonight, and I'm not sure anything is still open, thanks to the snow storm, for me to get any.

If I had to rate it, I'd give it a 2 out of 10. It's not quite a 1, because this year didn't feature a parent dying horrifically in front of my eyes. Otherwise, it was about as bad as it could be, without me losing limbs or getting a terminal diagnosis.

Sometimes, I think my blood is more cortisol than platelets anymore...

 

1. What was the biggest change in your life this year?
There really wasn't much change this year in either direction. Overwhelming stagnation I guess.

2. What are your plans for the Christmas/New Years?
Christmas I spent with just my parents. It was a nice day, but it doesn't really feel like Christmas without a bigger group.

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?
lol.

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2022?
Has to be Ukraine

5. Favorite song/artist from the year?
N/A

6. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them?
Nope.

8. Did you gain any new qualifications?
I learned a couple of new technologies at work, but nothing official or noteworthy.

9. What is your happiest memory from the year?
Probably the few times I felt like my best friend (for lack of a better term) wanted to talk to me more than anything else

10. What were the best and worst months of 2022 for you?
I don't think there was a best month, but December has been the worst, by a lot.

11. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2023? What do you hope will be different?
Not really. I want to be healthier and find a way to stay close to the person who means the most to me.

12. How do you rate 2022 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)?
4

13. Will you still be on EC this time next year?
I'll probably poke my head in from time to time just to say hello to the couple of people I still talk to on occasion. It feels like discussion is down like 95% from when I first joined though.

 

In short, it was chaotic, lol.

1. What was the biggest change in your life this year?

Unfortunately for me, I didn’t have a remarkable change, but I have high hopes for 2023.

2. What are your plans for the Christmas/New Years?

My plans are to spend time with my family.

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?

Nothing serious, lol.

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2022?

The war in Ukraine.

5. Favorite song/artist from the year?

Anna Bergendahl – Higher power.

6. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them?

I did but I didn’t stick to them.

7. Did you do anything you never thought you would do?

Yes, but I can't say it here, haha.

8. Did you gain any new qualifications?

Nope ☹

9. What is your happiest memory from the year?

The support I got for my family.

10. What were the best and worst months of 2022 for you?

The worst months were March and April and the best one was December.

11. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2023? What do you hope will be different?

Yep, I plan to lose weight, to start and finish a course and, if I’m able to stick to the latter one, maybe go back to university in September. Furthermore, I hope to be able to be kínder to myself and to open up more to others.

12. How do you rate 2022 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)?

4 out of 10.

13. Will you still be on EC this time next year?

I will keep being an user, for sure (I don't intend to close my account). But if the question is if I'm going to stick around, the answer is that I will try my best.

 

1. What was the biggest change in your life this year? Coming out.

2. What are your plans for the Christmas/New Years? Sitting on the couch an watching anime with my son.

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends? Well, I'm getting divorced, so...

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2022? Defense of Marriage Act

5. Favorite song/artist from the year? I'm out of touch with current music.

6. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them? Nope to both.

7. Did you do anything you never thought you would do? Come out, let alone go on a date with a guy.

8. Did you gain any new qualifications? Nope.

9. What is your happiest memory from the year? Reactions from people after coming out.

10. What were the best and worst months of 2022 for you? It's all ben a crap shoot.

11. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2023? What do you hope will be different? Just be my authentic self.

12. How do you rate 2022 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)? 5

13. Will you still be on EC this time next year? Probably.