Dear 2021,

This year, I came to the conclusion that I thrive the most when I actively seek discomfort.

My independence became so sacred to me, I want to do anything and everything to protect it at all costs.

I still have a hard time believing in myself in some aspects of my life—I’ll take all the advice and wisdom you all got, hahah.

I always knew that travel was my muse, but it was this year when I felt this on a much deeper level.

I discovered that surprisingly, there is so much comfort in traveling solo and I’m ready for so much more.

I now value and cherish connecting with new people so much. Meeting people has been one of the best gifts of this year.

I also realized that I hate goodbyes, and all the thoughts of wondering whether you’ll see certain people again or not. I have had my fair share of plane-ride-cries-home because of this and because I don’t want to go home.

So many people have made me smile in so many different ways and for so many different reasons, I always hope I can do the same for them.

Rekindling with familiar faces reminds me that many people can (and really do) feel like home.

My laugh also got uglier this year, so please…save me the embarrassment and don’t make me laugh anymore because I sound absolutely disgusting. It’s far from a “hehe” and more like a “👹HA👹HA👹”

Anyway, this is my love letter to this year—the one that you definitely didn’t ask for, but thanks for reading and thanks for being here <3

taken in Venice, Italy — September 2021