Happy Sunday!

Finally, finally, we've reached the end of this crazy year. It feels like it passed in a snap, but also January was approximately six million years ago. XD

This might sound weird, but I've actually been really excited to write this wrap-up. 2020's been such a strange and hard year, but to me that's all the more reason to document it. And at the end of this decade, I want to look back and remember 2020 and everything I learned.

why am I planning a decade reflection blog post already. help.

Anyways, this is going to get long - as they always do. It'll be a lot more reflective since I want to get my honest thoughts down. So feel free to skim. This post could get interesting. XD

When I thought back on my favorite stories of 2020, a lot of things came to mind. Surprisingly, though, I had a hard time thinking of books. It's strange, because I know I read a lot of amazing books this year. 100 Days of Sunlight was definitely my favorite read. I also really loved the Lockwood and Co. series and Blank Mastermind, both of which I'm planning to reread in 2021.

But my favorite stories of 2020 weren't books. They were anime.

Wow, that feels odd to type. Last year, I had barely watched any anime. I thought it was weird and not my type of content, and the few episodes of My Hero Academia I'd watched hadn't overly impressed me.

And . . . yeah, I still think anime's weird. XD But I was SO wrong in thinking that anime wasn't up my alley. I loved nearly every single show I watched this year.

My Hero Academia gave me the motivation to get through my spring semester and even do a little exercise sometimes. ;) Your Lie in April made me laugh and cry and realize just how much I value music and my friendships. Fullmetal Alchemist quickly became my second-favorite TV show of all time, and I'm not kidding when I say the ending was unlike anything I've ever seen before.

There are so many other examples: A Silent Voice, Attack on Titan, even Death Note . . . all of them, in some way, literally changed my life.

Even the fandoms of some of these shows were so mind-blowing. I got into the Villain Deku side of the My Hero Academia fandom, and while I only regret watching some of the animatics, it gave me inspiration to write a villain origin story and introduced me to some of my favorite songs ever.

Speaking of songs, I also found my favorite genre of music through anime: J-pop. I listened to a LOT of music this year, and 92% of it was j-pop.

In short: Anime introduced me to amazing characters and songs, blew my mind with every show, and gave me some of the best memories of 2020. <3

And if it's all right with you guys, I'd like to talk more about anime and fandoms next year. Let me know in the comments if that's something you want to see. :D

In terms of writing this year . . . man, I don't know. It's been a weird writing year, to be sure. I entered into a love-hate relationship with the Inhumans, which I'm now back to writing again, this time with substantial edits set in place. XD It's been . . . an interesting time. But I think I'm finally on a better path with this story, and I'm so, so glad for it.

Other writing feats of 2020:

- finishing the first draft of Project Chaos, which made me cry XD

- writing down six thousand story ideas and never acting on any of them

- forgetting to write down another six thousand story ideas (specifically on Christmas) and dying inside

- getting published on Havok again! :D

- getting published in a Havok anthology!! *still mind-blown*

- procrastinating

- more procrastinating

- yeah. it's very sad. BUT my goal for 2021 is to take my writing way more seriously and make a conscious effort to do it every day. We'll see how it goes.

Honestly, you all made 2020 amazing. I met so many of you this year and got to know a lot more of you better. <3 <3 You all are the best community of writers and readers I could ask for. :D

And you really liked some of my posts. As of the end of this year, the Get To Know Me Tag - Writer's Edition was my top post, which is kind of strange, seeing as that was one of my very first posts. *shrugs* Another really old post you liked was my Seven Characters with Great Redemption Arcs post. 

how are all these old posts getting so much traffic??? can someone explain please??

This year, 79 of you followed me, and you viewed my blog almost 50,000 times. 

Wow.

Seriously, thank you so much. You are all amazing, kind, beautiful people. <3 <3

*cue the rambles*

I was going to wrap up everything that happened this year, but we all know 2020 has been a TRIP, and that task just felt so overwhelming. 

I was reading through my 2020 journal entries to try and gather my thoughts, and to my surprise, recurring themes kept popping up. I was astounded at how I saw God work in my life this year. He answered my prayers in ways I didn't even think possible. 

I also saw a huge theme of self-reflecting. I started journaling a lot more frequently, and I documented the different lifestyle experiments I tried and the things I tried to make me more productive. While most of these backfired in embarrassing ways, it really helped me figure out how I tick.

And I tick in very time-wasting ways.

So that's why my phrase for 2021 is to live intentionally. 

I have to start taking opportunities when they come, listen to my gut, and stop wasting my time. Because if 2020's taught me anything, we only have a limited time to enjoy what we have and make an impact.

Well, in a few days, 2020'll be over. I can't even begin to imagine what will happen next year. I know that things won't automatically get better once the New Year arrives. 

But I can't wait. 

And at the risk of jinxing it all . . . bring it on, 2021.

just kidding, please come in quietly and don't make a fuss

-Nicole <3

How was your year? Do you have any goals for 2021? How are you spending your last days of 2020? Let's talk before the year ends!