2019 Wrap-Up
Time to talk about another incredible year in my life!!
In true Jenna fashion, 2019 turned into something spectacular. It was filled with unexpected joys and weird little detours, and at the end of this twelve months, I am incredibly grateful for everything that happened to me this year. I started in January with a lot of goals, and miraculously, a lot of them were accomplished.
I wanted to read 100 books.
I wanted to finish writing a first draft of a novel.
I wanted to learn how to cook (and enjoy the process).
I wanted to stop eating added sugar.
I did all of that. ALL OF IT. And, on top of that, I self-published a poetry book that debuted at #1 on Amazon!
When I told everyone my 2019 resolutions, pretty much everyone I talked to gave me a look and said "Wow you're ambitious." And because I'm a Taurus, I had to be stubborn and do it all. Even though it was stressful at times to do everything, and I still really want a donut, I'm doing great. Better than ever, actually.
I have realized a lot of things about myself in the past twelve months, and it's led to a lot of personal growth. I started seeing a counselor, and she's been really helping me recognize how I can improve my mental health, which was the biggest unexpected blessing of this year, I think. I'm learning how to step into the daylight and let it go (ha), and part of that is realizing that New Year is actually my favorite holiday. I know a lot of people hate this holiday, and they don't like being so introspective, but I like getting to reflect on the things I've done in any given year. I like accomplishing things and looking back to be grateful for everything I've been through. It gives me more purpose and more drive to try harder in the next year. And sometimes that doesn't last all year, sometimes I don't accomplish all my resolutions, but I think it works for me. It gives me a lot of momentum in the months where most people feel super depressed. (Granted, even though my most productive months are Jan/Feb, my most depressing months are June/July, but whatcha gonna do?)
All that being said, I think I need to calm down in 2020. People are going to ask me about resolutions, and while I've thought about some I could do, I think this new year is going to be slightly more relaxed for me. I have plans, things I know are going to happen, but I don't want to spend the entire year tallying off books or frantically trying to create internet content. In 2020, I want to finish editing this current fiction novel I'm writing. I would love to find an agent, but that's pretty far off right now. I also have plans to move, to start freelancing full time (YIKES), to get a tattoo, to see a bunch of shows, and lots of other fun things. I may be "relaxing" on my resolutions, but I am NOT slowing down yall. The 2020s are going to be wild, and I'm ready for it.
As always, I consumed so many stories this year, and I wanted to celebrate that with you today!
BOOKS
Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
The Song Rising by Samantha Shannon
The King’s Men by Nora Sakavic
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
The Folk of the Air series by Holly Black
I Was Born for This by Alice Oseman
Radio Silence by Alice Oseman
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi
There’s Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon
I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
the mermaid’s voice returns in this one by Amanda Lovelace
Beyond the Black Door by A.M. Strickland
Call Down the Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater
MOVIES
Knives Out
Booksmart
Jojo Rabbit
Spider-man: Far From Home
Avengers: Endgame
TV SHOWS
A Discovery of Witches
The Umbrella Academy
Schitt’s Creek
The Good Place
Russian Doll
ALBUMS
Neotheater by AJR
Trench by Twenty One Pilots
Blurryface by Twenty One Pilots
Saves the World by MUNA
Lover by Taylor Swift
Vessel by Twenty One Pilots
Love + Fear by MARINA
Phantoms by Marianas Trench
Heard It in a Past Life by Maggie Rogers
Fine Line by Harry Styles
Dermot Kennedy by Dermot Kennedy
when we all fall asleep, where do we go? by Billie Eilish
SONGS
Daylight by Taylor Swift
Like a Girl by Lizzo
Pink Light by MUNA
Back in my Body by Maggie Rogers
Moderation by Florence + the Machine
Karma by AJR
The Killing Kind by Marianas Trench
when the party’s over by Billie Eilish
Take Me Home by Ingrid Michaelson
For Island Fires and Family by Dermot Kennedy
Why Am I Like This? by Orla Gartland
Hallelujah by Oh Wonder
A Song for Everything by Maren Morris
demons by Hayley Kiyoko
Push for Yellow (Shelter) by Valley
MOMENTS
When Taylor Swift showed up at the butterfly mural on 4/26
Interviewing Stephen Chbosky - who then said I was one of the best interviewers he’s ever had
“Sober Up” by AJR from the photography pit in LA
“I Know a Place” by MUNA Live in Nashville
Self-published my poetry book and sold over 1,000 copies
Had a poem traditionally published in Amanda Lovelace’s book AND FOUND THAT POEM IN BERLIN
Photoshooting in the LA National Forest with Heather at sunset
When Harry Styles came out at the Kacey Musgraves concert and yelled “YEE HAW!”
Interviewing Austin Roa in OKC
“Jumpsuit” by Twenty One Pilots Live in Atlanta
Taking photos with Kenzie Kate in the desert
Waking up in our VRBO in Berlin the first day and seeing the courtyard in the sunlight
Watching the sunset as we flew into Helsinki
Finishing the first draft of my novel at a coffeeshop in Franklin
The ballet scene in the new Oklahoma!
Octet with Laura
Listening to “Take Me Home” by Ingrid Michaelson on the beach at Lake Michigan
Facetiming Hannah from a wedding right after she got engaged
First Nashville Pride in the rain with Katie & Emily
When I cooked a whole lasagna by myself for my birthday get-together