Here we are in the last day of the year. Traditionally, a time to take stock, celebrate our achievements, assess how we came through our challenges and look ahead.

This year, I’ve found that hard. In part it’s because it often feels like we are in the end times. The horror of Palestine, with over 25,000 dead, many disabled and living on the edge of humanness while Western media glides over these oppressions with what feels like deliberate brutality. The cynicism of Parliament with the Opposition suspended, passing major bills. In part, it’s because personally, it has been a challenging year for me, in which I’ve learned to cultivate a certain stoicism, keeping my head down and working doggedly, appreciating myself with some quietness when I do something well.