The Good Parts About 2020
Well, here we are. The very last day of the year. I feel a lot like that Paul Rudd meme where he’s like, “Look at us. Hey, look at us.” “Who would’ve thought?” “Not me!” because who would’ve thought that this year would turn out the way that it did.
Just like every year before (you can read 2018 and 2019 here), it’s time for a little recap. We really started out the year strong with the impeachment of you know who, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry stepping down from the royal family, and Parasite sweeping at the Oscars. As a country we watched the iconic Love is Blind, and for a moment there I really thought that this was going to be the year. But then, as we know, everything hit the fan and it got horrible really quickly. COVID-19 went insane and swept through the nation, Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away and was replaced with the most unqualified candidate out there, and racial injustice continued to plague our country. I could probably make a whole book about the truly terrible things that happened this year, but that’s not what I’m writing about.
It’s really easy to look back at 2020 and just want to toss it in the trash (because you know, the horrible pandemic that is STILL HAPPENING almost a year later), but you know me! It’s always important to look at the positives on everything, including this year.
Toaster Strudel
If you even know me remotely, you know that this year I took a big step and got a guinea pig! When quarantine hit in March, I was living alone in a studio apartment on campus. I felt so isolated and lonely, my therapist suggested I get a small animal to help me emotionally. That’s where Toaster comes in! I started looking all over the internet on what animal would be best fit me. After Coley suggested a guinea pig, I knew it was the right one. Immediately, I started nesting and doing a bunch of research on how to take care of a small guinea pig. On April 13th, I brought this little guy home and now we’re besties! I can’t imagine not waking up to his squeaks in the morning.
Mr. Toasty himself.
Rhonda, My Therapist
Another thing that happened this year that has changed my life for the better is that I started therapy! I won’t get in-depth on why and what I talk about, but Rhonda, my therapist, is a goddamn queen. Unfortunately she’s leaving her therapy practice to start her own (we stan an entrepreneur!), but I cannot thank her enough for our weekly sessions. I’ll be starting with someone new in January, but Rhonda truly impacted and shaped who I was in 2020. If you’re thinking of going to therapy, here’s your push to get started! I know it can seem really scary or difficult at first, but my sister wrote up a great blog post on how to find the best fit therapist for yourself. You can read it here!
The Lumineers
It’s genuinely insane to think that I went to a concert this year. After my internship last summer, I treated myself and Coley to two tickets to see The Lumineers in Indianapolis, Indiana. It was my only big purchase after working all summer, and I’m so glad I did it! It wasn’t supposed to be the last concert of 2020 for me, but it ended up being that way. I had SO much fun, and they even played my favorite song, Dead Sea, from their first album. A big fat chef’s kiss!
Coley and me from the concert!
McDonald’s
Just like last year, McDonald’s is back on the list of good things of the year! As most of you know, I had the chance to intern with them this past summer and it was AWESOME. I learned everything from supply chain tips and tricks to why McDonald’s started serving its fish sandwich. It was so great, I accepted an offer to go back full-time after I graduate. I am so excited that I’ll be fully employed after senior year and Coley and I will be officially moving to Chicago together for work! You can read ALL about my experience interning here and here!
Banjo
On the eve of the New Year, I went out on a whim and bought a banjo! I’ve been thinking of picking up this instrument for a while, but finally went out and decided to splurge on one the day before 2020 started. Since then, I’ve taken lessons and have had so much fun playing and learning new songs. Growing up surrounded by music (collectively my sisters and I play around eight-ish instruments), I knew picking up the banjo wouldn’t be too terribly hard. Having something to fiddle with during quarantine has been really great, and I’m so happy I bought it when I did. Who knew that live music would become so scarce this year!
Short Hair
This summer, I did a BIG chop to my hair. I had been growing it out, and spontaneously I decided to dye the parts of my hair that were blonde, a pink color. Well, it turned out looking more red than pink and I HATED IT. Because of that, I rushed over to my hair dresser and she chopped off about 10 inches of hair. At this point, I didn’t even care what it looked like because we were in a pandemic and literally no one was seeing me in person except Coley. Now, it’s grown so much and I’m excited to have long hair again! This is you reminder that yes, you can ALSO do the big chop and it’s not scary! Hair is just hair. It’ll always come back!
The pink hair dye that I did NOT vibe with.
The big chop!
Black Women Voters
We did it Joe, we did it! Joe Biden is officially our President-Elect and Kamala Harris is our Vice-President elect! I am SO happy and so relieved for the next four years. Back to the Paris Climate Agreement we go! But as excited I am about what’s to come, I have to give the BIGGEST shoutout to the group that made it happen: Black women voters. They were the ones to win this election, and we owe them SO MUCH. I found a great article about the importance of what America owes to Kamala Harris and Black women. Read it here!
Old Navy Sweatpants
This was the YEAR of work from home groutfits and I could not have done this year without my plethora of Old Navy sweatpants. I first discovered them last fall when I saw a girl in my dance class wearing them. I immediately had to know where they were from. After she told me Old Navy, I literally RAN to their website and ordered three different pairs LMAO. It’s been well over a year since that moment, and I now am a proud owner of six different pairs of sweatpants from them. They are genuinely the most comfy, the softest, and the cutest pair of sweatpants. You can buy them here! Best part? They’re always on sale!
Instagram & Blog
This year was a big year for me in terms of my blog and Instagram! I got my first paid blog post and my first gig content creating for a really big brand. I grew a ton in terms of audience and engagement, and I’ve expanded my community to so many other bloggers like me! I know numbers aren’t important at the end of the day, but it’s really nice to see my content being seen by people that aren’t just my mom or Coley LMAO. I have really big goals for 2021, and I am so excited to get it started for y’all!
Myself
It wouldn’t be a year end recap without thanking myself LMAO. I accomplished so much more than I thought I would this year, and I feel so lucky and privileged to have done so. I know that this wasn’t the year we were all expecting, but I know because of it, we’ve learned not to take things for granted. The minute I get the vaccine and everything is deemed safe, I can’t wait to fully enjoy what life has to offer. I don’t think my bucket list can wait any longer!
I have much higher hopes for 2021, and a lot of big things are coming my way this year. I’m excited to document it all (the highs and the lows) and hopefully, next year, I’ll be able to say that the pandemic is over! Stay safe, stay healthy, and wear your mask.