Happy New Year! It's still 2025 where I live, so I just want to get some thoughts out before 2026 comes around.

1. I can comfortably say that this year was one of the worst years I've ever had to live through, if not the absolute worst. 2016 and 2020 were rough, but nowhere near this bad. Thankfully, me and my family haven't had to suffer too much this year, but it doesn't make me happy knowing so many others around the world weren't so lucky. Very little good came out of this year, and the way things are looking now, 2026 might be even worse. But, I still have just a little optimism. Why? Because I refuse to give into apathy and cynicism. I don't blame people for feeling pessimistic and even a little doomerish with the way things have been going for the past 5 years, but I just want people to remember that things aren't always going to be like this. Everything may suck now, but it doesn't have to suck forever. Humanity has made it through many tough times before, and we can still do it today. Giving up won't solve anything, and there are too many people who care about me and too many things I believe in for me to do so. Better things are possible, and I want to work as hard as I can to make them a reality. I still have faith that there are many people out there like me who not only believe in the possibility of a better world, but want to work to make it happen, and I sincerely hope we can start doing so in 2026. Maybe it's just my endless optimism; maybe I'm just huffing hopium, but that's what I believe.

2. On a less depressing note, I'm turning 20 next year, and I have a lot of plans to better myself as a person by then. I haven't really been happy with myself as a person in the past 5 years, so this is the perfect opportunity to fix myself. I've written them down so I can see how many of my goals I've managed to accomplish by my 20th birthday.

That's all I've got to say. I hope 2026 is a better year for you :)