By Waiching
Another year shaped by the ongoing global pandemic, it can be hard for many people to find positive moments or words when describing 2021, and 2020. As we sign off for 2021, we pause to take the time to reflect upon the lessons learned, reminiscing on the best and less of the worst in contemplation of a new year filled with potential, hope and desire to meet targets or goals.
Though 2021 started rough, it was a definite improvement from 2020 as it went on, as well as for me especially it holds up as being drastically superior to 2019 - and that is worth celebrating. In January, I was cautiously optimistic about what may lie ahead but also for myself; I wanted to go all out and give it everything, 110% this time around and see what happens; On a personal level and work-wise, there has been growth, improvement; there have been notable good things such as getting promoted to full-time status, a shift in position from food court assistant to maintenance/support assistant, whilst also covering front end and receiving departments. On the other, the food court has had 3 different managers this year: all three left in the space of several months.
The food court tables also returned in July in Costco, much to my contentment - if not for some of the members who eat there.
As well as sneaking in the odd trip to Spain, something that was supposed to happen in February a week after my birthday, but in November when travel restrictions were relaxed for double vaccinated travellers. Returning to Spain for the second time, I cherished my several days' vacation; it was the best decision I made and the highlight of 2021, besides nabbing employee of the month for the first time in October.
With the Covid-19 pandemic still dominating every aspect of our lives new variants emerging, thus bringing further disruption and uncertainty for once as least, 2021 provided some highlights and a brief recovery through the vaccines.
It was a year that promised to be better than the last: whilst for many or some, it wasn't, there were more highs than lows for me.
When I went into 2021, I had no goals, and no resolutions planned; I entered the year anticipating things will be the same, and stay the same - what I did not anticipate was in kicking off 2021 & spending the first three months at front end, the personnel changes at Costco, which happened, as well as the promotion to full-time from part-time.
But when it happened, the announcement was out of the blue to me, but I was really happy because I needed more hours and wanted to make more money than what I was earning, - and I got those hrs, 40 hrs per week. I didn't beg, I didn't plead, I got them; that, and I got Mondays and Sundays off from work as my fixed days, which made things even sweeter for me.
I just take each day as it comes, and whenever I have a bad day or a bad moment, I focus on the next day and just move on. As 2021 rolled on, as my work priorities shifted from one role to another, to me it was my chance to really establish myself as an employee and be capable of adapting to change and still working to the best of my ability.
It was a year of recovery after the setbacks of a turbulent 2019 and, to a certain extent, 2020 (well, 2020 wasn't as horrific as the previous year, rather it was a damp squib, & Covid hampered things a bit); it was also the year whereby I turned 40 years old. It was sort of a big deal to me, but then I realised that age is just a number and doesn't determine your actual worth as a person.
2019 for me as memes - yes it was that bad
2021 was a new beginning that felt so unlike the past two years at work. I had to be very present as I allowed events to unfold and in the timing of those events. To understand whilst change is unexpected, it is something I had to accept and get used to.
What has 2021 taught me? Well, work-wise, I learnt how to multitask, in not being tied to one department: I just liked the flexibility the maintenance assistant position offers and the scheduling was better (getting Mondays and Sundays off); Yet times of resilience, change and undertaking various challenges has also taught me about the lessons I am still learning and that I don't have to cater to everyone or anyone. I have come to accept that the notion of work, for me, when it comes to retail, hasn't changed; that what I excel in is the work and doing the work & producing results and when I fail to achieve my goals, I keep going and remain resilient and not become rattled. I sometimes pinch myself that I have lasted for as long as I have at Costco and come so far.
It is a constant reminder of the importance of having a supportive family, in addition to putting myself first and that I am the main priority.
I have seen growth and development throughout the past 12 months and whilst I had no plans to quit the food court, I wanted to shift my attention onto something else and felt I needed to be challenged. The higher-ups saw potential in me, but also they realised, and I realised also, that I was more counterproductive and effective outside the kitchen by cleaning the tables, cleaning, tidying, and general housekeeping duties than in so-called labour-intensive kitchen work. With that in mind, my duties as a maintenance assistant included cleaning the toilets, and the break room, taking out the trash and sweeping the floor.
I was glad to get out of the food court and when the opportunity arose, I didn't say no.
& I didn't need to be told what to do all of the time, I just went ahead and did the work and took the initiative.
Secondly, trying to make people happy and not putting myself first is not counterproductive. I've learnt that I am resilient and that no matter what challenges are placed in front of me, I am not one to shy away or say no to them. Thirdly, eliminating and letting go of things, people that are not good for me anymore & setting boundaries is important for my well-being and mental health; letting go of people who don't truly matter, the people who make me feel like crap by ignoring them because they add little to nothing of value towards me as a person & that I shouldn't expect anything in return and make space for things that are more aligned to my life and what I want out of it.
If 2020 was the year of the essential worker, then 2021 was the year of remote working and the Great Resignation whereby record numbers of people quit their jobs for something more fulfilling and meaningful. But I wasn't one of those people who did that.
This was the year whereby after 3 years working at Costco, I felt I came full circle as an employee; from say late January to December, it felt different... and it was a transformative and challenging year of my life. Despite the odd bumps along the way (say about during May, August and late Oct, early Nov), despite the chaos, I still came through in the end. Some may insist this wasn't their year, such as losing a family member to Covid or some other illness, & that they wish to leave it behind... I'd go out on a whim and go as far as saying that 2021 was a triumph as I focused mainly on the work, most of the time and deliver quality results and never endured any major family losses.
Compared to then and now, I feel that this time around, I feel more confident in my abilities, in what I am capable of achieving and that the more I do the work, the more self-assured I was and become as a worker; those experiences, those tears and mistakes were part of my past and that I couldn't and can't let them and those people stand in my way of happiness - happiness as in the work, working hard and for it to go right, - and happiness lies in my own hands - not theirs;
I see to it that it is okay not to give a s**t about, nor feel bad for people who are toxic, difficult, people who do not matter, & focus less on them and on more on myself and having self-respect for myself.
2021 was filled with anxiety, grief and loss on a personal level due to Covid, and uncertainty; but for many of us who worked tirelessly during the pandemic, we endured burnout and fatigue & mental health anxieties. Yet it could have been a lot worse. The difference is that forasmuch as the Coronavirus pandemic was the huge story that dominated our lives, for worse in 2020, in 2021 it became the backdrop and it spurred me on to work harder and smarter.
In conclusion, this was the best year for me in a long, long time; I made the most of the opportunities that were made available to me and earned plaudits and admiration from various supervisors, colleagues, managers, and members alike. Entering 2022, it seems that I am on the right path; having achieved so much I don't intend for my success and happiness to end in 2022 and beyond.
As the saying goes, either go hard or go home... well, I went hard with the work and it paid off.
Farewell 2021, it has been a really good one for me: I'd rate it a massive 9 out of 10 for me.
My highlights:
- Travelling to Spain
- Getting promoted to full-time status and earning more money and a new position
- Getting Costco employee of the month for October and earning plaudits from members, managers and supervisors
- Working hard to the best of my ability, focusing on the work. This has been my best year and despite of Covid
My lows:
- Being emotionally embroiled in people who do me no good to my mental health
- The ongoing pandemic
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