I don't even know how to sum up this year. I know it was really bad for a lot of people, and I don't want to lose sight of that. I was lucky in that regard, no one close to me got the virus or had their job affected by it. So it was easy for me to distance myself from it. I'm pretty good at dodging the news anyway. I get way too affected by it.
I found myself falling down a rabbit hole with it early this year, and tried to avoid a majority of it. It just seemed like every day it was getting worse and I didn't know what to do about it besides pray. So I did a lot of that. Other than that, it was a really good year for me. I've been needing to take a breath for a while.
I finally got to. All my plans got put on hold, and it was probably the best thing for me.
And because of that, I healed. That sounds a bit dramatic, but it's true. I'm someone who has struggled with bouts of depression and anxiety my whole life. And I'm happy to say I didn't have one depressive episode this whole year. I had sad days, I cried, but I never went numb.
My anxiety is improving too. Little by little, things I couldn't bring myself to do last year. Have become easier. I also stopped saying no to everything and made a point to do as much as I could. Even if it was last minute, and it made for some great memories. Also made me question why I was so hesitant to do things in the past.
A lot of personal growth happened in 2020, and I'm grateful for that.
I thought I would share my top ten of the year. I was going to do five but it was way too hard to narrow it down. I watched over ninety new to me movies this year, so even just ten was hard.
Movies
Knives Out (Possibly my favorite)
The Kid Detective (Adam Brody need I say more)
Ready or Not (Eat the rich, essentially)
Love and Monsters (Such a fun movie, and was nice to see Dylan O'Brien in something new)
Jo Jo Rabbit (You will cry, but it's beautiful)
Emma (Stunning)
Birds of Prey ( So colorful and fun)
Scott Pilgrim vs the World (adored it)
Enola Holmes (Fantastic)
Into the Spiderverse (I love everything about it)
Tv
The Punisher (I will never get over Frank Castle)
Over the Garden Wall (A work of art)
The Mandalorian (*don't touch me*)
The Witcher ( still have "Toss a coin" stuck in my head)
Umbrella Academy (My favorite dysfunctional family)
Freaks and Geeks (90's vibes)
Gravity Falls (The best!)
Never Have I Ever (I laughed so hard #teamPaxton)
And Then There Was None (diabolically good)
Daredevil (I love Matt Murdock)
Books
We Have Always Lived in the Castle ( chilling and gothic)
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland In a Ship of Her Own Making (everything you want from a fantasy)
The Hazel Wood (Made for me)
Small Spaces ( 90's children will love this)
The Blue Castle (hit way too close to home)
Ocean at The End of the Lane (made me cry)
One Bad Apple (fantastic!)
Ships, Secrets, and Survivors (The adventure I needed)
Furthermore ( the descriptions!)
For the Broken Heart For the Broken Girl (Gorgeous)
Music
Manic (had on repeat for months)
Tickets to my Downfall (Loving MGK's new sound)
Petals for Armour ( Thanks for breaking my heart, Hayley Williams)
Fake it Flowers (I loove her)
Fine Line (Harrrry!)
Folklore ( A mood)
Evermore ( My aesthetic)
Kid Krow (why is every song perfect)
Black Pink (The Album) ( Have to dance)
Wake up Sunshine (A little bit of everything)
Those are some of the things that kept me from going stir crazy. I devoured a lot of media, I'm hoping to do more art and writing this year, and waste less time in front of a screen. *fingers crossed*
Just so you guys don't think I was completely unproductive. Here's a small snippet from my disaster of a notebook.
He looked at my fingers like they were lethal. As if my touch was going to dissolve him, like sugar in water.- The Fairy and the Artist
And on that note, I'll take my leave.
I hope 2021 is better for everyone.
SO MANY GOOD MOVIES AND BOOKS!
ReplyDeleteTHE MANDALORIAN! AND THE WITCHER AAH. I binge watched it so fast and am dying for season 2 :'(
THANKS!
DeleteRIGHT!! Just two mercenaries trying to take care of their charges. Same! I can't wait!
Ahhh, Knives Out is so good! And Folklore! And Evermore! And pretty much....all of these.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like your 2020 had some good moments! Taking a break was honestly what I needed when the pandemic started, too. I mean, NOW, I have pretty bad Cabin Fever, but I needed a break then.
I definitely made a point to stop saying 'no' as much, too, and, for the most part, it's worked out pretty well.
I hope your 2021 is fantastic.
And, also, that snippet is amazing, and I NEED MORE.
Isn't it! I love them both so much.
DeleteIt did surprisingly. I needed one more than I thought, oh I get that.
It makes life a lot more interesting.
Yours too!
Thank you so much! :D
Awww, Skye! I'm so glad it was a year of healing for you. I definitely can't say 2020 was my favorite year...by a long shot. BUT, at the same time, I think it was a year of healing for me as well. I discovered so much about myself and God and how to find balance, not to mention made so many more healthy habits than I've had in a long time. I think now that it's done, I'm growing to actually appreciate 2020 for everything that it was. And I too found some GREAT media and books, which is always a plus! :D
ReplyDeleteEEP. You listed some of my FAVORITES. Enola Holmes and Into the Spiderverse are SUCH good movies! AND THE MANDALORIAN. *SOBS* IT WAS SO GOOD! Gravity Falls is also one of my favorite shows of all time and I'm thrilled you've officially watched it! The Hazel Wood wood was such a fantastic read, and I can absolutely see it being a totally Skye type of story YES.
And okay but that snippet is gorgeous! You always write such whimsical, vivid things! <3
Thank you for sharing all this goodness with us! I do hope your 2021 proves to be the best yet.
:D It was a nice surprise. I genuinely thought it was going to be a bad year for me. It wasn't mine either, I felt awful about everything that was happening in the world. I'm so glad! Oh good, I felt closer to God too. Yess, it was a good time to build habits. It's nice to find the things to appreciate about it. The calm in the storm.
DeleteIt was a great year for that! :D
Yay!! They really are, I was able to watch them with my siblings and we all loved them. IT WAS!!! *wipes tear*
I love that one so much! We need more shows like it. Me too! Her descriptions are glorious. Love that you agree.
Ahhh thank you! <3333
Glad you enjoy it. Oh for you too! <3
Knives Out!! And Into the Spiderverse!!!! Ahhh, both of those were such good movies :D
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that 2020 was a healing year for you <3 <3 <3 and I hope 2021 goes well too!! :)
They are! I loved both of them. :D
DeleteThanks, it was unexpected. I hope yours is good too! <3
DUDE!!! I am so HAPPY to hear that you didn't have depressive episodes this year, and that your anxiety is improving!! That makes me SO SO happy for you *sobs* I wish I could say the same for myself, I think 2020 has been my second worst for depression and anxiety, but this is so encouraging to read because its so motivating to hear of others healing. I'm so happy and proud of you!! <3
ReplyDeleteGravity Falls YESSSS I love that show.
I hope 2021 brings you even more healing and happy days. (And something I tell myself is that healing isn't a straight line and just because we may take some steps back, it's still healing and it's still progress. <3 )
Aww thank you! It was one of those unexpected things especially considering everything that happened. You will one day. *hugs* I know it's hard to believe that, but I swear you will. I'll be praying for you.
DeleteI'm glad you found it encouraging. I appreciate it!! <3
It's the best!
Thank you. I hope you find healing in 2021 (it really isn't and sometimes you get lost. But God's always there to bring you back. It is. <3)
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland and Blue Castle are both so good!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad 2020 was good for you, and I hope 2021 continues to be!
They are, they both have this whimsical vibe to them.
DeleteThanks! I hope 2021 is good for you too!
I wish I could say more than just I Love this! Which is completely true, but it doesn't feel expressive enough.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you had a good year and that you've healed a lot. You've done so much for me this year (and other years) You deserved it!
'I love this' is perfect. I know the feeling though.
DeleteThanks! You did just as much for me, I appreciate it. :D
You've convinced me to try Knives Out! And I'm so honored that One Bad Apple made your top ten. Wow. ::hugs you::
ReplyDeleteI'm glad this year was a time of healing for you! I also spent a lot of time in prayer. And I realized just why I let my husband filter news for me most of the time -- it is NOT good for my mental or emotional health to read about awful things and awful people because I waste time and energy obsessing over things I have no control over or power to change.
Happy New Year!
Really, it's so good! Aww, it really had an impact on me. *Hugs*
DeleteThanks, it was a nice change. Oh that's a good idea, that way you still get to know some of it without being bombarded.
Exactly, it can be super draining.
Happy New Year!
I'm so so so glad to hear that your mental health has improve! That's such a wonderful thing to hear!!
ReplyDeleteFor the Broken Heart, For the Broken Girl was such a great poetry collection! I really loved it.
Ahh! I'm so glad SSaS made your top ten!! That made my day!
Thanks, it was the best thing to happen last year for me. :D
DeleteIt's beautiful!
I had a blast reading it! I'm so glad!
It's so good that your mental health was better despite all this year. I know it may be different for everyone, it wasn't just development stuff for me, but the main thing was; my mental health went haywire during puberty, and I know brain development doesn't end until like at least the mid-twenties, and I really feel like I started coming back in my late 20's, like I was "me" again or something, rather than pure paranoia. So, more hope for the future in case in might be like that for you.
ReplyDeleteI watched Spider Man: Into the Spiderverse, somewhat recently, I think it may have been last year, honestly my memory isn't great. The first part was great, and I love the music, the later more, action-y, less relationship part bored me. I think there was a song from there I that I enjoyed listening to over and over. It was just a little visually hectic for me although brilliant artistically.
I read The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland In a Ship of Her Own Making. It was not exactly my cup of tea, but a simple stretch, I guess? I want to try the others in the series.
Yeah, it was a bit of a surprise considering. Oh I think it was a bit like that for me too. I do feel like I'm getting back to myself in a way. It's nice to know I'm not the only one who felt like that.
DeleteI remember the end was a bit crazy. I just adored the art and the characters so much. Agreed!
It is one of those ones that seems like it would appeal to some and not to others. She's so great with descriptions.
It makes me so happy to hear that you had such a good year. Being free from anxiety is one of the best feelings. Here's to another great year!
ReplyDeleteKnives Out is fantastic. I've been wanting to see Jo Jo Rabbit for awhile! I'm going to start watching The Umbrella Academy pretty soon.
I LOVE that one line from The Fairy and the Artist! Your writing is so magically because it transports me into the story instantly.
By the way, since you tied for the high score on my "Guess the Celebrity Drawing Game" your "prize" is naming an actor or actress for my sister and I to try to draw. Once you pick someone well get to work! :)
Thanks! It really is, and the fact that the feeling lasted this long is so surreal. Yes!
DeleteIt is, I've watched it multiple times. It surprised me, it's heartfelt, beautiful and emotional. You should!
Ahh, thank you so much! That means a lot! :D
Oh, I did! Awesome. I'd love you guys to draw Marta. :D
KNIVES OUT (One of the best I watched in 2020 too), Emma was pretty good, Into the Spiderverse is amazing but I have watched it too many times and, oh, I want to watch Scott Pilgrim vs. the world. The storyline sounds amazing.
ReplyDeleteI want to watch The Mandalorian some time. I've heard it is good. And also maybe Daredevil?
Oh, I have read none of these. What are the authors' names? (Don't need to say Ships, Secrets, and Survivors' authors names because I already know that one and have it on my TBR.)
Also haven't listened to anything here except for Folklore, as it is the Taylor Swift album? I have started listening to Evermore (also assuming it is Taylor Swift) but haven't finished it yet.
I'm so glad 2020 was good and healing for you. It is nice to know that not everyone had a bad experience with 2020.
Ahhh, that snippet. <3 <3 <3 I need to read more. I just love seeing your writing. <3
Right! It was just brilliant. Love Emma, oh I've done that too. You should it's so funny and different and has really interesting cinematography.
DeleteYou should, it's my favorite Star Wars thing. It is. Daredevil's really dark but really good too.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland by Catherynne M. Valente
The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert
Small Spaces by Kathrine Arden
The Blue Castle by L. M Montgomery
Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
One Bad Apple by Rachel Kovaciny
Futhermore by Tahereh Mafi
For the Broken Heart for the Broken Girl by Lia Marie
(Love SsS)
I have pretty weird taste. Yup Folklore and Evermore are the Taylor Swift ones.
Thanks! Yeah, it was a strange year for me.
Ah, so glad you like it! Thank you so much! <3
Thank you for the names!
DeleteYour Welcome!
DeleteI know I'm late, haha, but I'm SO GLAD 2020 had so much positive growth for you! Being able to say that you went a year without a depressive episode is an INCREDIBLE thing. I'm so happy for you!! :D
ReplyDeleteI wasn't affected by the virus so much (no one close to me got it, and though my job situation changed a lot, I was able to keep working), but I had a lot of other things going on in my life that were extremely hard and, in a lot of ways, genuinely traumatic. Yet at the end of it, I do see where I have grown a LOT and that is a wonderful thing. :)
The only one I've these I've seen is The Mandalorian (quite good). Although my library did just get Love and Monsters today, and I've been eyeing Knives Out for a while. Maybe I'll give both a go sometime soon.
THAT FINAL QUOTE THOUGH. Why do you torture me with such short snippets?
Alexa
thessalexa.blogspot.com
verbosityreviews.com
I never read blog post on time so no worries! THANKS! I really wasn't expecting that considering the type of year it was. Thanks so much! :D
DeleteOh I'm so glad! It's good that you were able to keep working. I'm so sorry that you had to deal with all that, it's weird how hard things will do that to you. I hope this year is better for you.
So good right! It made me cry, I got so attached to Mando and wasn't expecting to. It's such a fun one. Knives Out is fantastic. Especially if you love a good whodunnit. You should!
AHHH! I'm sorry short snippets are really all I have at the moment.