Dear 2016,
Our time together is nearly over. Just a couple more hours before we have to say goodbye, a final goodbye as 2017 slowly steps in your place. But for now, we're still together so let us cherish these final moments by reflecting on all the things we did together.
2016, you were a mess, a bittersweet disaster. Globally you shook the entire planet and everyone on it. You had us say goodbye to so many influential people and to so many lesser known people as well. Then there were politics, to make politics a more popular item you decided to spice it up. Let me say you succeeded, more people are into politics now then ever. To say I agree with your choices in politics would be a step to far so let's get over our political differences and say goodbye to this subject already.
Personally, 2016, you were a roller coaster. You've given me a lot of opportunities, a lot of chances and I took most of them gratefully. Some ended better than others but all of them led to incredible adventures. 2016, you expanded my interests and taught me a long list of new things. I found more time for all the amazing books you had for me and discovered some more literary gems of my own. There are a few adventures I would like to go into more detail about.
First of all there was Elfia, a massive cosplay event on the grounds of a beautiful castle in Utrecht. I went here with an internet friend of mine and it was one of the best days ever. Elfia has this atmosphere that makes you feel accepted, included and not at all strange. Everyone is dressed differently and able to be someone else for a day whilst at the same time being themselves completely. At this event I met some incredible people and I learned that it is okay to like science fiction and fantasy, and that it's okay to be a bit weird. As long as you like what you do what's the problem? Correct, there is none.
Then there was Domaine de Puylagorge, a Dutch campsite in France for families with disabled kids. A wonderful place where I went for the second time to organise the animation program for the kids. This year I was lucky enough to guide to incredibly interesting and wonderful kids with special needs, and I had an amazing time working with them and getting to know them and their families. One of the most amazing things about that campsite is the bond between families and the animation team and families. On this campsite it's okay to sit down and chat with families, to share stories, concerns and happy memories. The campsite is a safe haven for families with disabled kids, parents can let go of some of the care around their disabled child and the siblings can play without having to worry about their disabled brother or sister for a change. Everyone can be themselves which is a pretty rare feeling when you are a parent or sibling of a disabled child.
To continue my list of adventures I saw André Kuipers live and visited the space expo and the ESA ESTEC terrain in Noordwijk. For a long time now I've been strangely interested in space and hearing André Kuipers talk about his time in space and running around in the space expo surrounded by spaceships, a recreated module of the International Space Station it blew me away. I was like an overexcited child in there, which I still am when I think back at how amazing that day was, including the four hour road trip my friend and I went on to get there.
Furthermore I went to see Twenty One Pilots and Panic! at the Disco live in November. Two incredible performances with two incredible crowds. Crowds in which I didn't feel claustrophobic or anxious for a change but crowds that felt welcoming and accepting. I sang along, jumped and cried without shame, I utterly loved those concerts.
Oh and how could I forget my visit to the Cat Café and the Vincent van Gogh museum. Yet another amazing day in an incredible year with incredible adventures. Another museum to cross of my long lists of museums I want to visit. It's kind of becoming an annual thing now, going to a museum with a friend of mine to indulge ourselves in the artistic believes of various great painters. It's just lovely.
Yes 2016, when it comes to adventures you were amazing I did a lot of amazing things and met a lot of amazing new people in the process. Also those things allowed me to develop myself as a person. The best example, regarding my personal development, may be my current internship. The internship in the hospital. Another adventure, yet this one isn't over yet. This internship might be the hardest one I've had so far, be the most challenging both personally and professionally. As a nurse I learned a lot, I've become a much better nurse already however there is still a long way to go before I feel qualified as an independent nurse on a ward. Personally I learned to deal with my mental and physical limitations in the work field, how it's better to talk about them and make them known at the start of my internship instead of blocking my learning process with them.
Something everyone I know knows about me is that I'm diabetic, it's a physical issue that is pretty obvious when people go out for lunch with me or when my insulin pump decides to be a bit dramatic in the evening. Still haven't found an off button for the alarm sounds. The things that only a few people know about me are my mental issues. It's just something that you don't bring up that easily and that I don't really have to bring up as it's not something as visible and obvious as my diabetes is. 2016, however, has taught me that it's important to talk about those issues as well. Ignoring them will only lead to the inevitable breakdown and it will limit you're personal and professional development.
So to cut things short, 2016, you were amazing. The last couple of years have been full of me learning stuff about myself and me developing myself more and more but this year I honestly thought that process was finished. That I was able to deal with my 'problems' and that they wouldn't trouble me anymore. Well 2016, thank you for showing me otherwise and telling me that there is no shame in being different or having a few more diagnoses. My problems are a part of me and there's no reason to act as if they're not.
2016 you were an incredible tutor and you helped me plan out the first steps of some amazing adventures I will have in 2017. 2016 you will be missed but 2017 the world and I, are so ready for you. A new beginning, a new year, new chances, new opportunities and most important of all new adventures!
Lots of love,
ThatDutchGirl96
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