2021.

2021 was magical. I spent the year relaxing, recharging, and dreaming with cute babies, yummy food, and the sweetest friends a person could hope for. This was the year I read BLACK SUN by Rebecca Roanhorse and never let it go. This is the year I lived with my family in Chittagong and Toronto and take thousands of photos of them because time passes too quickly. This is the year I wrote poetry in my bed while we were all confined to our homes, unsure of what the future holds. This is the year I get into grad school and am sent off to Vancouver with the most fun birthday party of my life! The year I hop on a plane to Vancouver and meet lots of sweet people. The year I become a zombie as I feel my way through a new kind of learning. My first sleet grey, damp winter. No one told me it was called Raincouver! I went to see my family as soon as I could and I took hundreds of photos of my cute cousins and village. I floated along the Bay of Bengal to St. Martin’s Island, where we ate freshly caught fish fried to perfection. I got some stunning prints and post cards from DhakaYeah - pieces of Bangladesh I could take with me on a plane. I didn’t stop missing home.

It’s easy to summarize yet harder to capture what a rich year this was for me. I think I became less resilient. I was prone to missing everyone I loved and felt a king of gnawing longing I never experienced before. Family and friends and community are so important! Laying is the sun is important. Writing to yourself in a pretty journal is important. Fresh flowers, fresh food, and good company. Clean sheets, warm blankets, and generous roomies. I feel very lucky and grateful. I’ll never forget what a cranky monster I can be! I’ll never forget how hard I worked.

Thanks, mom!