Recap of 2025

31 Dec, 2025

困難な壁に直面し、自身の力に限界を感じるときがある。しかし大抵の場合、自分の小さな常識に囚われていただけということが多い。 自分の常識に囚われては、限界がある。常識を打ち破ることで、新しい世界を切り開くことが出来るものであ


The words from a おみくじ I got in 護国寺.

There are moments when we face daunting walls and feel we have reached the limits of our strength. Yet, in most cases, we are simply confined by the narrow boundaries of our own conventional wisdom. As long as you remain a prisoner to your own preconceptions, you will remain limited. It is by shattering these fixed ideas that you can forge a path into a brand-new world.

Nawarat Bridge

The view from the Nawarat Bridge in Chiang Mai.

Today is the last day of 2025. I’m currently in Chiang Mai, enjoying the lovely sunny, warm weather. It’s been a bit of a struggle to clear my head and actually sit down to write this, especially since blogging isn't exactly a habit of mine. However, looking back at my mid-year review made me realize how helpful it is to keep track of things. I’m definitely going to make this a yearly tradition.

# The Year in Numbers & Highlights 📊
Exercise & Recovery

I logged 222 workouts this year (My Garmin annual report). The biggest lesson here was recovery. I dealt with ITBS (Iliotibial Band Syndrome) in my left leg, and while trying to compensate during my marathon training, I overused my right leg. I started feeling strained and uncomfortable in my right thigh and knee. It took me nearly 9 months to fully recover. I truly learned that we need to build strength step-by-step; rushing only leads to worse setbacks.

Reading List

I was pleasantly surprised to finish 6 books this year. It’s a better result than I expected, and I hope to read even more in 2026:

Travel

I traveled to 11 different places and flew back to Taiwan 5 times (in Jan, March, May, Aug, and Nov).

Compared to other Japanese companies, my current annual leave is not too bad. However, just like last year, I used almost all of it to go back to Taiwan. To be honest, my trips home this year didn't feel very restful, especially after a series of arguments with my parents in June. That tension made me realize I needed a real break. Choosing to visit Kuala Lumpur and Chiang Mai was the best decision; I finally felt like I was on a real vacation: no chores, no family drama, just eating, exercising, and recharging. Travel really does heal.

# Work: A Blessing in Disguise 💻

This year was a rollercoaster of stress and breakthroughs:

The Layoff:

I put so much effort into a part-time DeFi job, working extra hours without the pay I deserved. I was constantly stressed and even developed heart palpitations for two weeks in November. Then, a sudden layoff happened. Honestly? I felt incredibly peaceful. I was actually happy to finally have my time back. A health checkup later confirmed everything was fine.

The Promotion:

Back at my full-time job, I finally got promoted. While I’m not overly excited, it’s a great milestone to have hit.

Indie Hacking

Inspired by the Indie Hackers community, I started building my own business to take full control of my time. I’ve begun working hard on browser extensions for e-commerce shops. Progress is happening, and I’m excited for 2026.

Making actions doesn’t guarantee success, but without action, nothing happens.

# The Theme of 2025: "Balance" 🌱

breakfast

Just want to record my latte art practice.

If I had to choose one word for this year, it’s Balance.

In early 2025, I fainted at home due to exhaustion. Later, I pushed too hard in marathon training and got injured. I’ve realized that for me, giving up is often harder than sticking with things.

If I hadn't pushed so hard, I might have enjoyed my races more and avoided months of recovery. I’ve since learned to balance my exercise with cross-training (cycling and gym work), which allowed me to run 15K again, something I couldn't imagine back in July.

16k

I’m also balancing my growth by picking up Japanese again, completing my N4-N5 studies this December.

Final Thoughts

I believe 2026 is going to be an interesting year. I hope to keep balancing everything: exercise, work, reading, eating, and my indie hacker business. Thanks to all the hard work I put in in 2025!

zwift

zwift indoor trainer was probably the best buy for 2025.




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