This year, I’ve decided to approach my yearly round-up a bit different. Since I actually kept up so well with monthly edits of Things I Love, I’ll only link or reference as necessary, rather than detailing much of the year, which is what I’ve done in the past. Mostly, I’d like to share the things that 2020 brought to me: the discoveries I made, the lessons I learnt, and the moments I enjoyed—in brief. This past year was most certainly like no other, but cheers to it. Good riddance, some of us will say. Whatever your view, here’s to a 2020 breviary. I hope you enjoy.
My year in numbers…
65 // the number of books I read — more on that in my upcoming 2020 Reading Digest
601 // the hours I spent listening to music (LOL) (it would be more if I included the radio dramas [ie, the spoken word genre] I listened to…660, to be exact) (more on this in a bit)
32 // the song with the highest plays… Switchfoot’s “Saltwater Heart“, lol NOT SURPRISING; it’s been my #1 before
6 // the total number of beach trips I am so grateful to have taken this year (see: February, Summer, & Autumn)
141.9 // the miles I ran this year
120 // the total amount of runs in 2020
115 // the number of instagrams I posted; I’m super happy with how I really became more of a bookstagram in 2020
35 // the number of blogposts published 2020 breviary
Entertainment favs/discoveries
Podcasts: Infatuated (Emily & Rebecca engage in the best chat for the “people who really fancy a good story”) // The Extra Dynamic Podcast // many theological ones // even MORE Auburn sports ones // a few writing ones as well :’)
Films: Emma (so many times, it’s probably not okay.) // Pride & Prejudice (also an unhealthy amount of times.) // The Other Guys (my siblings & I simply died w/laughter!) // Chappaquiddick // The Death of Stalin // The Eichmann Show (so. good.) // The Exception (many tears.) // Schindler’s List (years since I’d seen it, sobbed just as much, if not more.) // Love, Wedding, Repeat (entertaining, wholesome, etc.) // The Prince & Me (ages since I’d seen it, so it was a good time!)
TV Shows: New Girl (much fun w/my sister over Summer.) // The Queen’s Gambit (also w/Mel, first show I’ve ever binged all in one sitting bc it was that good.) // The Crown S4 (really really enjoyed it, watched way too many cast interviews on youtube lol.) // Gilmore Girls (watched w/Megan, who rewatched it with/for me! :’) & we watched the finale together over facetime, love u megggg.) // Community (thank u to collin for the recommendation; this was my quarantine binge show!! early stages, back in April.) // Lovesick (thank u Evie this rec!!! after seeing Emma, I needed more Johnny Flynn in my life. :’)) // The English Game // Jane the Virgin (my first rewatch since the inception of the show, v enjoyable.)
Music discoveries
Genres I finally listened to more, thus causing me to fall in love w/them even further: Alternative // Singer-Songwriter (mostly Johnny F) // 80s & 90s country // Old Western, Indie Bluegrass, Appalachian vibes // Chopin (fav of the classical music I listened to; I listened to his Nocturnes 52 times lol.) // theologically sound worship music. (because not all Christian music is the same, folks.)
New artists: Johnny Flynn (heh) // The Band CAMINO // T-Swift (latest two albums bc I only listened to her country before then.) // THE DRIVER ERA // Wallows // Colony House // Lainey Wilson // Keith & Kristyn Getty // City Alight // Sovereign Grace Music // Matt Boswell // Citizens
and finally, a shout out to the Emma soundtrack, because apparently, I listened to it 99 times. LOLLLLLL. (it should be a record for how many times I’ve mentioned it in this post lol.)
hello mr. knightley, i love u.
Creative Writing posted this year
“pulse quickens” // The June Bug // “I pine for the Sea evermore” // Seaside Diaries, ’16-’20 // A King Has Come
writing up an interview, and just having such a wonderful opportunity, was thrilling. thank you again to Nan for letting me share your story.
in terms of my writing goals, i was fairly successful! i mostly took my journal with me everywhere! i did start a travel journal & my remembrance book, and i worked on my WIPs (:
finally, i actually started and stuck to a story for nanowrimo!! so proud of the progress i made, even if i failed at it. for so long, i was afraid to write fiction, and i didn’t think i could. of course, it still remains to be proven whether i can finish a story, but i’m feeling optimistic given the start i had. i had vague inclinations of this at the start of 2020, hence why it wasn’t in my goals, so i’m very happy that i did this, and at least started, giving it a good go.
moments i am forever grateful for
the first solo-date i went on back in january. eating alone at whole foods was way more fun than i expected. :’) unfortunately, it was the only one i got bc covid lol. // cafe-hopping in march before the day of doom. //
the slow, peaceful, and happy mornings during quarantine, when my family & i would eat breakfast together. we often did our Bible-study around the table after eating. // all of the extra time that God gave me. summer especially meant that i got to spend so much time studying theology and going deeper into the Word and growing further in my faith. //
morning runs and walks during spring & summer. // properly getting into weight-lifting, hitting pb’s, & becoming physically stronger. // writing my research papers back in april & may—those were fun, interesting, and took so much hard work; it was very rewarding //
pismo, monterey, mt. hermon // all the family time i got // the few times i got to see friends // the mornings, afternoons, evenings, and late nights reading and/or writing
gratitude in 2020
Essentially, my joy for life was intensified. I am so grateful that we never had to worry about loss of income or anything like that. I am more grateful that my faith in Jesus and His sovereignty meant that I was not afraid of the virus, and neither was my family.
Even in the early days, with all of their uncertainty, when we would buy our food and leave it in the garage for at least 24 hours, when we stockpiled canned goods, water, and TP (when we could get it :’)), we were not consumed by fear. That has nothing to do with who we are. It’s all because of God’s grace in our lives.
Without our hope in Him, we would be beyond scared, but He is so good to us, and we were not. Strange as it may sound, the pandemic was actually a gift for me and my family. I grew so much in my trust in the Lord. (none of this is to say that we didn’t continue to exercise caution, btw!) 2020 breviary 2020 breviary
I understand this is not the case for everyone, and I hope I don’t sound callous in my gratitude. Lives have been lost, and I am beyond blessed that my family and friends were not a part of that. That is hard. That hurts. But no matter what your journey in 2020, you were sustained, and you made it through. That is truly a gift <333
So, that’s my 2020 breviary. A bit different than previous years, but then again, 2020 was very, very different for us. I hope that you will one day be able to look back at 2020 without pain, if that’s the case for you right now <3 Thank you for sticking with me this past year. I appreciate all the comments, shares, and love you all gave me in 2020. Happy New Year!! Many happy returns for 2021 xx