The year in review
Dec. 31st, 2025 01:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
meteordustLast year, I said, "It certainly has been A Year. A lot of family health stuff, and everything going on in the world." Well, it's definitely still all that.
My fandom year
Fanfic: Again I wrote very little fic. I took part in Hurt/Comfort Exchange, Id Pro Quo, and Yuletide.
I wrote 4 stories this year:
1 - The Silmarillion - The Pillar of Heaven (Id Pro Quo)
1 - The Elric Saga - The Cage of Dread and Desire (Hurt/Comfort Exchange)
2 - Yuletide fandoms (to be revealed)
Fandoms: I got into Haikyu!! like ten years after everyone else, and I've been devouring all the fic and trying to find any discussion. I haven't been this excited about a fandom in a while, and it's been my happy place in a tough year.
Platforms: I continued posting to Dreamwidth, and continued cross-posting fic to my Dreamwidth fic journal. I didn't do much on Tumblr or anything on Discord.
2025 in review
1. What did you do in 2025 that you'd never done before?
New travel adventures.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Always a work in progress. I'm trying to learn to let go of perfectionism and completionism and FOMO.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes.
5. What countries did you visit?
China.
6. What would you like to have in 2026 that you lacked in 2025?
The energy to finish more things.
7. What date from 2025 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Family health stuff. World political stuff.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finally getting to go on one of my bucket list trips.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not finishing a major project.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
A few colds.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Plane tickets.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Once again, anyone being kind to others.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
So much to do with politics.
14. Where did most of your money go?
The big trip.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The big trip.
16. What song will always remind you of 2025?
KPop Demon Hunters came out of nowhere and totally enchanted me. I know that "Golden" is the song everyone talks about, but "What It Sounds Like" is my hands down fave. "Golden" feels like the "I Want" song (which is a good intro that you can put in all the promos), while "What It Sounds Like" is the "I Become" song (which is powerful in context and spoilery as hell).
17. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing. And finishing writing projects.
18. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Procrastinating on the internet.
19. How will you be spending Christmas?
With family.
20. What was your favorite TV program?
I finally finished Severance S1 after 3 years and Babylon 5 S1 after 30 years. They were both really good!
I watched a lot of other shows I enjoyed, but nothing I loved without reservation.
21. What was the best book you read?
I finally read and loved Mary Stewart's Merlin series and Tamsyn Muir's Locked Tomb series. I also loved Alliance Unbound by CJ Cherryh and Jane S Fancher, The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Marie Pope, and Unraveller by Frances Hardinge.
22. What was your greatest musical discovery?
A lot of great musicals this year! But a special shout-out to Hadestown, which I'd been waiting years to see, and it was totally worth it. Just so good.
23. What did you want and get?
Staying in touch with people through everything this year.
24. What was your favorite film of this year?
I was very impressed with Golden Kamuy, KPop Demon Hunters, and Wicked: For Good.
25. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Cake with family. Older but wiser.
26. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
In the big picture, I don't even know where to begin. On a personal level, probably better sleep habits.
27. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2025?
Probably the same as the last few years.
28. What kept you sane?
As always, friends and family.
29. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I can't think of anyone who particularly stood out.
30. What political issue stirred you the most?
It feels impossible to choose.
31. Who did you miss?
Absent friends.
32. Who was the best new person you met?
I'm not sure I have an answer to this.
33. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2025:
Understand what's important, and let go of what's not important.
34. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
My pick has got to be "What It Sounds Like" from KPop Demon Hunters:
So we were cowards, so we were liars
So we're not heroes, we're still survivors
The dreamers, the fighters, no lying, I'm tired
But dive in the fire, and I'll be right here by your side
We broke into a million pieces, and we can't go back
But now we're seeing all the beauty in the broken glass
The scars are part of me, darkness and harmony
My voice without the lies, this is what it sounds like
Why did we cover up the colors stuck inside our head?
Get up and let the jagged edges meet the light instead
Show me what's underneath, I'll find your harmony
Fearless and undefined, this is what it sounds like
Honorary mention to "If It's True" from Hadestown:
If it's true what they say
I'll be on my way
But who are they to say
What the truth is anyway?
Cos the ones who tell the lies
Are the solemnest to swear
And the ones who load the dice
Always say the toss is fair
And the ones who deal the cards
Are the ones who take the tricks
With their hands over their hearts
While we play the game they fix
And the ones who speak the word
Always say it is the last
And no answer will be heard
To the question no one asks
So I'm asking if it's true
I'm asking me and you, and you, and you
I believe our answer matters
More than anything they say
Happy New Year! Wishing you peace and joy in 2026.
My fandom year
Fanfic: Again I wrote very little fic. I took part in Hurt/Comfort Exchange, Id Pro Quo, and Yuletide.
I wrote 4 stories this year:
1 - The Silmarillion - The Pillar of Heaven (Id Pro Quo)
1 - The Elric Saga - The Cage of Dread and Desire (Hurt/Comfort Exchange)
2 - Yuletide fandoms (to be revealed)
Fandoms: I got into Haikyu!! like ten years after everyone else, and I've been devouring all the fic and trying to find any discussion. I haven't been this excited about a fandom in a while, and it's been my happy place in a tough year.
Platforms: I continued posting to Dreamwidth, and continued cross-posting fic to my Dreamwidth fic journal. I didn't do much on Tumblr or anything on Discord.
2025 in review
1. What did you do in 2025 that you'd never done before?
New travel adventures.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Always a work in progress. I'm trying to learn to let go of perfectionism and completionism and FOMO.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes.
5. What countries did you visit?
China.
6. What would you like to have in 2026 that you lacked in 2025?
The energy to finish more things.
7. What date from 2025 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Family health stuff. World political stuff.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finally getting to go on one of my bucket list trips.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not finishing a major project.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
A few colds.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Plane tickets.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Once again, anyone being kind to others.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
So much to do with politics.
14. Where did most of your money go?
The big trip.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The big trip.
16. What song will always remind you of 2025?
KPop Demon Hunters came out of nowhere and totally enchanted me. I know that "Golden" is the song everyone talks about, but "What It Sounds Like" is my hands down fave. "Golden" feels like the "I Want" song (which is a good intro that you can put in all the promos), while "What It Sounds Like" is the "I Become" song (which is powerful in context and spoilery as hell).
17. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing. And finishing writing projects.
18. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Procrastinating on the internet.
19. How will you be spending Christmas?
With family.
20. What was your favorite TV program?
I finally finished Severance S1 after 3 years and Babylon 5 S1 after 30 years. They were both really good!
I watched a lot of other shows I enjoyed, but nothing I loved without reservation.
21. What was the best book you read?
I finally read and loved Mary Stewart's Merlin series and Tamsyn Muir's Locked Tomb series. I also loved Alliance Unbound by CJ Cherryh and Jane S Fancher, The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Marie Pope, and Unraveller by Frances Hardinge.
22. What was your greatest musical discovery?
A lot of great musicals this year! But a special shout-out to Hadestown, which I'd been waiting years to see, and it was totally worth it. Just so good.
23. What did you want and get?
Staying in touch with people through everything this year.
24. What was your favorite film of this year?
I was very impressed with Golden Kamuy, KPop Demon Hunters, and Wicked: For Good.
25. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Cake with family. Older but wiser.
26. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
In the big picture, I don't even know where to begin. On a personal level, probably better sleep habits.
27. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2025?
Probably the same as the last few years.
28. What kept you sane?
As always, friends and family.
29. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I can't think of anyone who particularly stood out.
30. What political issue stirred you the most?
It feels impossible to choose.
31. Who did you miss?
Absent friends.
32. Who was the best new person you met?
I'm not sure I have an answer to this.
33. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2025:
Understand what's important, and let go of what's not important.
34. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
My pick has got to be "What It Sounds Like" from KPop Demon Hunters:
So we were cowards, so we were liars
So we're not heroes, we're still survivors
The dreamers, the fighters, no lying, I'm tired
But dive in the fire, and I'll be right here by your side
We broke into a million pieces, and we can't go back
But now we're seeing all the beauty in the broken glass
The scars are part of me, darkness and harmony
My voice without the lies, this is what it sounds like
Why did we cover up the colors stuck inside our head?
Get up and let the jagged edges meet the light instead
Show me what's underneath, I'll find your harmony
Fearless and undefined, this is what it sounds like
Honorary mention to "If It's True" from Hadestown:
If it's true what they say
I'll be on my way
But who are they to say
What the truth is anyway?
Cos the ones who tell the lies
Are the solemnest to swear
And the ones who load the dice
Always say the toss is fair
And the ones who deal the cards
Are the ones who take the tricks
With their hands over their hearts
While we play the game they fix
And the ones who speak the word
Always say it is the last
And no answer will be heard
To the question no one asks
So I'm asking if it's true
I'm asking me and you, and you, and you
I believe our answer matters
More than anything they say
Happy New Year! Wishing you peace and joy in 2026.
