Every year since 2007, I post a review on Multiply about the year that passed and rate that year with stars—5 stars being the best. Sadly, Multiply closed down, and along with its closure went my reviews for 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011. Those reviews are forever lost but I have continued that tradition on this blogspot page from 2012 to 2019.
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| My 2020 in a photo. |
2020 was generally a bad year for everyone—except, maybe for those who had personal milestones: passed their Boards and Bar Exams, became first time parents, got married, and so on. But for most of us who had nothing to show for 2020 except surviving it (which is a feat in and of itself, believe me), I had to borrow Marshall Eriksen’s Graduation Goggles just to come up with a Highs List for this year.
To get the lows out of the way, let’s start with those.
LOWS:
This year sucked for many reasons—some of which I may share with the rest of the world (poor COVID19 response from our government and everything that snowballed to, for one)—and a few personal reasons as well, such as:
1. I may sound like a disgruntled influencer or vlogger when I say this (I assure you I am not), but not being able to travel is obviously one of the biggest downsides of this year.
As someone who takes immense joy in exploring new places, I was anxious the entire year when it was becoming clear that travelling was not going to be okay anytime soon.
What I, a self-confessed traveling millennial, mourn most about 2020 is the loss of the opportunity to escape, take a break and recharge. As a result, we feel we are more drained and tired in 2020 than in previous years—even if, like in my case, work was definitely less demanding and more manageable than it was in 2019.
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| With things still looking bleak in 2021, can we just fast forward to 2022? |
2. Collecting sneakers is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it makes me really happy to get sneakers I really want; on the other hand, it is an unhealthy practice, financially. To strike a healthy balance between an unstoppable force and an immovable object (plus points for you if you get the reference), I try to be smart with my purchases every year. I sort of did well in 2019, but I failed miserably in 2020.
I started the first quarter of 2020 with only four sneakers (which was fairly okay since a couple of those were general release ones and the other one was below SRP) BUT from that point, it went downhill (fast!). I discovered the deep dark depths of online shopping, stockx, goat and shipping cart. I also made a couple of doubtful decisions, such as buying a pair of Yeezy 350 V2 Flax, and getting two pairs of the 20th Anniversary Prestos just to check which was the right size for me. I partially blame all my bad sneaker decisions on the craziness caused by this pandemic! #onlyhalfkidding
3. A week before my 31st birthday, I was officially diagnosed with Type II diabetes, fatty liver and hyperlipidemia. It was a confirmation of how badly I handled the first 30 years of my life, health-wise. I was initially scared of what this entailed moving forward, but after reassuring myself that I wasn’t dying yet, I got to work. I started medications (never drank this much pills in my life ever), and changed the way I eat, drink (and not drink), and, well, live.
I started the first quarter of 2020 with only four sneakers (which was fairly okay since a couple of those were general release ones and the other one was below SRP) BUT from that point, it went downhill (fast!). I discovered the deep dark depths of online shopping, stockx, goat and shipping cart. I also made a couple of doubtful decisions, such as buying a pair of Yeezy 350 V2 Flax, and getting two pairs of the 20th Anniversary Prestos just to check which was the right size for me. I partially blame all my bad sneaker decisions on the craziness caused by this pandemic! #onlyhalfkidding
3. A week before my 31st birthday, I was officially diagnosed with Type II diabetes, fatty liver and hyperlipidemia. It was a confirmation of how badly I handled the first 30 years of my life, health-wise. I was initially scared of what this entailed moving forward, but after reassuring myself that I wasn’t dying yet, I got to work. I started medications (never drank this much pills in my life ever), and changed the way I eat, drink (and not drink), and, well, live.
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| No, I didn't eat that cupcake. |
After two weeks of strict diet and meds, the doctor was happy with the results (my sugar went down to normal level, thankfully). I am continuing the meds and am scheduled to see him again in March 2021; hopefully, with even better results.
What this medical diagnosis gave me was an opportunity to be serious about being healthy, and not just focus on losing weight for the sake of it. Hopefully, I reach my goal weight in 2021, maintain it, and take less medications as I grow older. (I think I unlocked a new #tita level with the last phrase. Haha.)
Kidding aside, this isn't easy, to be honest, but I am doing it day by day; trying to last longer in this Earth for whatever purpose I am here for.
HIGHS:
1. Continued good health for family members and friends. This highlight tops any other this year. Be it due to divine intervention or science-based prevention, not getting sick this year (COVID19 or any other illness) will forever be a “high.”
2. My niece Max turned three this year, and is an absolute terror when she cries and gets angry, but is also full of love and wonder that I cannot help but be proud, blessed and honored that I get to be a cool aunt to her. (Even though she insists on playing with my Funko Pops regularly. Haha.)
3. For the first time since 2016, I spent my birthday with family. Ever since I could afford it, I travelled on my birthday, and for 2020 I was planning to travel to Bagan, Myanmar. But with everything that happened this year, it was more important to spend time with loved ones. Exploring can be done for 2021 2022. *fingers crossed*
4. SNEAKERS!!! Outrageous spending aside, all my sneaker purchases for 2020 brought me joy so I won’t be Marie Kondo-ing them soon. But if I really had to take a pick, my top ones are:
New Balance x Todd Snyder 997 – The Pride sneaker to top all Pride sneakers. Technically not a 2020 release, but hands down it’s my best 2020 pick-up.
What this medical diagnosis gave me was an opportunity to be serious about being healthy, and not just focus on losing weight for the sake of it. Hopefully, I reach my goal weight in 2021, maintain it, and take less medications as I grow older. (I think I unlocked a new #tita level with the last phrase. Haha.)
Kidding aside, this isn't easy, to be honest, but I am doing it day by day; trying to last longer in this Earth for whatever purpose I am here for.
HIGHS:
1. Continued good health for family members and friends. This highlight tops any other this year. Be it due to divine intervention or science-based prevention, not getting sick this year (COVID19 or any other illness) will forever be a “high.”
2. My niece Max turned three this year, and is an absolute terror when she cries and gets angry, but is also full of love and wonder that I cannot help but be proud, blessed and honored that I get to be a cool aunt to her. (Even though she insists on playing with my Funko Pops regularly. Haha.)
3. For the first time since 2016, I spent my birthday with family. Ever since I could afford it, I travelled on my birthday, and for 2020 I was planning to travel to Bagan, Myanmar. But with everything that happened this year, it was more important to spend time with loved ones. Exploring can be done for 2021 2022. *fingers crossed*
4. SNEAKERS!!! Outrageous spending aside, all my sneaker purchases for 2020 brought me joy so I won’t be Marie Kondo-ing them soon. But if I really had to take a pick, my top ones are:
New Balance x Todd Snyder 997 – The Pride sneaker to top all Pride sneakers. Technically not a 2020 release, but hands down it’s my best 2020 pick-up.
New Balance 327 – I loooove this model! Some sneakerheads say that its style will not survive the test of time and the hype around it will die down like the New Balance 247’s and X-Racers, but even so, I am still in love with the design, the colorways and collaborations that have come out so far, and its comfort (I can wear it all day!).
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| I may need a "Stop Buying NB 327's" Intervention soon. |
Nike Kobe V Pro-Tro (5X Champ) – TBH, I wasn’t a big Kobe fan growing up (I rooted more for Dirk’s Dallas Mavs and the Pistons line-up of Chauncy, Rip, Tayshaun, Rasheed and Ben), but I appreciated him more after he retired and what he did—was doing, then—for women’s basketball and the WNBA. Kobe Bryant’s unexpected death is one of 2020’s greatest heartbreaks, I am not a fan of basketball shoes as lifestyle pairs, but I couldn’t be a sneaker collector and a basketball fan without a pair of Kobe’s. That’s just impossible.
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| rest easy up there, legend |
Nike x Sacai LD Waffle (OG colorway) – I have wanted this sneaker for a while now, and was not prepared to pay 30K to 40K on a pair. Thankfully, the sneaker gods have been kind to me this year and blessed me with a good deal.
adidas Energy Concept 4D Runner – I have always been a #threestripe person ever since I got into sneaker collecting, but this year was not a good year for my favorite sneaker brand. They did sort of make up for a lackluster year by coming up with good 4D sneakers such as the Ultra 4D and this 4D Runner towards the last quarter of 2020.
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| Surprisingly comfy and light for a 4D sneakers. The colors are on point, too. |
All these pairs aside, what I am most happy about my sneaker purchases in 2020 are the ones I made for family members.
As you may have noticed, the highs of 2020 is a brief list compared to last year (my best year yet!). I did not expect 2020 to be just as good as 2019 was for me, but I did not expect it to be that bad.
VERDICT: Two stars. (My lowest rating since I started this thing!)
All the time spent in isolation and staying at home led to a lot (and by that I mean a ton) of time for self-reflection. Mid-way through my 30th year I realized I have, in the general scheme of things, made costly mistakes as to how I lived my life up to this point—and I am not just talking about my health. It was tough to realize that life has no Ctrl+Z’s and refresh buttons, and one has no other option but to live with consequences of past decisions. No matter how ill-advised (read: dumb) they were. *isang malalim na buntong hininga*
As you may have noticed, the highs of 2020 is a brief list compared to last year (my best year yet!). I did not expect 2020 to be just as good as 2019 was for me, but I did not expect it to be that bad.
VERDICT: Two stars. (My lowest rating since I started this thing!)
All the time spent in isolation and staying at home led to a lot (and by that I mean a ton) of time for self-reflection. Mid-way through my 30th year I realized I have, in the general scheme of things, made costly mistakes as to how I lived my life up to this point—and I am not just talking about my health. It was tough to realize that life has no Ctrl+Z’s and refresh buttons, and one has no other option but to live with consequences of past decisions. No matter how ill-advised (read: dumb) they were. *isang malalim na buntong hininga*
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| got aching ribs from faking it |
Happiness by Wingtip offered some comfort in the midst of all this existential yet belated quarter life crisis in the middle of a global pandemic:
If you find happiness
Hold onto it, hold onto it
'Cause most of us are bad at it
Got aching ribs from faking it
And even if it dissolves
It's still better than nothing at all
So if you find happiness
Hold onto it, yeah
THE FUTURE:
With 2020 defying all expectations (in a really bad way), there is not much to expect or hope for 2021 but for it to be even a teeny tiny bit better than 2020 was.
If you find happiness
Hold onto it, hold onto it
'Cause most of us are bad at it
Got aching ribs from faking it
And even if it dissolves
It's still better than nothing at all
So if you find happiness
Hold onto it, yeah
THE FUTURE:
With 2020 defying all expectations (in a really bad way), there is not much to expect or hope for 2021 but for it to be even a teeny tiny bit better than 2020 was.
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| No pace but your own. |
I hope to continue making better decisions for my health and heart; to get back to reading books for leisure (and not just buy more books); to try to find ways to grow where I am planted (and no, I am definitely not getting into the plant craze); and, to make every day I am here on Earth count. This isn’t much compared to my loftier goals from years past, but taking my greatest lesson from 2020 to heart, it’s okay to not be okay (yep, I am aware that’s the title of a Korean TV show but I am not into those so there are no references being made here), and, more importantly, to mind no pace but your own.
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