The 2021 Calendar: A Year of Surprises, Challenges, and Learning How to Use Google Calendar
We all remember the great hopes we had for 2020, right? We were sure it was going to be the year we finally learned how to use the Instant Pot, embraced that New Year’s resolution to “eat healthy,” and maybe even took that trip to the Maldives we’d been planning for a decade. Instead, 2020 ended up being the year when we all became experts in Zoom meetings, panic buying toilet paper, and learning what “flattening the curve” meant. So, when the clock struck midnight on December 31, 2020, the collective sigh of relief could probably be heard in every time zone across the globe.
But then came 2021, a year that promised new beginnings. Surely, things would get better, right? Well, let’s just say 2021 was a year full of surprises, and not all of them were the “good” kind. But despite the challenges, we all survived. And let’s be honest, when we look back at 2021, we’ll probably remember the year for how we learned to take things one day at a time, how we rediscovered hobbies we never knew we had, and how Google Calendar became our best friend.
Now, let’s dive into the 2021 calendar, and reflect on how it helped us (or didn’t) make sense of the crazy year. And hey, I’ll sprinkle in some holiday reminders, calendar tips, and thoughts on how we can get through the next one.
The 2021 Calendar: A Rollercoaster of Dates
Let’s be real—2021 didn’t exactly have the clean slate we were hoping for. But hey, a new year is always a good opportunity to hit “refresh” on our lives. When you opened your 2021 calendar, whether it was a fancy desk calendar with motivational quotes or just an old-school paper calendar that you found in the bottom of a drawer, you were probably ready to embrace the fresh start.
If you live in Sri Lanka (or just like to keep up with Sri Lankan holidays), you were probably thrilled to find out about the holidays marked on the 2021 calendar. Now, let’s take a moment to appreciate how we all learned to use the holiday list to get a jump on our staycations. Every time you looked at the 2021 calendar, you were greeted with dates like Sinhala and Tamil New Year, Vesak, and Independence Day—perfect for planning your ultimate relaxation days. Sure, the world was still upside down, but it was nice to have these sacred moments to reset, even if it meant just binge-watching your favorite Netflix show in peace.
As much as we joked about “working from home” being the new vacation, there was something truly nostalgic about the feeling of flipping through a physical calendar, marking down holidays, and remembering the days when life was a bit more “normal” (or, dare I say it, predictable). Of course, our calendars also became reminders of everything that didn’t go as planned: trips that got canceled, meetings that didn’t happen, and the endless days of wondering if we’d ever get to see our friends again.
But the 2021 calendar did one thing right—it kept us grounded. No matter what happened, the calendar was a constant. The months came and went, and slowly but surely, we started to see light at the end of the tunnel. And with every holiday that passed, we were reminded that, even in a chaotic year, there was still room for joy.
The Challenge of “Getting It Right” in 2021
One of the most interesting things about the 2021 calendar (or any calendar, really) is how it forces us to think about time. We try to make it meaningful, right? “This year, I’ll make sure I plan every weekend so I don’t waste a single moment!” we say. And then reality hits. But let’s be real: the pandemic didn’t just steal our plans; it also stole the sense of urgency we once had. After all, if everything was constantly changing, what was the point of planning anything?
The 2021 calendar might have looked perfectly neat and organized, but we all knew that life had a way of throwing curveballs. One day, you were marking off a day off for a well-deserved vacation (which, let’s be honest, ended up being just a “staycation” in your living room). The next day, the pandemic numbers were up again, and your long-anticipated trip to the beach was indefinitely postponed.
In a way, that’s the beauty of the 2021 calendar. It reminded us that life is unpredictable, and sometimes, the best we can do is mark off the days, cross off the holidays, and just take it all one step at a time.
The Rise of Google Calendar: When Paper Calendars Just Don’t Cut It
As we ventured into 2021, one thing became clear: we needed to be better organized. Our social lives weren’t the only things on the calendar anymore—work deadlines, virtual meetings, and family Zoom calls started to dominate our schedules. Enter Google Calendar, the unsung hero of 2021.
Let’s face it: the days of using a paper calendar and trying to keep track of everything with a pen were over. We didn’t just need to remember when the Sinhala and Tamil New Year was coming up; we needed to track every single meeting, webinar, and virtual coffee chat. Google Calendar became the digital godsend that let us manage it all. Between reminders for important deadlines and alerts for upcoming birthdays (remember those?), we were suddenly living in a highly structured, highly virtual world.
And yet, despite all the tech, there was something magical about getting an email reminder that you had something coming up. “Oh, right! That’s today!” we’d think as we scrambled to unmute ourselves on Zoom. It wasn’t just a reminder; it was a lifeline, a beacon of hope in the world of endless to-dos.
The 2021 Calendar and Personal Growth
Despite the chaos of 2021, we can’t ignore the personal growth that came along with it. As we looked at the calendar, we found ourselves reflecting on how much we had changed. Whether you adopted a new hobby, found yourself spending more time with your family (or alone, and finding peace in it), or simply got better at managing your time, 2021 was a year of learning.
For many of us, the calendar became a way to track our personal development—remember that “resolution” you made in January 2021? Maybe you didn’t hit all your goals, but hey, you learned a lot about yourself in the process. Maybe you started running or became a yoga master (or at least gave it a go). You might not have seen the world as much as you’d hoped, but you got to know yourself better. And sometimes, that’s all you need to feel like you’ve won the year.
What the 2021 Calendar Teaches Us About Time
In the end, the 2021 calendar teaches us a valuable lesson: time is unpredictable, and we should never take it for granted. Whether we’re marking down holidays, setting up virtual meetings, or just trying to get through another week, the calendar keeps us moving forward. And sometimes, that’s the best we can do.
As we look back on 2021, let’s remember that despite the setbacks, we made it. And as we prepare to turn the page to the next year, let’s hold on to the lessons we’ve learned—life is fleeting, and every day on that calendar is an opportunity to be better, do better, and appreciate the little things.
So, here’s to the 2021 calendar: a year of surprises, a year of growth, and a year that reminded us, no matter how many unexpected turns life takes, the days keep ticking by. And so do we.
