Let’s just, for a moment, discuss the fact that 2020 is ending. We somehow made it through this ridiculous year, and for some reason we think that means it’s all going to be okay now. I say “we” because I’m one of the people who keeps expressing how glad I am that this year is almost over. Yes, I’m aware all our problems won’t just magically go away when 2020 turns into 2021, but hey maybe the aliens running our simulation will realize it’s finally time for a little break.
Anyway, it’s not like 2020 was all bad.
Amidst the pandemic, the murder hornets, the thinly veiled racism, the rabbit virus, the anti vaxxers, the fires, the recession, the election anxiety, *gasps for air* and the rest of the slew of straight up ridiculous shit we were dealing with, there were a few bright spots to help us get through it.
So here’s a list of the things (and people) that helped us get through this hell of a year:
- Bad Bunny - "Yo Perreo Sola" was the anthem of 2020.
- WAP - Honestly this one snuck up on me. I didn't think this insane concept of a song would become a movement. But it did, and we love it.
- Netflix and HBO - My time during this pandemic was divided equally between shows I’ve seen before (where I know what’s going to happen and there’s no uncertainty), shows that made me feel better about the world, shows that made me dumber, and shows that spiked my anxiety severely. Namely:
Tiger King
Too Hot To Handle
Schitt’s Creek
The Queen’s Gambit
The Good Place
The Great British Baking Show
New Girl
Friends
The Office
Gossip Girl
Gilmore Girls
Vampire Diaries (I know, I know)
- The fact that loose, oversized clothing is fashion - I'm never wearing a single tight item of clothing ever again. You can't make me.
- The one puzzle I finished and the four I gave up on.
- Very clean hands.
- Tik Tok - Even though I'm probably too old for it. I could not care less. My favorites include:
Kallmekris ("PWEEEZE")
Lizzo (Literally everything she does)
Yoleendadong ("Hello my fren")
Josh.Zilberberg ("Thank yew")
Annaxsitar ("I don't want it")
Teenage thirst traps
All dog videos
- Wine - So much wine.
- Coffee (and whipped coffee)
- (not weed?)
- Harry Styles wearing a dress.
- Taylor Swift’s new albums - I'm not crying, you're crying
- Copious amounts of cheese, chocolate and cookies
- Banana Bread.
- Joe Biden’s dogs.
- Kamala’s suits *chef’s kiss*
- Some Good News - The most wholesome thing to come from this pandemic. Bless you John Kriasinski.
- Videos of people fucking up on zoom. Constantly. Often.
Took it to the bathroom with the camera on? Saw it.
Took a shower during class with music playing and the microphone on? Sure.
Changed in front of your class? Yup.
Got up with no pants? Oh, of course.
Forgot people could see you and took a sip of white claw before the day was over? Absolutely.
- Spotify.
- Uber Eats, Postmates, Grubhub.
- Trader Joe’s.
- Target.
- Disney+
- Time to Facetime with people we hadn't talked to in way too long.
- Untamed by Glennon Doyle - Growth and self-discovery was part or 2020's ~aesthetic~
- Killing my plants - Every single one. Even my succulents.
- My stimulus check - Miss you.
- Working from home (from my bed) - I'm absolutely not interested in taking part in a commute anymore.
- The fact that I was finally able to get a dog - His name is Chicken. I'm obsessed with him.
Here’s a pic:
- Online shopping - Even though I'm poor.
- The instagrams of:
Nancy Birtwhistle (@nancy.birtwhistle)
Leslie Jordan (@thelesliejordan)
Jameela Jamil (@JameelaJamilOfficial)
- Random driving... also, road trips - I even tried out van life. It was cool. 11/10 would recommend to a friend.
- Being able to cancel any and all plans.
- Having a great excuse to stop caring about weight - Because it's about time we stopped caring.
- Thinking I’m dying every time my throat hurts - Which happens every other day.
- The fact that time stopped existing - is it Tuesday or Sunday? Idk, idc.
This year has been a shitshow, no one is denying that, but it gave us a truly shared experience. It gave us the opportunity to stop, look around, appreciate what we have, have meaningful conversations, make changes and take leaps. It also gave us the chance to sleep more, eat more, worry more, have ruminating thoughts about life and how we’re just a spec floating around in an endless universe. Anyway, it’s almost over. History books will talk about the 2020 pandemic, our kids and grandkids will ask what we were up to and I hope we can look back, sigh, and come up with some bullshit that makes this sound more interesting than it was.
We're still not okay, and with everything we've been through, we definitely will never be the same––but, hey! Happy new year?