Random Thoughts on New Year’s Eve…

Ah, 2020.

As I was scrolling through Facebook and receiving my regular blog posts from the ones I admire, I was overcome with the explosion of F—off 2020, along with a smattering of best ranked lists and goals for 2021.

I’m always fascinated to read opinions on the year behind us and the year ahead. Maybe this is why I’m a writer—delving into an individual’s outlook, concept of the world, personality, etc feeds my soul. Perhaps, it’s my input, context, maximizer, or developer at work. Or maybe it’s just my curious Muse as she feeds the well for all the books we’ll create in the future.

Bottom line? It doesn’t matter.

I’m more thoughtful as I look at the changed world around me. I won’t get into the details of what I learned, what I grieved, or who I’ve become—that’s way too deep for this blog.

For now, I’d just like to name some random things that stood out for me in 2020, and why, in no particular order.

Pixar’s movie SOUL

I know Bridgerton is currently getting more play but Soul is the winner for movie of the year for me. It’s entertaining and deep and has purpose. It’s a guiding light for the younger generation and spiked some fabulous discussion with my boys as we mused about life after death, purpose, soul work, and a variety of other topics. To me, it closed out the year on a high note, because spiritual and mental health is needed more than ever going into 2021. I’d recommend seeing it.

Netflix and Prime and CBS Access and Hulu and Apple Tv and Disney + and oh, my….

Since movie theaters shut down –a huge loss for me and my family as we are avid movie theater buffs—streaming stepped up. And oh, my, the quality and number of shows were too much to pick from. It even beat my beloved BRAVO for brain candy—ranging from Love is Blind to Tiger King and everything in between. I binged on some amazing shows: The Boys, Ozark, The Undoing, The Queen’s Gambit, the Crowne, Little Fires Everywhere, On Pointe, The Stand, and so many others there will never be enough room for it all. Shudder feeds my horror loving soul. My family and I have bonded big time as we claim movie night, make the popcorn, pick a flick or series to binge, and all gather together to watch. My son even made a list of the top fifty movies ranked as the best of all time, and we made our way through every single one. Biggest surprise? Citizen Kane. Damn, that was a good movie.

 

Meditation

As the world crumbled, I made a decision to make my inner self stronger – or at least, get to know myself better. I joined in on a meditation class every Sunday at 7:30pm and kept to it the entire year. It had changed everything for me. Before, when I believed someone else was the problem, or dealt with the unkind tapes my mind loved to spin, I’ve now learned I have the power and have made great strides toward peace. It’s also helped in my creative career in a way that’s been a game-changer. If anyone is flirting with the idea, try it. There’s plenty of apps or this special running today for the wonderful teacher I use here: Virtual Meditation Membership (January – June) – Deborah Hanlon (thecenterforbeingknowingdoing.com)

 

So. Many. Books. I gorged and read every single day in every single genre. Some notable ones literally off the top of my head:

Untamed – Glenda Doyle

The Vanishing Half – Brit  Bennett

Pretty Things – Janelle Brown

Beach Read – Emily Henry

Essentialism – Greg McKeown

The Last Flight – Julie Clark

Caste –Isabel Wilkerson

Ties that Tether – Jane Igharo

Who Rescued Who – Victoria Schade

The Initiation – Nikki Sloane

Crown Rules – CD Reiss

Dance Away with Me – Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Open Book – Jessica Simpson

A Rogue of One’s Own – Evie Dunmore

The Wives – Taryn Fisher

These are literally just a handful from my very recent memory.

Games

I’ve always been a big advocate of games and this was a perfect year to dive into even more! A list of me and boy’s all-time favorites:

Unstable Unicorns
The Chameleon
Mexican Train **how did I not know this is one of the greatest games in history???*
Taboo
Catch Phrase
The Horror Trivia Game
The Occulus Virtual Reality – you can go on roller coasters, chase zombies, and do other cool things!
Smart Ass
I Should Have Known That
Left, Right, Center

 

That’s it, my peeps. That’s all she wrote.

I could go into a big list of accomplishments and failures for the year but why bother? It is what it is. I’ve made my peace and committing to more peace for 2021 inside of myself—because you can’t find it out there.

I wish all of you health, happiness, and love on this New Year’s Eve!

PS: The featured pic was taken on top of Cadillac Mountain in Maine and reminds me of the beauty always out there amidst the mess.