I Made 2020 My Year, and You Should Too

Complaining about 2020 is easy. There is a lot to feel down about. All the lost lives and suffering. Unemployment and the plummeting economy. Racial injustice. The divisive election. The list goes on.

Being grateful for 2020 is not as easy.

I had a lot of to-dos for this year that did not come to fruition. I wanted to go on an African safari; instead, I haven’t flown since February. I wanted to hike Havasupai Falls in the Grand Canyon; since March, travel permits there have been suspended, indefinitely. I wanted to challenge and stretch myself musically this year (I’m a vocalist); instead, karaoke is nearly impossible with a mask (if it’s even open!). 

Despite my failed plans, I accomplished a lot this year. 2020 has been a blessing.

I went under the laser and had eye surgery, giving me 20-20 vision for the first time in my life. This is an incredible freedom, as I struggled with debilitating poor vision that limited my participation in many activities.

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Ignore the goofy getup, the drugged smile and double chin… this post is about ⚡️FREEDOM⚡️. And it’s in the palm of my hand (or more aptly, the center of my face)! For a few years, I had been chewing on the idea of #ICL — implantable #contactlenses — my vision SO horrible I was ineligible for #lasik — and what held me back was the incredible price tag ($7K for both eyes) and the scariness of going under the knife especially for someone with an #eyephobia… But FREEDOM kept calling. With all my #traveling and #adventure, I felt like I was more limited without the surgery. Surfing off the coast of Hawaii? If I lost a contact, I would be SOL. I wouldn’t know which way was up. Headline reads: lost at sea. Glacier hiking, desert dune-buggying, underwater cave exploration? Lost a contact = consider me a missing persons. But far more regular was for me to wake up in a foreign place and be completely ignorant to anything going on in front of me until I could scrabble for my glasses. (I couldn’t identify a single soul in a lineup.) MUCH LESS having to bring along weeks and months worth of daily disposable contacts that, for a #backpacker, takes up coveted packing space. So I did it. I did the consult. I put the max into an HSA. I made the appointments, I beat my phobia and I got it done. And already I’m so pleased with the results. 20/20 in 2020 is not a bad way to be. Shoutout to Dr. Duncan and his team at @horizonlaservision2020 for taking great care of me! And anyone out there with poor eyesight, who’s on the fence but wants freedom and #2020vision like ME 💗 it’s so worth it 💫

A post shared by Julie Rose / juliedevivre.com (@juliebrose) on Jan 11, 2020 at 9:07am PST

I bought an SUV, took up car camping, and visited five national parks (this year so far) — Badlands, Zion, Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Tetons — and more to come.

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The cold hard truth about #carcamping? It’s no hotel, motel or RV. You’re going to wake up at the crack of dawn, feeling a little bit achy. You learn how to squat pretty fast. Baby wipes are your multi-use best friend. You stop caring about #makeup or about being a tad dirty or even changing into pajamas. (I’ve definitely been known to #hike and sweat ➡️ sleep ➡️ hike and sweat in the same clothing. Sexy, right? 🤷‍♀️) But it gives me an outlet to satisfy my #wanderlust, especially given the virus restrictions. When you #roadtrip, the continental sky is the limit… and this weekend… my next #adventure beckons! 🚙💨🏕⛰🤩

A post shared by Julie Rose / juliedevivre.com (@juliebrose) on Jun 4, 2020 at 7:53pm PDT

I sold my 1,600-square-foot house and downsized into my SUV, purged 98% of my earthly belongings, and embraced a minimalist, nomadic lifestyle. By the end of 2020, I will have visited (or temporarily-lived in) seven new states this year: New Mexico, South Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Arkansas, and Alabama, meeting incredible people and seeing beautiful things.

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🎵 It's a new dawn It's a new day It's a new life For me… and I’m feeling good 🎵 What a whirlwind the past few months have been, ever since I made the humongous, life changing decision to sell my house in AZ and downsize into my SUV to live a #lifeontheroad… chasing good weather and new experiences. It’s been a massive amount of work — during which I definitely felt overwhelmed and stressed — but as I look at my sparkling, empty home — all of that effort and sweat has culminated in today’s somersaults of excitement. I feel reborn 🦋 And “so the adventure begins”… goodbye #phoenixaz, hello #nomadlife. 2020 is looking up 🚙💨💖🥰 Follow my journey on IG and leave me a comment with your thoughts!! First stop ➡️ #boiseidaho!

A post shared by Julie Rose / juliedevivre.com (@juliebrose) on Sep 4, 2020 at 12:36pm PDT

I turned 35, and while I had a few more disappointing false starts in the relationship arena, I have a sunny outlook that the man who’s right for me is out there, and I’ll find him when the timing is right for us both. 

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Why am I #stillsingle? I get asked this question on a regular basis. And man, it’s not been easy making sense of it — but this is what I’ve learned (especially in the Phoenix/Scottsdale #datingscene): 1️⃣ #intimidation is real. #Dating a woman with her sh*t together can, for an insecure guy, draw unwelcome attention to his sh*t being un-together. 2️⃣ some guys don’t actually want to date you. They want to know they could date you, and crave #validation, but are unwilling to actually put in the effort to nurture a quality #connection. 3️⃣ if they come on too strong they will likely disappear just as fast — indicating they have limited self-control and will allow their #emotions to rule whichever way the wind blows. 4️⃣ too many needy women have allowed poor behavior, making men think a litany of sins are acceptable and forgivable; that their mere presence is worth the drama. (FALSE!) 5️⃣ some men are focused on the wrong things — their looks, their “game,” material wealth/possessions — and forget the simple approach of SHOWING UP, making an effort, and being consistent. Click the #linkinbio to read more of my #datingblog on the #singlelife 📲 and let me know your thoughts! And P.S. #youareworthy, #dontsettle 😘❤️

A post shared by Julie Rose / juliedevivre.com (@juliebrose) on Jun 16, 2020 at 8:22pm PDT

Sure, 2020 is not what I expected or planned for, and it’s been uncomfortable and demoralizing in a lot of ways, but I take this approach: I take stock of all my blessings. I have what I need to live (which isn’t a lot, as I’ve discovered), I have my health, and I have independence and the right to think and act for myself.

We’ve got two months left. Are you making the most of it and appreciating all the good things you have?