2 AM Thoughts — January 1st, 2026

They say what crosses your mind in the quietest hour of the night is the most honest truth.

If that’s the case, then I must admit: 2025 was a tough year.
So much happened—the fun parts, the exhausting parts, the joyful parts, and the deeply vulnerable ones.

There were times I laughed freely in crowded rooms.
There were times I screamed silently in the very same rooms I once enjoyed.

I cried in the car.
I bawled at my desk.
I sobbed in bed.
I wept in the bathroom.

Peak quarter-life crisis, isn’t it?

Have you noticed how every light is always accompanied by shadow?
How the sun must set so the moon can have its time to shine?

Here are my personal takeaways from 2025—both the beautiful and the painful.

***

1) Be Brave

There is a rare kind of privilege in being tired from building the life you want—and that exhaustion is worth every unpaid minute.

A simple “yes” turned into something unimaginable.

I was incredibly grateful when someone scouted me to join their hackathon team. I genuinely wondered where on earth I had gotten myself into—and voilà, we snatched first prize. I gained invaluable experience and connections, even though it cost me three days of office leave (classic government employee problems), countless late-night discussions, and severe sleep deprivation.

In the end, it was all worth it.

An unthinkable “yes” opened doors to wider opportunities.
There were moments when I said yes without overthinking—and somehow, I ended up hosting two podcast episodes. Then I sought another role and found myself standing in front of countless people, wearing a microphone for the third time.

Me… doing journalism professionally? Unimaginable.

All I had ever done was write quietly behind a desk for websites and magazines. To think that I would have the courage to face the camera still feels unreal. But it was all thanks to the people around me who intentionally pushed me to step forward and become the presenter. You know who you are—I owe you so much.

Another sudden “yes,” filled with doubt, became a meaningful lesson. I joined an international workshop for a week, and it was amazing. Twenty-year-old me could only dream of being part of such a circle—yet five years later, I was actually there.

I was terrified of pushing my brain to its limits, of fully speaking and interacting in English. But somehow… I made it. I unlocked an English ability that had been buried for five years since I went to Japan.

I’m grateful for every turn I took, every trail I tracked, and every path I created.

2) Learn to Set Boundaries and Say No

For a long time, I encouraged myself to take every challenge and opportunity. But every choice has consequences—and sometimes you have to swallow unexpected sour candies.

I learned the hard way that life isn’t only about fun, fireworks, and sweet moments.

I grew up in an environment that shaped me to be the model student in every room: to give my all in every opportunity, to deliver my best at every door I knocked on. Unknowingly, behind the curtain, there were always people ready to take advantage of every tear I shed and every drop of sweat I gave.

Over time, it became normal practice.
My shoulders grew heavy without me noticing.
My heart slowly went numb.

I failed to feel my emotions, to recognize the warning signs my body was sending. The consequences came anyway, the damage was already done.

It turns out that knowing your limits and setting boundaries is just as vital as being capable. You don’t have to force yourself to stand in every room or carry every weight when your hands are already full. You were never meant to hold all the tasks and burdens alone—sometimes, strength is simply asking for help and letting others share the load. And yes, it is okay not to be okay.

3) Know Yourself Better

At the end of the day, I encourage you all—and myself—to wind down and write about what you’ve been through in the past 24 hours. Take some time to acknowledge the emotions you feel, so they don’t get bottled up and later create deeper wounds in your heart or leave scars on your soul.

Try to understand yourself a little better. You may be surprised to discover how valuable you truly are as a human being when you look back and reflect on your own journey.

***

At the end of the day, all you truly have is yourself.

Only you can control your emotions, your feelings, your mood.

Only you know what is worth doing, trying, and pursuing.

I took leaps and dove into new opportunities.

I fell—and crawled through dark times.

Not every day is filled with rainbows, but the rain doesn’t last forever either.

There were moments when the world seemed entirely against me,

yet seconds later, I found small sparks of hope.

So, 2025, thank you for the lessons.
Thank you for giving them to me.