My 2025 be like

Just a quick post while I’m in a reflective MOOD and I’m BORED waiting for the Xmas festivities to start.

First of, I wanna thank my subscribers & followers. I know I have a tiny tiny following here, but I made it clear when joining substack that this would be a platform where I write for mysef. I wasn’t going to prioritize growth or trying to beat algorithms, but tell my own stories without worry of if I’m hitting the “right” audience or niching down like I had to everywhere else . I wrote about my 1 year experience here.

I picked up substack to get over my social media addiction (I know ppl claim it’s also a SM but I don’t see it that way). Wanted a more calmer, slower, and insightful space when I went online. It also helped cut down my phone addiction! Cause sure, I’m still spending time here posting and reading blogs, but I don’t feel so. Idk.. dumber everytime I scroll an IG feed. Random things aren’t thrown at me and I’m very curated with what I read + who I engage with. It’s not always perfect, but it’s refreshing. I’ll be here at least until we get an app more similiar to myspace.

Anyways, thanks again for sticking with me this year and reading my randomness. From personal essays to the MOOD Bored entries of media I’m enjoying, I’m glad you’re here.

These are my highlights of 2025:

• added a new member to the family

• started 2 dream jobs! Writing for crunchyroll and a punk rock magazine

• -Interviewed and worked with some of my fave bands, including ones from Japan

• travelled

• started swimming regularly

• Got into trading cards (pokemon & one piece). Even started competing at locals.

• Became a music curator specializing on modern alternative

• grew on substack writing personal essays and thinkpieces

• got rid of my phone addiction (at least by 60%)

• started therapy

I got a Kitten! And 1 month in he is getting along with our resident cat. This makes me so happy as we had to rehome our other cat 2 years ago (hardest thing I had to do) because they just weren’t getting along after we tried for so long.

I think this year has been massive for me in terms of career. As mentioned I landed 2 dream gigs, both follow my passions and allows me to be creative. Which is a much needed alternative as I spend 40 hrs a week as a copywriter in marketing. Which I enjoy for its more technical and buisness based writing, but it’s definetely given me a balance!

I visited Seattle, Victoria, Vancouver, and Japan (kansai) this year. This was our third time in Japan, but found this to be the best trip because of how we didn’t overpack our schedules. See more of how we planned here.

My physical media collection keeps growing! Asides from vinyl, I also went back to collecting cds this month. Purpose was that I just can’t find all the music I like on vinyl, or can afford all of them, but I still want to own my music. I’m going one whole month of just physical media (no streaming), and it has been eye opening!

Speaking of collections, I got heavily into Pokemon and One Piece TCGs. No not the investor and opening packs for content kind, those 2 really be my favourite franchises. So I love collecting the cards regardless of value, + I play both at locals. I could never afford the trading card hobby as a kid, so I had major FOMO most my life until this year.

One of the biggest thing for me this year was finally going to therapy. It has failed me twice before, feeling like the therapist never really got me. But this time, I chose one who specialized in auDHD and Neurodivergent. While there isn’t much in terms of results yet, it feels nice to talk to someone who actually gets me. I don’t have to overexplain certain things because I am neaurospicy, so it’s easier for me to open up about my history of masking.

2026 resolution: do it all again

Also learn Japanese. I look to start taking courses in the new year. I think being somewhat fluent in Japanese will really help me careerwise as well, as I want to work with many Japanese creators and artists.

Also, to finally get a logo done for this publication!!

Happy holidays everyone! Thanks again for being here.

Cheers,

Lamar