Can you be truly happy during a year that is not that great?

Can you be truly happy during a year that is not that great?

2022. What a year. As we approach the end, I look back to everything that has happened, and I still cannot wrap my head around the fact that another year of my life has passed and so many things have happened without me even realizing it. 

An ongoing global pandemic, a war in Europe, hurricanes, and shootings in the United States. Yet, life goes on, and you have to accept the fact that there’s only too much you can control in this world.

January was an interesting month for me. For the most part I was at home in Greece, celebrating New Year’s with my family and friends. Covid was still at its peak in Europe, and restrictions were terrible. Unvaccinated people were not allowed inside restaurants or stores, significantly limiting the activities I could do with my friends who hadn’t received the vaccines yet. Everyone around me got infected over that winter break, disabling me from seeing so many people I wanted to see and instilling fear in my family. Mid-January, it was time to return to the U.S. for the spring semester, forcing me to leave home without catching up with so many friends or family members. 

Coming back to the United States was fun, though. Shortly after being back we started our tennis season, playing matches all around the country every weekend. The months went by so fast. April came, and covid was not even a thing in the United States anymore. With almost zero cases and non-existent restrictions, we had all forgotten that covid was still prevalent. Until one day, one of my teammates tested positive a few weeks before the conference, making the whole team quarantine for a week. That week was brutal, but we made it through and managed to come out even stronger. Three weeks later, we were in Florida, reaching the finals of the A-10 conference for the first time in the history of Fordham. 

In the meantime, going back a little bit, in the middle of February a war started in Europe between Russia and Ukraine. When I first heard about it, I could not believe it. I remember thinking: “This is 2022. How can wars still exist in the world?”. I was convinced that it was all a big misunderstanding and that the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, would come to his senses and call it off. But that did not happen. I witnessed my Russian teammate, who is also one of my best friends, lose everything because of this war. She was unable to contact her family, go home to visit her parents or have access to any bank accounts she had. I felt so bad for her.

The worst part was knowing how much pain she was in but not being able to do anything about it besides be there for her emotionally and physically. Seeing people I love suffer made me hate this world so much. It made me question what has happened to humanity. When will this world learn that violence is not the answer? That we shouldn’t be each other’s enemy, but rather each other’s friend? 

In the fall of 2022, more major events kept happening in the world, and especially the United States. From hurricane Ian which killed more than 100 people in Florida and was named one of the deadliest storms in recent history, to mass shootings at many Universities and schools across the country. 

2022. A pandemic, a war, and many more terrible events for the world. Yet, looking back, it was a pretty good year for me. I had an outstanding season with my team, made history for Fordham tennis, and was awarded as the athlete that demonstrated the most sportsmanship, leadership, motivation, and integrity. Over the summer, I went home and had the chance to travel all around Greece with my family and friends, got a boyfriend and fell in love, and made unforgettable memories with the people I care about. 

It truly makes me wonder, though; if the rest of the world is suffering, can you be truly happy and content? If you know there are people that lose their lives, their loved ones, or their homes, can you achieve ultimate bliss? The answer is yes. But you will never stop feeling guilty about it. At least I know I won’t.