For better or for worse, I’m the kind of person who wants to quantify everything. That which gets measured and all that. To this end, just as I did for 2020 last year, I thought I’d take some time to reflect on 2021. This is from the perspective of content created and consumed; I’ll circle back around about my 2021 goals in a future post. So, let’s get this year in review started with what happened right here on the Beyond the Rhetoric blog.

Blog Posts: 94

I didn’t quite hit the century mark for total blog posts published this year. There’s been a steady decline in the sheer quantity of blog posts. It went from 203 posts in 2018 to 167 in 2019 and 113 posts last year. Curiously, overall traffic to the site is up a fair bit year-over-year. Go figure. In any case, priorities continue to shift in my life and the blog has had to move a bit down that list. To be fair, I am spending more time on Instagram (more on that in a moment), plus real life duties and day job responsibilities.

Burnaby Heights Helen swing neon sign

Ranked below are the top five blog posts from 2021 based on total page views. Yes, which the exception of one post on cultural identity and my upbringing, the list is very food-centric. I will note that my exploration of the golden age fallacy and this year’s Christmas events in Vancouver did make the top 10, though.

  1. Best Food of Burnaby Heights and Brentwood – Where to eat and drink and be merry in North Burnaby
  2. OEB Breakfast at the Amazing Brentwood (Burnaby) – Checking out the hot new brunch spot at Brentwood
  3. My Asian Parents Didn’t Hug Me as a Child – It’s just not something that was done in my family, publicly or privately.
  4. Quick Bites: Takara Sushi (Burnaby) – Be sure to order the spicy tako karaage if you go.
  5. Review: Sushi Bar Kilala (North Burnaby) – Truly a hidden gem for authentic, high quality sushi and sashimi

YouTube Videos: 32

That number is a little misleading. Okay, it’s very misleading. Almost all of those videos are Instagram Reels that have been cross-posted as YouTube Shorts, plus a few Instagram Reel compilations. In terms of content that was completely original and unique to YouTube, I only manage to publish five videos. Maybe it’s time to shift some energy back to YouTube again.

  1. Canyon Lights 2021 at Capilano Suspension Bridge – A beautiful holiday tradition among the illuminated forest
  2. Arctic Voices Feature Exhibit – Another fun exhibit at Science World
  3. Best Bluetooth Headphones on a Budget – You don’t have to spend a lot of money on these.
  4. 5DadsGoWild at EC Manning Park – Taking you on a campsite tour of where we pitched our tents
  5. Strawberry Flats Winter Warming Hut – Stacey “A Dad in the Burbs” Robinsmith provides an in-depth tour.

Instagram Reels: 46

Speaking of Instagram, I have been experimenting a lot more with short form video there. While I’m still not on TikTok where all the cool kids apparently hang out, I have enjoyed creating Instagram Reels. The plan is to continue making Reels in 2022 and beyond. These five Reels had the most views in 2021.

  1. 27 Photos Challenge (5DadsGoWild) – Hopping on a popular trend with a #5DadsGoWild twist
  2. Sip and Savour Celebration – A swag bag “unbagging” from a Healthy Family Living virtual event
  3. Google Pixel 6 Magic Eraser – Toying with a new camera feature on my new smartphone
  4. Merci Beaucoup Cafe – Grabbing some delicious Vietnamese food for lunch
  5. Baby and Toddler Celebration – Another “unbagging” of a swag bag from another HFL Vancouver event

Books Read: 52

Originally, I had set out with a goal of reading 25 books in 2021. Well, I blew that goal way out of the water. With fewer outside-the-home activities, plus watching less TV with the baby around, I spent more time reading. These are some of my personal favorites from the year.

  1. A Promised Land by Barack Obama – An insightful (and very lengthy) glimpse into his first term as POTUS
  2. Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner – An incredibly moving memoir from the Japanese Breakfast indie pop star
  3. Yearbook by Seth Rogen – This book should only be consumed in audiobook format, thanks to the numerous guests.
  4. Becoming by Michelle Obama – Two Obama books in my top five? Absolutely. I think Michelle outsold Barack too.
  5. Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas: This prequel to The Hate U Give provides context into the teenage life of Maverick Carter.

Movies Watched: 42

That “42” includes a number of rewatches, like Charlotte’s Web and The Matrix. I have not included rewatches in my top 5 below. This list is only for first viewings, even if the movie itself is not a new release. I do need to give an honorable mention to Enough Said. The 2013 romantic comedy was one of James Gandolfini’s final on-screen performances. The film was released posthumously, depicting a much more tender, vulnerable side to the man best known for playing Tony Soprano.

  1. Interstellar – This space-time twisting adventure is much more than just alright, alright, alright.
  2. Nomadland – There’s a reason this Chloe Zhao-directed drama won the Oscar for Best Picture.
  3. Raya and the Last Dragon – It’s not for everyone, but Awkwafina voicing a Disney dragon is something else.
  4. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings – Yes, we can have an Asian superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
  5. Spider-Man: No Way Home – Yes, the multiverse is very much in play in the MCU. So much fan service.

Podcast Episodes: 14

Am I late to the party? I might be late to the party. I’ve been considering the idea of launching a podcast for some time and 2021 was the year I decided to take the plunge. The content is mostly centered around parenting life. Should there be a “season 2” in 2022? We’ll see.

  1. Parental Peer Pressure – Are you keeping up with the Joneses and what they’re doing for their kids?
  2. How Close in Age Are Your Kids? – Mind the gap, the age gap that is…
  3. Reading Is Fundamental – How can you encourage your children to read more?
  4. Life With Baby Number 2 – How have things changed now that we’re a family of four?
  5. Common Parenting Myths – Let’s go ahead and debunk some of these nuggets of “wisdom,” shall we?

 

What Was Your 2021 Highlight?

As I mentioned at the top, I’ll be coming back around to report on my 2021 habits and goals in a future blog post. I also plan on outlining some goals, new directions, guiding words or something of that sort for 2022 at some point too. But, before we get to all of that, I’d like to shift the focus to you, dear reader. As you look back on your 2021, what stood out? Did you read more? Make self-care more of a priority? Let’s hear it all through the comments below, no matter how small or big.

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