This Year in Content: 2021 Edition

Some days, we are growing. We are wrapping our arms around ourselves and whispering to that inner child, “You are safe.” We are standing in the mirror to face the lines we use to prop up our egos and asking, “Is that true of me now?” We are throwing rotten fruit off the deck and into the river. (Or is that just me?)

I think we’re growing most days.

But sometimes, it’s softer. More gentle and laced with a feeling that might be contentment if only we’re willing to notice. We are brave enough to whisper, “I love you,” to that inner child and courageous enough to say, “I am beautiful,” to the reflection in the glass. We are listening to poetry read aloud by a friend when she only has two nights at home before returning to grad school.

And is contentment happiness? And can we trust that growing sense of peace in moments when we aren’t going, going, going?

I think so. I hope so.

Yes.

In countless moments over the course of 2021, I have asked my soul, “What do I do now?” and it has answered me, Do less.

And so there is my mantra for 2021. One of many important lessons I will carry into 2022.

Do less.

So, without further ado, here are my top favorite books, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and songs I read, watched, and listened to this year.

Merry Christmas, friends!

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My Favorite Books of 2021

1. The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

Osla, Mab, and Beth have nothing in common—until they’re each summoned to Bletchley Park to break Nazi codes. The Official Secrets Act binds them together long after they would rather remain estranged. But on the eve of the royal wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, one of these fierce BP women must be broken out of an asylum in time to decrypt a final code. Only Rose can prove that there was a traitor at Bletchley Park—and only these oddball codebreakers can crack it.

2. The Emily Books by L. M. Montgomery

These three books combine the spunk and sass of Anne with all the darkness of Rilla. This is a truly masterful trilogy, and the final book is my favorite of all. Emily’s brave, loyal, ambitious nature is perfectly suited for her quest of climbing the “Alpine Path” to literary success. And she’s psychic! A story for writers.

3. The Magic Path of Intuition by Florence Scovel Shinn

This book is chock full of goodness, distilling some of my most important learnings of the last couple of years into a single point: DO LESS. It is quite short and includes some lovely illustrations, so definitely check it out.

4. The Sutras Of Unspeakable Joy by Meggan Watterson

This little book of poems found me in divine timing. I read it in August, as I was wrapping up another trip around the sun. Beginning again. Growing. These are love poems from a human heart to Infinite Intelligence.

5. The Light of Days by Judy Batalion

Incredibly detailed research, breathtaking wins, heartbreaking losses, and heroism during some of our world’s darkest days. Some of the women mentioned in this book were in their early teens when they started delivering messages, smuggling weapons, digging tunnels, caring for orphans, staging prison escapes, forging documents, building explosives, surviving medieval torture, caring for the sick, smuggling food, and writing their stories. Can you imagine?

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My Favorite Movies of 2021

1. Black Widow

Go for the first 20 minutes. Stay for the vest with pockets. This might just be my favorite Marvel movie to date. I sobbed, I laughed, and I was reminded of why I love this franchise so much. Florence Pugh is an outstanding Yelena Belova. This was also the first movie I saw in the theater post-lockdown, so I was able to appreciate the cinematic experience like never before.

2. Spider-Man: No Way Home

I actually just saw this one in the theater a few hours ago, and y’all, it was a trip. The highs are crazy high, and the lows are really, really low. People were crying and clapping, which I thought was reserved for opening night. It was a whole experience… quite the opposite of do less. Absolutely stunning to watch and written with the ultimate precision and heart. I love Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, so I can forgive the gut-wrenchingly dark moments.

3. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

The choreography. The choreography. THE CHOREOGRAPHY. I finally watched this one last night, and I’m still thinking about how much I love these new characters and their world. I didn’t think there would ever be a superhero movie more beautiful than Doctor Strange, but Shang-Chi takes the cake. The battles look like dances. I am all about that. Also, there’s a dragon.

4. Captain Marvel

Well, I see a pattern forming here. *wink* I can’t believe it took me two years to watch this one! It made me appreciate Carol’s presence in Endgame so much more. And it’s funnier than I was expecting!? Ugh, I love when the female superheroes get their own films.

5. Klaus

Okay, so, I didn’t watch many great movies this year, but here’s one I’ve been able to count on since 2019. Klaus has become one of my top three favorite Christmas movies of all time (right up there with The Polar Express and It’s a Wonderful Life). It’s a Santa Claus origin story… and it all starts with an under-qualified postman. The animation style is lovely. I recommend it to literally everyone.

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My Favorite TV Shows of 2021

1. Outer Banks

I avoided this show like the plague (Can we still say that?) for a full year, and then I cut sugar from my diet and needed an adequate distraction. Outer Banks surprised me in more ways than one, but I especially love the character development over the course of both seasons. The breakneck pace was a lot for me at times, but I kind of fell in love with the anticipation of watching another episode. We love a good treasure hunt! Can’t wait for Season 3.

2. Downton Abbey

I finished this one way back in the wintertime, but it still stands out in my mind as one of the greatest shows I’ve ever watched from start to finish. Ruthless, yet addictive, it’s no wonder Downton Abbey is getting another movie next year. (Shoutout to the ticketing gods. I really, really want to see it in the theater!)

3. The Great British Baking Show

Every year, I love this show, and every year, I leave it off this list because it feels too… simple. So, in the spirit of do less, watch Bake Off! It is, in my opinion, the single best televised baking competition. There is no cash prize. The amateur contestants enter the tent because they love to bake. It’s fabulous.

4. WandaVision

Wanda is my favorite superhero… but is she turning into a villain?! This show is so clever and, unsurprisingly, very deep. I still catch myself mulling over the final episode, even months later. Hawkeye has been great, too, but I think this one really nailed it.

5. New Girl

Every year, I pick a “happy” show to watch after long days of work (see Friends and The Office). This year, it’s New Girl. I still have a couple of seasons to go, and it’s definitely not for everyone, but it’s low-stakes, and I often appreciate that.

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My Favorite Podcasts of 2021

1. The Way I Heard It

Mike Rowe is a master storyteller, plain and simple. I always look forward to his episodes, and I love the new, longer format. His guests are a hoot! If you’re not sure where to start, I highly recommend this episode. It made me wish I were better at math.

2. Maud: Books, Babes, & Barbiturates

If you’re not following @maudthepod on Instagram, you are missing out on some prime L. M. Montgomery content. And their podcast is the coolest deep dive into Maud’s life and times! Hosts Jen and Stef genuinely love this classic author and her books, and it shows in both their research and delivery. Y’all know I can’t get enough of Maud, so this has been a real highlight of my year.

3. Office Ladies

I bet you didn’t see this one coming. *wink* I listen to a lot of podcasts each week, but the Office Ladies are always a standout. It’s so fun to hear from Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey about their experiences on the set of The Office, and I love rewatching alongside them.

4. Self-Growth Nerds

Self-Growth Nerds was recommended to me by a dear friend and fellow creative earlier this year, and I am so grateful. Marie is an honest and deeply empathetic host, and her episodes always provide a healthy dose of perspective. If you are ready to create your life instead of being trampled by it, this show is for you. Here’s a great episode.

5. Criminal

The out-of-place-on-this-list one. I cannot adequately describe my love for this podcast. I also can’t explain it. Though I’ve been known to quit halfway through an episode because I have zero tolerance for the creeps, I keep coming back for the redemptive stories. The content that haunts me because it’s almost too good to be true. Although, I did make it through this one.

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My Favorite Songs of 2021

Click here to listen to my top 15 songs of 2021! Oddly, this playlist does not feel like an accurate representation of my year, but the Spotify gods have spoken. I did have some epic dance parties to “WOW”.

Big love! Thank you for taking this time to do less with me. xo