Lin-Manuel Miranda used to tweet a good morning and good night message of encouragement. He said it was things that he wanted to hear himself. When I write my wish for everyone, it is also things that I hope for myself in the new year and hope that it will resonate with others too. So below is my wish for myself (and everyone) in 2020. Additionally, I have listed some things that I am looking forward to in 2020.
1) Pay Attention
In many ways, we are/become what we pay attention to. I thought quite a bit about attention and what I give attention to in my own life this year. This year, and others, sometimes this included many thoughts of self-doubt or negative feelings that demanded to be felt. This upcoming year, I hope you pay attention to making and being a part of things that bring you joy. Mary Oliver, who died in 2019, gave the instructions for life as "pay attention/be astonished/tell about it."
2) Rest
Burnout, by Emily and Amelia Nagoski, was one of my favorite books I read last year. They talk about the importance of rest to cope with stress and avoid burnout. They write a number that is the percentage of time that people should be resting and preface it by saying they know it will sound high. The percentage they give is 41%, as in we should be resting 41% of the time. There is frequently a need to constantly be productive. With grad school and work, I felt the need to constantly be doing things. Yet, there were times, when I just couldn't. Pay attention to your body. It's okay to rest. In fact, it's necessary.
3) Keep Going
Two artists, Austin Kleon and poet Maggie Smith, both give the advice to keep going. Kleon gives this advice in his book, which is literally titled Keep Going. Smith frequently gives the advice of "keep moving" in her tweets and book coming out in 2020 of the same name. I wrote more this year more than any other year in my life. It took day after day, brick by brick, but I kept going. Pay attention, rest, then keep going.
Movies
Miss. Fisher And The Crypt of TearsI loved the TV series Miss. Fisher's Murder Mysteries, which takes place in Melbourne in the 1920s. I'm so excited for the movie, which takes place in Egypt. It is set to come out in February and through streaming in the United States.
In the Heights
Lin does such good work. I'm pumped for the movie version of his first musical. The trailer itself is so visually stunning. It comes out on June 26.
P.S. I Still Love You
The first movie in this trilogy, To All The Boys I've Loved Before, was just like a big hug. I'm excited to continue with these characters in February on Netflix.
The Lovebirds
This movie had me at it stars Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani. It is described as a "wacky murder mystery," which is exactly my jam. It is set to come out on April 3.
The Prom
This movie is inspired by the musical of the same name. It is directed by Ryan Murphy and has a *chef's kiss cast that includes Meryl Streep, Andrew Rannells, Nicole Kidman, Awkwafina, Keegan-Michael Key, and Kerry Washington. The movie comes out on Netflix in late 2020.
Tigertale
Tigertale is another movie that is coming from Netflix. It is about a Taiwanese man (played by John Cho) who leaves his life behind to come to the United States.
TV
Olympics
Who doesn't love being brought together by the Olympics? I much prefer the summer Olympics because of swimming and gymnastics. I'm excited to watch Simone Biles dominate. They also added five new events: baseball/softball, karate, skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing. So I guess that will be interesting?
Maria Bamford's Weakness Is the Brand
Maria Bamford is a comedian from Minnesota. She's one of the comedians I can always go back and still find her comedy funny. Her new special comes out on January 28.
The Good Place Finale
The Good Place is one of the best shows on TV right now. After each season, I was convinced that the writers had written themselves into a corner. Yet, each season, they managed to pivot so beautifully into a new idea. I'm looking forward to how they brilliantly and thoughtfully end the story of these characters.
Insecure
The third season of Insecure ended in 2018. I'm looking forwarding to seeing what these characters are up to again.
Shrill
I loved season one of Shrill. Not a ton has been revealed about the new season, but it is set to premiere on January 24. There are eight episodes instead of six this upcoming season.
Shadow and Bone
Leigh Bardugo is a queen of fantasy YA with her Grisha trilogy and Six of Crows duology. Netflix is set to adapt a TV show combining these two series. Live-action fantasy can become cheesy very quickly. I'm looking forward to seeing how they adapt this though.
Music
New Dua Lipa albumI was in Taiwan when I first started listening to Dua Lipa. It's been a minute. I'm ready for something new from her.
Movie-turned Musicals
There is a current trend on Broadway right now to adapt movies into musicals. For example, last year I saw the musical version of Mean Girls with my friend Sarah. Some of these are more successful than others. In 2020, they are set to open musicals of 13 Going on 30 (love this movie), Some Like It Hot (okay, I can maybe kind of see this), and The Notebook. I wouldn't be overly excited about the musical version of The Notebook, except the music and lyrics are by Ingrid Michaelson (love!). We'll see if any of these are smashes.
Jagged Little Pill Tour
One of my favorite things in 2019 was rediscovering Alanis Morissette's album Jagged Little Pill. This summer she is touring to celebrate the album's twenty-fifth anniversary. At many of the spots, Garbage and Liz Phair are also performing with her. She isn't performing in Minnesota, but maybe it will happen.
Books
You all, I had to cut this list way down. This past year was such a good year for books. There's so many good ones coming out next year too. I'm also looking forward to my friend Monica's book, which comes out in 2021. Here is the Goodreads page for it.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
This is pitched as Rebecca and Gone Girl set in a mansion in Mexico in the 1950s. It is a "reimagining of the classic gothic suspense novel." I'm in. It comes out on June 30.
Big Friendship by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman
I'm a big fan of Aminatou and Ann's podcast Call Your Girlfriend. Their book is set to be a "memoir-manifesto about the ups, downs, and life-changing importance of nurturing and sustaining a friendship." I'm happily read anything on this topic. This book is set to come out in July.
The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar
First, the cover of this book is beautiful. It is pitched as When Dimple Met Rishi meets Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda and is a rom-com about two teen girls with a rival henna business. 😍 This book will be available on May 12.
New Curtis Sittenfeld Book
In Curtis Sittenfeld's new book, she imagines with Hillary Rodham's life would have been like if she had refused to marry Bill Clinton.
Breath Like Water by Anna Jarzab
This book is a YA contemporary about swimmers. I just want to read more books about swimmers.
The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski
I really enjoyed Marie Rutkoski's Winner's Trilogy. I'm looking forward to this series, which is set in the same universe.
Other
ElectionI'm looking forward to getting Donald Trump out of office. White women, especially, please don't mess this up.
Residency
For my grad school program, the majority of it is done remotely. However, in January and July, students spend about a week on campus to attend workshops, lectures, and readings. It's school + writing camp, which is my best portal fantasy. I get to go the week after next and it's softening the blow that I have to go back to work tomorrow.
Making All the Things
This past year I rediscovered how much I love making things from painting to graphic design to interior design to embroidery. In addition to writing, I'm looking forward to making more things.
Summer Travel Plans
Summer always seems like it is filled with so many possibilities. I haven't been to a new country in seven months, but who's counting? I'm hoping for some reunions, adventures, and new countries this summer.
Hitting My Third Decade
Next month, I turn thirty. I've gotten asked quite a bit about how I feel about this birthday. It seems like a milestone, like we made the end of the decade a milestone. More for me, it is has been a reflection of what I want more and less of in this next year and decade. It hasn't been a feeling of dread, it's been a feeling mostly of hope. I'm still younger than Taylor Swift.
Next month, I turn thirty. I've gotten asked quite a bit about how I feel about this birthday. It seems like a milestone, like we made the end of the decade a milestone. More for me, it is has been a reflection of what I want more and less of in this next year and decade. It hasn't been a feeling of dread, it's been a feeling mostly of hope. I'm still younger than Taylor Swift.
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