2020 has been exceptionally difficult, exceptionally long, exceptionally exhausting, and exceptionally despairing for all of us. COVID took a massive hit on every aspects of our lives. I think it is safe to say we are all ready to move on to 2021. I am feeling optimistic that 2021 will bring us hope, joy, and peace.
To ring in the new year, I’ve decided to get a bit personal and share 20 of my highs and 20 of my lows in 2020. As I wrote this I realized I’m sure a lot of the highs and lows I share below are shared experiences and feelings for all of us. We’ve all, no matter who you are, have gone through a similar year.
Lets get the lows over with first and end on the high notes, shall we?!🥂
20 Lows of 2020
1. Being sent home from Wake after spring break and never returning to finish my sophomore year.
2. Finding out my fall semester abroad in Florence was canceled.
3. Not being able to go to La Giostra, aka the best restaurant in the world, because I could not go to Florence.
4. Not being able to find a job or internship during the summer.
5. Online school is… hard.
6. Missing friends all spring and summer.
7. Not being able to see my parents or family for months this fall.
8. Contracting COVID two weeks after moving back to Winston Salem for school. Thankfully, I was totally fine and only a bit sick.
9. Feeling alone in the pursuit of this blog. Sometimes I feel like truly only my sisters and my mom read my posts. It means SO much when someone reaches out and lets me know they read something or made a purchase through my site 🙂
10. Overworking myself to the max this entire fall. On top of 16.5 credit hours of classes, I had an internship, and managed to keep up with this blog.
11. Not being able to see my extended family for months. I haven’t seen some since Christmas of last year.
11. My Pop-Pop being in the hospital over Thanksgiving and due to COVID restrictions we were not able to visit him.
12. Health of my family during COVID. My grandparents and some other family members have had health complications unrelated to COVID, but due to COVID it made hospital trips and doctors appointments all the more difficult.
13. My most liked Instagram picture this year was a picture of just my dog. (or is this a high?)
14. COVID scares. So much worry and back and forth quarantining every time someone gets a sore throat. You know the drill, not fun.
15. Trying to keep up with content that is relevant with in stock clothing without breaking my bank.
16. Oh yeah, that reminds me, not having an income.
17. My debit card was hacked and I had over $400 stolen from me. And I don’t an income so this is extremely problematic. Also, ironically most of the money was spent at Starbucks which if you know me is funny.
18. Missing events at school such as date functions and football games. Dare I say it… missing out on some of my college experience.
19. Not getting any presents that barked this year. I was begging Santa for a french bulldog named Pierre.
20. I have had a lot of stress and anxiety throughout the course of this year. COVID and non-COVID related. So have so many others out there. If this is you, I am praying for you and a better year ahead.
Okay… now for the good part 😊
20 Highs of 2020
1. The year started off high with ringing in the New Year with my boyfriend and some friends.
2. After rush I got the best little ever. Hi Karlee, if you’re reading this 🙂
3. Right before lockdown / Coronavirus came to the states I was able to have spring break with 20+ friends from Wake in the Bahamas. I will never forget this trip. It was so fun and the last thing before being locked down for months.
4. Even though there was great fear running ramped through my family through March and April, we were able to spend some real quality time together. Time we would have never gotten to share all six of us if it weren’t for the pandemic. My oldest sister is 26 and hasn’t lived at home since I was in 6th grade!
5. Similarly to number 5, I was able to spend time with my boyfriend that I never would have if it weren’t for the pandemic. We are long distance most of the time- we met in high school but we go to different colleges. So this was very special.
6. Similarly to 5 and 6, I got spend lots of time with my dog.❤️
7. My boyfriend and I celebrated 3 years in May. Despite not being able to do much of anything we had a great day.
8. Lots of quality time outdoors. Walks and runs with fresh air and nature.
9. Starting this blog, Annie B.! I have wanted to do this and express my love for fashion in a larger way for so long. Being locked at home gave me the time to launch Annie B.
10. My family was still able to head up to Nantucket, our favorite place in the world, for a few weeks this summer. That time was very special.
11. While we were in Nantucket we were able to do a family photoshoot, which was something we gave my mom for mother’s day. We got some beautiful photographs to cherish forever.
12. I got very good at hosting outdoor, socially distanced soirees this summer. Lots of cheese and Rosé.
13. Through my blog I have been able to connect with women like me, with similar interests all throughout the country.
14. My mom had a big birthday in October and I was able to come home and surprise her. I’ll never forget how happy she was when all of her girls came home to surprise her.
15. I’ve grown a lot and become a stronger woman. Through doing something different like blogging I’ve had a lot of people that I thought were friends make nasty comments about me or even unfollow me on Instagram. I’ve realized I don’t need people who don’t support me. “Those who matter don’t mind and those who mind don’t matter” has become a huge mantra for me. Through this I’ve gained self confidence.
16. I interned for Ann Caruso, a celebrity stylist who has editorial experience at both Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. This has been an incredible opportunity for me!
17. I voted in my first election!
18. For one of my best friend’s 21st birthday, hello Addison, we were able to have a fabulous COVID safe trip to Florida in early November. I’ll never forget those memories.
19. I was able to live in an apartment with some of my best, best friends all fall. I feel so very blessed to have them. We had so much fun cooking, making cocktails, and just being with each other after being apart for so long.
20. I am feeling optimistic and hopeful for next year! This counts as a high, right?!
Shop my Cya 2020 Look
WOW, that was long. If you got all the way through, it means a lot! Pour yourself some bubbly. Cheers to a happier and healthier year ahead. We made it. 🥂
One last thing, I found it was so much easier to think of highs than it was to think of lows. I am so grateful for all I have in life especially family and good friends. xx
