What I read - and learned from reading - in 2020…
Women With Books - The Christmas Spirit, Actually
Socially Distanced Dance Party!
My Favorite Things of 2020
My 2020 Favorite Things
All year long I’ve been trying to look at the bright sides of things. I’ve done a lot of “counting blessings.” My kids have heard it at least a hundred times now. Some days I’m giving thanks for the internet, even. Or for clean water, fresh air, sunlight.
2020 has definitely made me appreciate the essentials in life; health, food, safety, loved ones. I hope I never forget the lessons I’ve learned.
But let’s be real. I also acknowledge the privilege of all this. Of having the safety and security that leads me to be able to count my blessings.
As of the date of this post, only one member of my family has been stricken with SARS-COV-2. In no way do I ever want to minimize this year to something trivial or petty when there have been such hardships for so many.
But I also can’t deny that some things have made my life better this year. So, know that I make this list from the very best place of my heart. These are some of the things that brought me joy, peace or sanity this year and maybe you’ll find something that brightens your day too…
Music
Folklore – Taylor Swift. This probably won’t even end up being my “favorite” Taylor Swift album but it has rocked my world. The fact that she created such a beautiful, haunting album in the middle of a pandemic. The audacity of her creativity was like an arrow to my heart and deeply inspiring to this author.
Gaslighter - The Chicks – I’ve always been a fan of The Chicks, and their unapologetic return to music in a new divided political era was also inspiring on so many levels. I think MARCH MARCH will be a time capsule of 2020 and TEXAS MAN… well. It immediately went onto a writing playlist for me.
Chris Tomlin & Friends - On a different note (and going back to the counting my blessings thing), this album was what I put on when I needed to reset and remember how to do that. In some of the most stressful times this year, the song Tin Roof brought me back to a place of peace. (And Thank You Lord is another great track for Thanksgiving.)
Books
I’m going to do a longer post on my reading in 2020, which wasn’t normal in any way. But just as a quick note, these are the books that I kept thinking about all year long, as a human, a reader and an author.
Atomic Habits – James Clear
Her Last Flight – Beatriz Williams
The Splendid and the Vile – Erik Larson
A Most Extraordinary Pursuit – Juliana Gray
Who Rescued Who - Victoria Schade
Where the Lost Wander – Amy Harmon
Your Body is Not an Apology – Sonya Renee Taylor
Podcast
Because it’s 2020, my podcast listening changed A LOT but this one I gobbled down and still haven’t stopped thinking about it: Winds of Change. It’s about the CIA, the Cold War, and rock and roll.
Television/ Movie
I was pretty strict with myself about shows I would watch this year. But again, these are the ones that inspired me, got my creative juices running or just made me HAPPY.
Schitts Creek - a story about love and loving others, despite their flaws. At least, that’s my take.
Ted Lasso - a positive story about living a joyful life that’s not naive or shallow. So much to love here I blogged about it separately here.
Sweet Magnolias - a cozy series about family, friends and a perfect small town was a tonic for my soul in 2020.
#Relatable
Songland - a show about creativity and the creative process. LOVE.
My imaginary best friend Shane.
Enola Holmes - I love a good intrepid heroine and historical mystery. Add Henry Cavill in period clothes? Damn right I’ll be thinking about it.
Succession - amazing writing that makes you simultaneously hate and feel sorry for each one of these awful characters.
Oh Cousin Greg.
The Great - great performances and writing and a historical political satire. Something unique and smart that didn’t get enough love.
Knives Out - honestly a perfect film.
Miss Americana - a Taylor Swift documentary. Y’all know I’m inspired by her process.
Personal Items
The things I couldn’t have lived without.
Peppermint oil – became part of my soothing nighttime ritual. Just worked for me.
Silicone straws + Yeti cup + True Lemon – to help me drink ALLLL the water
This Boots Mascara – it’s a tubing mascara so it really holds up to crying jags/ late night doomscrolling and all the makeup I need while wearing a mask
Airpods / good headphones. For walks, zoom calls and drowning out all the people in my home.
Breville coffee maker – this was a Christmas present last year and it seemed over the top but little did we know that my husband and I wouldn’t go to a coffee shop for 8 months and would enjoy this hardy machine multiple times a day. Plus, there was something so soothing about the ritual of making an Americano ourselves everyday.
And that is my list of things that helped me get through this trying year.
I hope we’ve all survived 2020 the best way we can and that 2021 will bring us joy, peace and security.
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Introducing... my 2021 Hobonichi
Planner people are really the ultimate optimists, right?
Look at us all, buying planners after 2020 showed us that we can’t always plan what life is going to look like.
But there’s something that I’m always going to enjoy about it. There’s a ritual to selecting a new planner. To setting it up and carefully inscribing birthdays and holidays. There’s a beautiful faith that life goes on, that we’re going to be here to enjoy it, that we want to honor these days with purpose and distinction.
Or maybe we just like stickers and washi.
Or both. Definitely both.
I still used my Hobonichi Cousin almost daily in 2020, even when I had no outings or appointments or anything to look forward to. This is because I use the daily pages as my journal so that meant this sturdy, beautifully designed book was in my hands a lot.
I did an unboxing video for those who are curious as to what a 2021 Hobonichi looks like: (Don’t judge. I am not a videographer, obviously.)
I’ll do another post in January with how I’ve decided to personalize this but ICYMI, here are some past blog posts about this year’s set up and previous years’ as well.
And… that’s all for now. If you want my blog posts sent straight to your inbox, subscribe to my Inner Circle Newsletter here. Or follow me on Instagram to see my occasional weekly spreads.