There was of course supposed to be a post titled "This year", last year. But since there wasn't, there is in its place this post, titled "Last year".
I was prepared to let it go. Take a break from the "This year"s, no harm done and anyway I've been too busy. But something within me has been absolutely insisting on writing something before calling it a year.
It's true that last year was something else (a hope I hold for the rest of life going forward). And for an unusually uncomfortable year, it had its shining moments.
The whole point of all this is to make sure my future selves remember what is worth remembering. So here goes, a short ode to 2025.
Remember the progress. The quiet, steady, and mostly invisible healing happening day by day.
Remember the victories. The things I braved through even when I was frightened.
Remember the support. All the encouraging, kindly, and comforting voices from all corners of my life that helped me stay the course.
I must admit I haven't looked backward much in my dogged mission to get back to normal. So much so that I've benefitted from the constant reminders around me on how far I've come.
But it's never too late to change! So I've decided that patting my own back at every given opportunity shall be my new year's resolution.
For 2025, I objectively give myself an A+ for effort, whatever it amounted to in real life. As with most other more normal years, I think I did as much as I was able to with the time I was given and with the energy available to me. So good job, 2025-me!
2026 ah, even though the first month was marred by an irksome amount of OT, I hope you'll be pleasant? Anyway, I shall first congratulate myself on surviving the whole of Jan at an intensity that, just a few months ago, would have sent me crashing into no-MC sick leave within 4 days. And second, I shall remind myself that the year started off in one of the bestest ways possible (3 days with suju 💙)!
Oh yes, can't forget a song for 2025. It's Calendar by (no surprises) Ryeowook. Many parts of the song are relatable, but the resonance is strongest in the English portion:
I don't wanna run away
I just know 2026 will be ok!
