Friends - My friends are the best. I truly got lucky with them. They checked up on me regularly, as I did them. We were fortunate enough to hang out frequently over the summer and even traveled to AZ. We had some great times together, creating new experiences and memories. They were also a great distraction from my family and/or boyfriend when, you know, things weren't the best
Family - More specifically my sister. My sister really helped me get over arguments with my parents. She validated my thoughts and emotions and let me vent out my frustrations. My family and I went to Florida over Thanksgiving to visit my Grandfather and it felt really nice to be surrounded by loved ones during that time
Boyfriend - It's always nice hanging out with your significant other. My boyfriend is very supportive and is a great listener. He was always there to comfort me through the tough times. Even if we couldn't physically be together all of the time, his sweet words and virtual hugs helped me through a lot. Also, when we were able to see each other, he kept me off my phone and for that I am forever grateful
Music - A good song can really change your mood in an instant. Blasting my music in the shower always did the trick. Discovering great new songs is always a win and I discovered plenty of those. Currently on repeat: Ookay by Thief, Lemonade by Internet Money, and Hold On To Me by Valerie Broussard
Reading - This definitely kept me off my phone during most nights. I started the After series during the summer and now I am obsessed with it. I try and read every night before bed because it tends to help me sleep more throughout the night
Netflix - I watched so many great shows. Ones that made me laugh but mostly ones that got me in my feels. It more importantly kept me distracted from what was happening in the world, even if it was only for an hour or two... or five. Some of my favs last year were Outer Banks, Private Practice, The Challenge, Catfish, Away, and Tiny Pretty Things
Hot Showers - If the shower isn't burning my skin off then it isn't hot enough. I love a hot shower and I would legit stay in there forever if I could. Them hot showers made me feel warm and comforted. Afterwards, I would always feel like a brand new woman
Dunkin' Donuts - I would get this every time I came back from my boyfriend's house. It made me so happy. I had an addiction at one point. I loved my bacon, egg, and cheese on a plain bagel with an iced matcha green tea latte with oat milk. Ugh, the best
A Good Breakfast - Since I went vegan around October I had to find new alternatives to my usual breakfast. Avocado on sourdough bread with Just Eggs quickly became my go to. It started my day off right and feeling good
Working Out - Walking, running, HIIT, bike rides, stretching, weights. Working out made me feel better about myself and my body image. I lost 10 pounds during quarantine and that is something I am proud of
Long Walks - I really enjoyed these and they deserve their own category. It was needed time to myself and allowed me to think about my past and present. I talked to myself a lot during those walks and I realized I was still holding onto traumas from my childhood. I became more aware of the woman I am becoming, I replayed countless arguments in my head, I discovered behaviors I have learned from my parents and behaviors I need to unlearn, and more. I tell you, it got real deep out there
The Occasional Going Out and Getting Ready - It felt nice to dress up, put make-up on, do my hair, get out of those clothes I had been wearing for a week straight and feel "normal" for a bit. The handful of times I did outdoor dine wasn't so terrible. It was a nice change of scenery with people I love
Work - I really do love my job (when it's not stressing me out). I am thankful that I still had a job during the pandemic. It kept me busy and gave my days meaning and structure. Also, my boss is a great person and he keeps work feeling light
PTO - On the contrary, taking that PTO helped tremendously when I just needed a break from work. Taking PTO gave me the energy I needed to get back to it
Writing - I've been writing since 2005. I have about five filled journals worth and stacks of typed out pages of my thoughts and occurrences. Writing is my way of expressing myself and dealing with my emotions
Laser Appointments - I really have no idea why but every time I finish a laser appointment I always feel really good. I started getting laser in the beginning of quarantine and unfortunately, I have my last appointment in a couple months
Taking Vitamins - Whenever I did, I felt productive and felt like I was fueling my body with what it needed. Yay, vitamins!
Face Wipes - Literal lifesavers when I just didn't feel like washing my face, which was basically all of the time. I know, I know, it's a face wipe but I still felt like I was doing someeeething
Disposable/Polaroid Camera - I had bought two disposable cameras when I went to Florida. Having my own little project during the trip made it more entertaining and fun. I also bought a polaroid camera during Black Friday and fell in love with it instantly. It's really nice to capture memories in a different way other than your iPhone
Photo Albums - It took me about three days to go through all of my baby pictures. As a result, I created five photo albums worth of pictures, which I love because I now have a place to store all of them. It will be an ongoing project but it's been really fun and nostalgic going through old pictures
Discovering New Vegan Places/Dishes - Loving Hut specifically. They have the best vegan cookies. Their whole menu is vegan which is amazing so you never have to ask, "Is this vegan?" It's perfect for days when I didn't feel like cooking. When I did cook though, my favorite dish that made me happy was and still is a Beyond meat patty melt with Daiya cheddar cheese. Mm, so good
My Car - Sometimes I just needed to get out of the house and running errands became a nice escape for me. I have a 2018 Honda Civic and if you know me, you know I love my car. The inside of my car is always clean and I don't know, I just like driving in my car sometimes. Especially with a good song on. It makes me happy
Shopping - I legit never related to retail therapy until this year. I bought so many things and getting all of those packages delivered felt like Christmas every time. I re-did my whole wardrobe and now I need a bigger closet...
Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Sunflower Seed Butter Cups - Uhm, bomb. Again, since I went vegan I had to find alternatives to my usual milk chocolate and this was the perfect discovery. I now buy two bags at a time
Myself - I overcame a lot last year and became more aware of many things. I'm still growing and learning but I've really been trying to be more kind to myself. I have a lot to be proud of and I honestly couldn't have gotten through 2020 without myself, let's be real(;
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