It’s been a year filled with doom + horror, albeit the glimmer of hope near the end. I don’t feel the need to list all of the ways in which this year has brought me dread (as I’m sure anyone reading this knows already) so here are 10 things I discovered in 2020 that cheered me up. I share these in hopes they’ll cheer you up as well.
Unf*ck Your Brain // Podcast
This podcast is for feminists who need a little hand-holding. I’m by no means new to feminism, but I do need a little refresher every now and then… and this is the perfect podcast for that. Host Kara Loewentheil takes you through a new topic each episode, most of which are relevant to current events. It’s basically a therapy session with someone who has been there, too. I highly recommend this to anyone new to feminism or anyone looking to re-empower themselves (it’s also the perfect podcast to get ready to in the morning!).
Molly Burch // Musician
Ooh boy, Molly Burch has my heart. I was first captivated by her song Wild, which has such an interesting music video (it’s about pageants, which I have a strange history with). That song opened the door for me into all of her other music, which includes a vast array of Christmas music (!!!). I can’t wait to add all of her Christmas music to my sad yuletide playlist and live out my dream of being a cliché.
Normal People by Sally Rooney // Book
I was wildly engrossed in this novel and I’ve been thinking about it ever since I finished it. It’s a short read made up of vignettes of a relationship that flows from platonic to romantic and back again and again. The story covers a lot of topics in such subtle ways and through no over device but what is and what is not said. If you’re looking to up your reading game by the end of the year, you can knock this out in a sitting or two.
Show your Work by Austin Kleon // Book
I only finished this book yesterday, but I think it’s pretty safe to say it’s changed my life. That’s such a big thing to say for no reason, you may think. Well… sure! But it’s the whole reason I got my site up and running again and why I’ve started this blog. Kleon makes me want to create and share work LOUDLY, which is something I’ve always aspired to do. So here’s to creating and sharing work LOUDLY in 2021.
Creative Pep Talk // Podcast
Yet another piece of media that’s motivated me to create more this year. Even hearing the name Andy J. Pizza puts a smile on my face. He’s so goofy and full of life. On the podcast, he interviews all types of artists in all types of mediums. One of my very favorites was his interview with Abbi Jacobson, who is one of my favorite comedians/writers. I highly recommend this podcast to anyone looking for some motivation + inspiration. You simply cannot listen to an episode and not create something afterward.
The Crying Book by Heather Christle // Book
THIS BOOK! This book. Damn. If you liked Maggie Nelson’s Bluets, it’s written in a similar fashion. From the storyline to the bits of facts, everything about this book is so emotional and ethereal. Highly recommend to anyone who has ever cried.
Below the Salt by Haley Blais // Album
Haley Blais is one of my all-time favorite artists, mainly because of her authenticity, but also because of her falsetto. When I say authenticity, I mean she literally wrote a song about someone posting an unflattering photo of her to Facebook (the song is called Remove Tag and it’s not in this album but it’s still incredible). Her newest album, Below the Salt, is such a beautiful encapsulation of mid-twenties life. My personal favorite song off the album is Be Your Own Muse because we’ve all been there, no? Well anyway, I’ve listened to this album maybe a million times so you can listen to it at least once.
Bobbi Made This // Shop
I love my odd + fun earrings, so of course when I saw these on my Instagram feed, I had to check out the shop. This is a Black-owned small business with lovely handmade earrings at a reasonable price. Bobbi releases new + limited designs every few days or weeks, so it’s kind of a fun game to see if you can catch a pair of earrings before they’re out of stock!
Still Here Still Life // Instagram Account
If you follow me on Instagram, you knew this one was coming. I have been OBSESSED with this Instagram account. Essentially, a group of people started this account at the beginning of the pandemic to create a community of artists who would all create art from one still life prompt a week. It has EXPLODED since, and I’ve taken to joining in. It’s very fun to keep an eye on their feed + story for all of the different takes on one still life photo — there’s all sorts of styles + mediums. If you participate, they may re-share yours!
Felicia Chiao // Artist
I knew I had to buy a Felicia Chiao print immediately after seeing her work. She has a way of making the mundane look so dreamy, but in such a melancholy way — it’s hard to explain. There’s a bit of humor and bleakness in every painting that captivates me. Definitely check out her work and buy a print — mine always brightens my day!