Was anyone else left feeling very drained after the last month? Our whirlwind of a political climate added an increased feeling of exhaustion as it overtook the media, and very little escape was offered, thanks to the usual … COVID-19. January always feels like the longest month of the year, and looking back to the beginning of 2020, I was convinced that we experienced one of the most dismal Januarys ever. The first impeachment trials began, basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gigi, passed in a tragically unforseen helicopter accident, and the evil coronavirus’ plot to take over the world was put into action. I had just turned 21. Now, I’m 36. How quickly a pandemic ages you.

During this more recent January, the coronavirus death toll inched closer to half a million, the Capitol was stormed, and the Biden administration was inaugurated. I know you could call it another dispiriting January, BUT! I’m starting to think, maybe Januarys are just naturally meant to be this way? We feel every single one of its days longer than we normally would because we’re filled with expectation and all the New Year energy. We get our feet wet at the beginning of every year and undergo trial and error – those who attempt resolutions know that better than anyone. Then, the next month isn’t nearly as odd, probably helped by the fact that we get to look forward to Valentine’s Day and Black History Month and that February passes in the blink of an eye.

Yes, 2021 has already thrown out the unexpected. Who’s really surprised? At this point, we’re becoming desensitized to these historical everyday events, and we’re just waiting for our outside circumstances to simmer down a bit. Thankfully, memes are thrown out right and left – we cannot lose the ability to find humor in these situations – and our mindsets have evolved more than we think they have. After going through 2020, we can handle 2021. So stop calling them sisters. We’ll just come to the conclusion that some Januarys suck and not throw out the entire year based on the first month. It’s like reading the introductory chapter of a book and giving up.

But I do have to offer fair warning to keep your head up: Mercury will be in retrograde for three weeks out of this month, so more surprises might be hurtled our way. (Google’s predictive text finishes the phrase “in retrograde” for you, and if that doesn’t epitomize our society, I don’t know what does.) Godspeed, everyone!