How was 2020 for you? What's your plans for 2021?

Oh, don't forget to fill out the famous EC Questionaire!

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

2. What did you do over the summer?

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2020?

5. Favorite song/artist from the year?

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

7. What are you most proud of personally this year (i.e.- something you have done)?

8. Who are you most proud of (can be a famous or non- famous person)?

9. Did you have to learn any hard life lessons in the past 12 months?

10. Have you had any life-changing experiences in 2020?

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

12. Did you gain any new qualifications?

13. What is your happiest memory from the year?

14. What were the best and worst months of 2020 for you?

15. What was your most stupid incident?

16. What things do you appreciate most in your life at the moment?

17. What are/were your plans for Christmas/ new year?

18. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2020? What do you hope will be different?

19. How do you rate 2020 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)?

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

 

I will fill it out later when I have time.

 

I was the number 3 option. Hope next year will be better.

 

I gave it a 4. It had the potential to be so much higher.
The beginning was fantastic. Got my musical performed at a theatre. Couldn't get better than that. Then the first lockdown hit...I've lost a lot of work and all my social pastimes have been relegated to Zoom. I'm sick of the internet and sick of not doing these things properly. And now, the UK has introduced tier 4 restrictions. Basically, they brought us out of lockdown only to slam us back in it again, over Christmas. It's a nightmare for my family who, for many reasons, need to travel.
Everything has ground to a halt, life feels purposeless and I just want all this shit to end.

 

1. What was the biggest change in your life this year?
I went from out of the closet to in to now trying to come out again

2. What did you do over the summer?
Dealt with a serious episode of depression

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?
Broke up with my girlfriend, and didn't try to date anyone else (see question 1).

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2020?
COVID, of course.

5. Favorite song/artist from the year?
I didn't keep track enough to know what is new
6. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them?
Nope
7. What are you most proud of personally this year (i.e.- something you have done)?
I've lost a decent amount of weight- a ton more to go, but still
8. Who are you most proud of (can be a famous or non- famous person)?
My children
9. Did you have to learn any hard life lessons in the past 12 months?
Life goes on. No matter how much your heart is broken, no matter how much you wish you could go back, it moves inexorably forward
10. Have you had any life-changing experiences in 2020?
Realizing I couldn't stay in the closet
11. Did you do anything you never thought you would do?
No
12. Did you gain any new qualifications?
LOL
13. What is your happiest memory from the year?
Spending time with my children- just hanging out
14. What were the best and worst months of 2020 for you?
best- Jan/Feb worst- summer
15. What was your most stupid incident?
Don't really have one
16. What things do you appreciate most in your life at the moment?
My children, my cat, my friendships, my faith
17. What are/were your plans for Christmas/ new year?
Christmas- hang around at home, make a dinner, watch Christmas movies and a Zoom Christmas service
New Year's- go over to my kids', order pizza, and binge watch anime
18. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2020? What do you hope will be different?
I want to be in a relationship this year. I want to start dating again. And I want to come out of the closet for good this time.
19. How do you rate 2020 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)?
4
20. Will you still be on EC this time next year? yes

 

Well, I tried to do this, but my anxiety won't let me finish it...

1. What was the biggest change in your life this year?
Quite a few things. I graduated school, became a doctor in May. Moved 3 states away to begin my career, but also moved my wife and I away from the place we've been for over 10 years.

2. What did you do over the summer?
Moved and began my career.

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?
My wife and I have been good but I feel our communication and connection have not been as strong recently due to all the changes and health concerns.

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2020?
The time my wife broke her leg

5. Favorite song/artist from the year?

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

7. What are you most proud of personally this year (i.e.- something you have done)?
Becoming a doctor finally.

8. Who are you most proud of (can be a famous or non- famous person)?

9. Did you have to learn any hard life lessons in the past 12 months?

10. Have you had any life-changing experiences in 2020? Lots of them

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

12. Did you gain any new qualifications? yup

13. What is your happiest memory from the year? graduating school

14. What were the best and worst months of 2020 for you? moving, seeing my wife depressed due to the move, losing our dog to cancer, wife broke her leg... lots of negatives

15. What was your most stupid incident?

16. What things do you appreciate most in your life at the moment?

17. What are/were your plans for Christmas/ new year? working

18. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2020? What do you hope will be different?

19. How do you rate 2020 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)? some parts were 1, other parts were 10. So I guess I'll average them at 5 for now

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

 

1. What was the biggest change in your life this year?
Work changed, and where I live now is much different. I went from a city with huge LGBTQ networks and support, to a conservative rural area with no PFLAG, No LGBTQ center, etc. for miles and miles. Fortunately I can be completely out and accepted at work.

2. What did you do over the summer?
Cleared out my Mom’s belongings after she died from COVID-19. A very sad summer.

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?
Working hard on my relationship with my wife. Counseling is helping.

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2020?
I think it is the relaxation of blood donor rules. In the US cutting down the time to 3 months since last M2M sex, and the UK now changing eligibility criteria completely (to be phased in during 2021). I saw both of these to be positive directions.

5. Favorite song/artist from the year?
Didn’t pay attention this year. Mostly played stations that re-ran past hits or listened to my music list on my phone.

6. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them?
I don’t make resolutions.

7. What are you most proud of personally this year (i.e.- something you have done)?
I feel I was a good Dad, especially growing into a new stage with my youngest (who is now out of college).

8. Who are you most proud of (can be a famous or non- famous person)?
I a proud of my Mom, who was so ahead of her time on issues of acceptance and helping people be the best of themselves. She had unconditional love to give.

9. Did you have to learn any hard life lessons in the past 12 months?
The grief has been very hard.

10. Have you had any life-changing experiences in 2020?
I got to co-start a group for bi/pan folks before COVID-19 began. It really helped me to connect with a diversity of folks.

11. Did you do anything you never thought you would do?
I worked remotely once March progressed and shut-downs occurred. This is a completely new method and mode of doing work, and I could not have imagined it. Not that I like it, but I can do it.

12. Did you gain any new qualifications?
I gave up on a credential I was working towards. My career was taking a new turn, and I was feeling it would be too fake if I turned in the final paperwork for that credential. Plus I felt I hadn’t done as well as I might have at my old work, so was depressed about it. I hope I don’t regret it years from now.

13. What is your happiest memory from the year?
Getting a new job. It seems like a perfect match, and I think it will be even better once work-from-home is over. It is “klunky” for now, due to enforced distancing.

14. What were the best and worst months of 2020 for you?
I lost my Mom and got my new job contract signed in the same month.

15. What was your most stupid incident?
Too many to narrow this down. None caused permanent harm to me or others, but lots of apologies.

16. What things do you appreciate most in your life at the moment?
Family, and my wife’s support through tough times and my job search.

17. What are/were your plans for Christmas/ new year?
We get to be together this year at home. We know we should be worried about COVID-19, but we’ve each been very careful and mostly isolated.

18. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2020? What do you hope will be different?
I hope politics will make sense, not fury, in 2021.

19. How do you rate 2020 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)?
I rated it 3, mostly for personal reasons, but I really could not stand the tension of the election year.

20. Will you still be on EC this time next year?
Yes, I like sharing my progress here, sometimes it is almost like a place to journal. Also I like feeling I can be of help to others.

 

Didn't affect me at all, tbh. I'm a massive introvert, so it was just another year for me.

 

Solid 7, not awesome but still pretty good. We were worried the lock downs would impact construction, but it didn't. One of the companie's best sales years in its 45 year history. So many people doing major remodels and building new homes we stayed pretty busy all year.

Also finally got the house refinanced so we managed to get rid of a mountain of debt and lower the mortgage. Since I drive truck and am essential, the year really didn't change much for me.

 

Probably just a smidddge worse than 2019. 6.5/10?

Spoiler: Questionnaire

1. What was the biggest change in your life this year?
All the pandemic restrictions for sure. I'm fairly used to it now though.

2. What did you do over the summer?
Honestly, I was unemployed and it was great. Went on a few camping trips and spent a lot of time glamping close to home

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?
Okay

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2020?
All the covid stuff, with Trump a distant second

5. Favorite song/artist from the year?
Spotify says it was "my ex's best friend" by blackbear & MGK

6. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them?
I don't make resolutions

7. What are you most proud of personally this year (i.e.- something you have done)?
Even though I didn't get the job, I got an interview for [what I think would be] my dream job.

8. Who are you most proud of (can be a famous or non- famous person)?
Not sure honestly

9. Did you have to learn any hard life lessons in the past 12 months?
Nope

10. Have you had any life-changing experiences in 2020?
I'd say 2020 in general will be WILD to look back on

11. Did you do anything you never thought you would do?
Daily life in 2020 LOL

12. Did you gain any new qualifications?
Nawpp

13. What is your happiest memory from the year?
Tent camping with a couple of friends. Had some amazing laughs, and I still genuinely smile thinking about some of it

14. What were the best and worst months of 2020 for you?
Summer (May-Aug) was the best - All the [gl]camping and fun times by the lake
It went downhill September - My job is super draining for me.

15. What was your most stupid incident?
None.

16. What things do you appreciate most in your life at the moment?
My own health and my friends/family's health. Very thankful that all of us are health in the midst of the pandemic.

17. What are/were your plans for Christmas/ new year?
It was a lowkey Xmas and not sure about NYE.

18. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2020? What do you hope will be different?
I am not. being optimistic, I hope the majority of the covid stuff is past us and I can travel abit. I want to make a step or two in the right direction jobwise. I'd like to expand my circle a bit and hopefully make a couple friends aligning with some of my newer interests

19. How do you rate 2020 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)?
6.5.
20. Will you still be on EC this time next year?
Yeah

 

Worst year of my life, but I have learnt a lot. Hate to see what happens next year...

 

This year has been extraordinary. It has, for me, been the year of three of the most profound moments of my life. I lost my beautiful partner suddenly on February 17, a huge shock that was really the catalyst for the other two moments: the revelation that I'm transgender and always have been (May 6) and the moment a friend hugged me and called me Beth for the first time (July 1). The latter was so overwhelming it's hard to express - the joy and happiness I felt at being recognised as female was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. I couldn't stop smiling!

And yet that moment was also tinged with sadness, the knowledge that it had taken the loss of the love of my life to set me (Beth) free. There is another paradox: in this year of such deep pain, trauma and sadness I have never felt so loved. The support, kindness and generosity that friends, neighbours and acquaintances have shown this year has been truly awe-inspiring. The knowledge that so many people have been thinking of me has sustained me during those long days and weeks when it's been hard to see a way out.

The glib phrase 'bittersweet' is wholly inadequate to describe the duality at the core of 2020. It has been the worst year of my life. It has been the best year of my life. Never again will there be a year of such intensity of experience.

And I haven't even mentioned Covid...

 

If 5 is an average "meh, not great, not awful", then I'm giving it a 3 so far. The virus hasn't taken anyone from me, and despite all the uncertainty it hadn't been too bad until the past month or so in which mom and I lost both cars, leaving us with no way to get to work. It is a struggle right now...

 

2020 wasn’t too bad. I like staying home and I enjoy my own company. At least this year my mother stopped repeatedly telling me to get out and meet people.