Oh lordy, how does one sum up a year like 2020?
If I had to pick a word for 2020, it would be "change". And "change" is not a good word in my dictionary.
In fact, I have always been fairly adverse to change. Having a very stable home life as a child has made change something that I deeply struggle with facing. I mean, just ask my family what I was like when we moved across the country between middle school and high school...*insert Liz Lemon eye roll here*
2020 not only forced change on a personal and global level, but we also made changes in our life by choice. In the first few months of the year I was struggling with the loss of my grandma in the fall, and finally understanding why people dealt with Seasonal Affective Disorder in the dark winter months following the holidays--andIi lived in Phoenix for god's sake! The sun was shining more often than not but I was grieving, I was unhappy in my job, and I was really struggling.
We knew we would be moving out of state, and prior to quarantine we were able to take two trips to our future home. It was much more quiet and beautiful than living in the middle of Phoenix, I felt I was able to breath deeply, to find silence and peace, to find space to think. We were actually on our way home from a trip when we started to hear about everything (including my job) being shut down.
The change was immediate and mostly uncertain, but the start of lockdown initially like felt fun--I love to stay home, and was excited to spend my days baking, crafting, relaxing, just generally enjoying myself. But as we all know, quarantine stretched on for months, and the fun wore right off. The majority of quarantine has been marked by oscillating stages of anxiety and depression, leading right on up to the moment I sit here typing.
Our biggest personal change came about when we moved....in the middle of a global pandemic. Moving in the middle of a global pandemic meant we were unable to say a proper goodbye to Phoenix and to our friends. We moved near a city that was making worldwide headlines for being absolutely crippled by and realing from Covid. Moving in the middle of a global pandemic also means we have yet to explore and enjoy the area we now live in. It means we have been unable to meet people, to make friends, to settle down where we are now.
This year has not been all bad, however. In 2020, I was able to see my parents 4 times, I read 102 books, I moved to a place much more similiar to the life I have envisioned for myself, I permanently deleted my Facebook account, I upgraded from a cramped apartment to a more spacious house.
2020 changed so much for me, and it was by no means easy, but I want to cultivate joy and wonder by looking to the positive this year offered. So, how about some favorites?
My 2020 favorite...
-Book: My overall favorite book this year was Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. I actually read it three times in 5 months, definitely going to purchase it. I did a round up of my 10 favorite books this year, on my Instagram. Apart from having Eleanor Oliphant stand out, it was so hard to narrow down from the 102 I read in 2020.
-T.V. Show: I mean, 2020 was the year of Netflix, amirite? I re-watched a number of my favorite shows, but some new favorites this year would be...I May Destroy You, Bridgerton, Killing Eve, Selling Sunset (I'm not usually a reality tv person), The Duchess, Never Have I Ever, On My Block, Love is Blind, Cheer, and Glow Up.
-Movie: I can never narrow down tv/movie lists, but I don't watch remotely as many movies. Some favorites this year were...Yes, God Yes, Happiest Season, and Moonlight.
-Recipe: Strata. It is a game changer for an overnight, savory, use-up-everything-in-the-fridge bake.
-Podcast: Office Ladies gets me through dull work days. Griefcast, one of my ultimate favorites returned this year after a 9 month break. We Can't Talk About That Right Now was my favorite of the year, and then Archewell Audio came out RIGHT at the end of 2020, can't WAIT to hear more.
-Album: My husband Uriah released his first album, Strand, this year and he made my Spotify top five, obvi. Second fav was a surprise for me--folklore by Taylor Swift. I have never listened to much of TSwift beyond radio hits. I heard all of 1989 but as covered by Ryan Adams. I listened to Lover once through, but then folklore took me by storm and I have binged it since July.
-Hobby: Baking and cooking are forever my number ones. Also knitting and reading took top spots this year.
-Bake: My favorite thing I baked this year was probably when I made pasties with a ras-al-hanout flavored lamb filling.
-Thing created: I didn't do much crafting this year, and my knits were all unexciting (in my opinion). My favorite created things of 2020 are actually all bakes--a rose apple tart, stuff focaccia, homemade puff pastry on pot pies, pull apart bread, homemade pastas, on and on.
-Guilty pleasure: I honestly don't know! Binge-watching GBBO episodes I've already seen?? Honestly it's probably cooking shows. I wish I could round up the number of individual episdoes I'd seen this year, the number would be insane. I do know I watched 79 episodes of GBBO this year (and only 12 of them were new!).
-Season in NM: I have yet to live through spring in NW New Mexico, but fall remains my favorite season. Days and night began cooling off in fall,
-Outfit: This year I was able to purchase a number of new clothing items towards my dream closet. I also got to buy a number of new sweaters and warmer clothing because of the cold climate we moved to. All that to say, my current favorite thing to wear, is any sort of adorable dress layered with a cropped sweater overtop. No small thing to say I am obsessed with this pairing.
I also received a wonderful new camera this year, and found that above all else, I love taking weird close up textural shots of things. Below, without explanation, is a round-up of some favorites from the year.
Be First to Post Comment !
Post a Comment