10 Life Changing Events of 2021: A Year in Review

2021 was a year of incredible highs and devastating lows. I have never had a more challenging or more rewarding year and I’m somehow convinced that I’m not the only one who feels this way. My instagram and LinkedIn feeds are filled with similar captions and as a species, I know that the ups and downs of the COVID-19 pandemic, among other things, really put us to the test. Whether you feel like you thrived or barely survived, give yourself a pat on the back, you’ve come a long way.

Before the year officially ends, I wanted to set aside some time to reflect on everything that happened in 2021 — the good, the bad, the successes, the failures, the triumphs, and the tragedies. I am grateful for the resilience and the growth that came with all of it and in this post, I wanted to share with my readers the 10 most life changing and impactful events of my life in 2021.

1. My income grew by 37% — goodbye gender pay gap 💰💵 💷 👋🏾 .

2. I started a part-time MBA program at the Munich Business School 📚 🤓.

3. I launched my personal website and published my first ever blog post 🖥 .

4. I became a German citizen 🇩🇪 🍻 .

5. I lost my mother, who was my only living parent and officially became an orphan 👵 💔 😔 👼 .

6. I became the cover girl of the MBA brochure of the Munich Business School 📔 .

7. I hiked to the top of the Kilimanjaro (5,895m above mean sea level) 🏔💪 .

8. I wrote my first ever post on LinkedIn and launched my instagram page. With both, I finally started to really put myself out there 🙍🏾‍♀️ 😯 .

9. I visited the Ngorongoro Crater. It‘s magical 🦁 🐘 🦓 .

10. I worked from home in Tanzania for 3 months and spent quality time with loved ones ❤️ 🥰💞 .

Bonus: I really took care of my health, mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I set firmer boundaries, ate better, worked out 3 times a week most of the year, and slept for an average of 7.5 hrs a night.

Dear 2021, you were confusing and tough. You gave me Germany as my forever second home but unexpectedly took my mother. You showed me the beauty and healing powers of nature in Ngorongoro and the magnificence of the Kilimanjaro. You taught me to negotiate for better pay, to be vulnerable, and revealed to me the liberating power of sharing my life’s stories, just the way they are. You were filled with lessons from the get go and forced me to develop deeper, stronger, and more resilient roots. Thank you? I believe so. Thank you for showing me that I have what it takes to survive and thrive, all at the same time.

To my readers, especially those that reached out to me directly with feedback on my writing style, insights, and stories, your engagement this year meant the world to me.

For anyone who is either alone, grieving, sad, devastated, depressed, confused, or lost this holiday season, I am thinking of you.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 🥳.

Until then, stay awesome!

Kwaheri,

Imma

Imma Baradyana is an international technology professional, storyteller, and aspiring motivational speaker who writes about her personal, professional, and academic experiences. Each of her stories includes actionable advice and tips that are designed to help you along your journey.

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