A Look Back at 2024
2024 has been quite a nice year for me. It has been a year filled with ups and downs. In this post, I write about some moments I would like to celebrate and things I’d like to keep doing in 2025.
Travelling to new places
Around the middle of 2024, I went to Finland for about a week. Going there and immersing myself in the culture was amazing. I was able to appreciate Finland for its reliable and robust public transport system, the connection with nature and the coffee culture. I also got to know the Finnish way, with people mostly keeping to themselves. This is well illustrated by Finnish Nightmares, a webcomic series showcasing Finnish norms.
I will most definitely try to visit new places in 2025.
Caption: Finnish Nightmares by Karoliina Korhonen
My weekly 5K routine
Ever since a colleague and friend of mine mentored me and got me into running at the start of this year, I have made it a routine to go for a run every Sunday. I’ve run a grand total of 54 times this year, with an average distance of 5km. Although when I first started, It was quite difficult to even run a kilometre. By being more consistent, I have since started enjoying my runs. Joining a run club this summer has been great as well. It has been nice to meet other passionate runners and learn from them.
In the new year, I plan to keep up my routine and try and partake in organised runs.
Rekindled passion for video editing
Ever since 2016 I have been editing videos here and there. This year, I have rediscovered my interest in video editing. This is primarily because I helped produce a Christmas short and edited a few vlogs after my trip to Finland. Every time I sat down to edit, I could spend hours at a stretch, fully immersed in the task at hand.
I am keen to edit more videos in 2025, possibly clear out my current backlog of unedited raw footage.
Playing single player games
Around April of this year, I got back into playing single player video games. My interest came from playing Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, an open world adventure game. While playing the game, I was fully disconnected from the perils of everyday life and fully immersed in the game world. I do recognise that there is potential for going overboard, so I try and keep it within limits.
In 2025, I would like to find and complete more single player adventure games.
Finding and listening to good music
Music has been a sure fire remedy for when times get tough and I feel down. It’s nice to have those artists and albums that you know you love and enjoy listening to. But this year, I have ventured beyond what I usually listen to and have made it a point to listen to albums that people have recommended. By doing this, I have found quite a lot of artists and genres of music that I really enjoy listening to.
I plan to keep finding and listening to new music in 2025.
Caption: My 2024 replay from Apple Music
Watching movies with good stories
My partner and I have a routine where we watch a movie every Sunday night (in fact, we’re going to watch a movie later today!) This has been quite enjoyable as it’s something to look forward to every week. Immersing myself in stories helps me see the world through another lens.
In 2025, I hope to watch more local and independent movies by going to an independent cinema nearby. Speaking of experiences located nearby …
Falling in love with where I live
Earlier this year I lived in Newport for six months and while I was there, I really got to know the city and some of the locals. I have frequented nice coffee shops and restaurants, and learnt about the city’s history. Likewise, I actively try and do the same anywhere I live now. I do this by finding what the city has to offer by checking out recreational spaces like climbing gyms, local Independent cinemas, music venues, pop-up markets, etc. This has helped instil a sense of pride in the region where I live.
I hope to keep getting to know more about my city and keep up with new local shops that open in 2025.
Keeping connected with the people in my life
Living far away from home means you don’t get to see your loved ones on a day-to-day basis. But thanks to the miracles of technology, we can now, at the touch of a button, be connected to the people who are near and dear to us regardless of geographic location.
I want to keep in touch with the people I have got to know over the years in 2025.
Taking good care of my health
Eating well, exercising regularly and prioritising mental health has been front and centre for me this year. From going for a run every week to eating right and making time for myself even when things around me were quite hectic.
I hope to keep this up in the new year by consistently keeping a sustainable fitness routine, eating right, and not over-stressing the little things.
Helping others where possible
This year I have written digital cards to people and for every card that I wrote, I donated to a charity of my choice. Doing charitable acts like these are quite fulfilling.
I hope to keep that up next year and in addition, I hope to print out physical cards and send them out for birthdays as well.
That’s most of what I wanted to highlight over the past year. What are some of your highlights? Post about them on Mastodon!
Thanks for taking the time to read what I’ve created! Consider subscribing, and I’ll catch you in the next one in 2025.
Until next time,
Tony
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