Nighttime in Sapporo
I ended 2024 with quite a bit of uncertainty, although that was a conscious choice on my part. I'm happy to say that things unfolded rather nicely in 2025. This was perhaps mostly out of luck.
My personal highlights include:
- Planned a successful family trip.
- Reunion in Japan with two of my best friends, 10 years after our first trip together.
- Went to Europe for a scientific conference.
- In fact, I just straight up travelled a lot, including solo travelling to 3 different countries!
- Got the job!
- Learned a new skill (crocheting).
- Achieved my humble reading goal of 12 books in one year.
- Made a good chunk of art, and now awareness of my "commissions" is spreading through word-of-mouth.
- Unintentionally established a monthly dinner club with new(er) friends.
- And strengthened old(er) friendships.
My plans for the new year include more of the same as last year. Which I suppose means I am either heading in the right direction or becoming stagnant.
Every year, one of my overarching goals is to create more and more. I don't think I am saying anything particularly radical when I gripe about the current state of the internet, social media, etc. I am sick of ads and websites that prioritize ads rather than actual human connection and expression.
I used to love the creativity that came with personal websites. The first website I "customized" was a Neopets Petpage. Eventually I learned more HTML and moved onto my own website with pixel art "adoptables" and a guestbook. And I think I want to go back to something like that: a creative space to customize as I want.
I will start with updating this blog a bit more and leaning a bit more heavily into that analogue life.
