2025 In Review

31 Dec, 2025

Answering some questions to reflect back on 2025. These questions were taken from Gourav's Blog (with some modifications), but the concept was inspired by Ava (this post) and Absurd Pirate (this post).

Part 1: Celebration

1. What did I do this year that I had never done before?

Went to watch live Motorsport.

Went to Gran Canaria - and went in a submarine while there!

Wore a jumper vest.

Bought a car! A 1996 Mazda Eunos Roadster (MX-5 mk1 Japanese import).

2. What am I most proud of this year?

I'm proud of my brother for graduating.

I'm proud of having worked hard at my job - I've grown my skills and value within my role which has made me feel more free and confident at work.

3. What was the best decision I made?

To go to Australia for a year, and to do so now, rather than putting it off out of a fear of delaying career progression and mortgage saving. See Pumpkin Travels.

4. What new skill, habit, or knowledge did I acquire?

I started reading on my Kindle again - a mixture of fiction and non-fiction.

Some job-specific skills that are out of scope here.

Part 2: Challenges and Learnings

1. What was the hardest challenge I faced?

Hardest continuous challenge: fighting to stay afloat at work with a shrinking team in a growing company. The silver lining to the situation is that I've been more free and driven to drive my own changes and gain management experience.

Hardest single incident: hurting my back in September and having to a) feel on edge in case I hurt it again, and b) having to stop my marathon training that I was doing at the time and had put so much time and effort into.

2. What is the biggest mistake I made?

Understandably, I took some time off running in September after hurting my back; my biggest mistake would probably be not picking it back up again. I'm now going into the near year and feel like I'm starting from scratch in terms of continually exercising. I'll need to rebuild fitness and habits.

3. What valuable life lessons did I learn this year?

I've noticed the true extent of the negative impact of passive content consumption is having on my life (primary yt and yt shorts). I'm making moves to combat this and define what I want to do with regained my time to promote purpose and fulfillment in my life.

4. Who or what drained me this year?

Work, to an extent.

5. What kept me sane?

My girlfriend. And a daily dose of Minute Cryptic.

Part 3: Connections

1. Did I meet anyone new?

I can't say I've met any new persistent characters in my life this year. Although in a way I have - my girlfriend's brother has a 2 year old son and while I had met him before the start of this year, it's only earlier this year that I've met him, now that he's started to develop and show his personality, behavioural traits, likes, dislikes, etc.

2. Who did I miss?

Some old friends that I've not kept up to date with as much as I should have.

3. Who do I wish I had spent more time with?

Direct family primarily.

Part 4: Reflection

1. Compared to this time last year, am I: happier or sadder? Richer or poorer? Healthier or unhealthier?

I'd say same happiness level overall.

Marginally less healthy - currently out of my exercise routine and now wear glasses.

Richer (for now at least; travelling Australia isn't renowned for being a cheap endeavour).

2. What would have made my year more satisfying?

If I had been more consistent in doing creative things throughout the year.

3. What music did I enjoy listening to this year?

Dived (dove?) into more 90s synth-ey laid back music as well as grungy alternative music. A lot of the time I go to a song's radio in Spotify and let its recommendations take the reins.

I'm also been enjoying listening to IDLES, especially TANGK.

4. What books did I enjoy reading this year?

Non-fiction: "Turn the Ship Around!" by David L. Marquet.

Fiction: a few Terry Pratchett novels.

5. What films/videos did I enjoy this year?

Films: The Holdovers, The Phonecian Scheme, Fackham Hall.

I've also stumbled upon a new creator called "Reject Convenience" on YouTube whose videos I've been enjoying a lot.

5. If I had to describe the "theme" of this past year, what would it be?

The runway into the unknown.

6. Have I changed my outlook or mode of thinking in any way?

I've gravitated to assigning a greater importance the structure of things, rather than just the details. I see the structure of systems as sources of emergent behaviour after reading "Thinking in Systems" by Donella Meadows, which has changed the way I think about live habits, politics, business, culture, etc.

I've also upped the value and importance of pursuing experiences over being asset-rich and over-weighting priorities toward capitalistic and consumerist goals. I.e. work doesn't need to demand all my time. When we're old and haggard, we'll be regretting the live we didn't live, not the 9-5 grind we didn't do enough of.

Part 5: Intention

1. What am I willing to struggle for next year?

Experience.

2. What is one thing I am scared to do, but know I must do?

Travel Australia and live a nomadic experience with a shed load of unknowns.

3. What do I want to have less of in my life next year?

Screen time (the kindle doesn't count).

4. And what do I want to have more of?

A desire to plan and organise my life. Social arrangements with friends and colleagues.

5. What do I want to carry forward into next year?

This blog! I want to document my life, thoughts, and travels.

6. What is the theme I want to define for the upcoming year?

Adventure.

Part 6: Notable Mentions

Did anything else happen that's worth adding which hasn't been covered by the questions above?

I cut my hair! I started growing it out in late 2018 so it's the end of a 7-year stint.