*drumrolls*… I have been searching for something cheery to gratify myself and you all about this year, but I can only come up with utter silence and buzzing of crickets. Thanksgiving seemed as good a time as any to reflect on this year’s blessings.
I honestly would have spared the Earth the New Years’ Eve fireworks if I had known I was welcoming the doom with a blast. On the contrary, 2020 should rather feel grateful for it received such a warm welcome- regardless of being unworthy.
Less People, though.
This, I definitely am thankful for. I did not have to make excuses for staying away from human interaction, which was a relief. I was running out of white lies in the middle, “Sorry, I am maintaining the protocol” sounded both intelligent and legitimate, so that’s definitely something I’ll be thankful for.
Can you imagine the amount of parties, needless conversations and annoying people I managed to escape? Damn.
Shopping online (!)
Oh, I gotta give 8/10 to 2020 for this one. Living with my parents and ordering stuff online isn’t fun when they realise they’ll end up paying for it eventually even if nothing in the package is useful to them (or me, for that matter). However, they couldn’t say no when I wanted to order junk food or clothes I won’t wear, or books I will use as my armrest… because otherwise it would mean I would have to go out and risk my life for those luxuries!
Kudos to all the businesses and deliverymen, who took no days off, just to make sure I purchased things I would later regret, and yet, knowingly, risked their necks to get them to me.
Lectures in PJ’s from the bed
Now, this. Some days I slept with my earplugs still in because the class was going on in the morning, but there I was, sound asleep, cosily tucked into my blanket of denial, self-ambush and … just kidding! I am a nerd, but too damn lazy to get out of bed or change, so I just wake up, plug my earphones in- still in my PJs — and swallow each lecture, take screenshots of slides and go so far as to discuss the topic at hand with the faculty.
People probably assumed I secretly snuck into a classroom or library, dressed in plaid with my piggy braids and glasses on, propagating the position for TA. I could be, but I could also be speaking from a completely inappropriate place setting- that’s the thing with virtual classes, possibilities are endless! Heck, you’d be lying if you said you wanted your camera turned on during class.
Netflix Party
“Darling, I wish I were the popcorn bowl sitting on your lap right now. I’m so jealous of it! — — – oh my GOD! Noah Centineo….!”
Yes, now that’s something we didn’t have before 2020 and were totally dying for, but this made it happen. I mean, who doesn’t like to be bombarded with friends having a completely irrelevant conversation in the chatbox during a movie, right?
It’s true though, I realized that 40-minute episodes could last a decade and it would still be 1 in the afternoon! I also realized, binging is more fun when you mute your professor’s lecture just to watch Chuck Bass propose to Blair Waldorf atop a skyscraper for the umpteenth time!
Fitness Feed: Um…
When I ran out of excuses about not having enough time to focus on my body and that muffin top, I actually went out of my way to fix up my room and make it cardio-friendly. I downloaded several apps to track my fitness progress and calorie intake.
I’m sorry to break it to you, that aunt you met at a wedding who told you that sticking to a plan actually works- she was right. It does work! It’s safe to say I don’t miss the extra inches around my waist.
Instagram ready- rooftops and balconies are worthy retreats.
Props to self timers and ring lights…I almost feel like an influencer. I didn’t realize how many photos we took each day before 2020, but when I did, I needed content for my Instagram feed because people were starting to throw up from the overload of throwback pictures.
A lot of good came out of it though, people explored their creativities, rooftops became the “going out” retreat, balconies started to feel closer to home than the rooms itself… you get the picture right? God bless Instagram, for it allowed me to spoil my unworn clothes on social media (I can never wear them again because the pictures are out there) and made me realize I wasn’t born with super sensitive skin- just a very insensitive judgment and insecurity that makes me use makeup.
Boy, I am thankful to 2020 for making me realize that human beings are completely incapable of functioning and should not be let out of their homes. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Try not to be too thankful to your toxic significant others who insist that Sophia/Mark is just a friend who they occasionally share your nightgowns with — get them to dry wash those for 1. It’s a safety measure, 2. It shows gratitude.
