What of 2025

As usual, the wonderful art (c) Lelia Alvarez. 

As usual, my little end-of-the-year message. 

2025

What a year!

I don't even know where to start, as many things happened. This year, I have been blessed with good health, and I finally have the right tools and motivation to make a permanent change in my lifestyle. My health has improved, and it feels great to have developed a newfound love and discipline in the gym. I am making strides in the right direction because I have better stamina, my sleep is better, and I am stronger. I like the person I am becoming, and I will continue to work hard towards becoming a better version of myself, no matter how long it takes. Can you believe it? I am bolder than I used to be when I was a teenager. I realized that I am becoming more and more myself, but with the added maturity of my 37 years on Earth. 

I absolutely love my niece in a very protective way. She is such a cute and kind little thing with a sense of humour already very sharp. She also motivates me to become a better version of myself, so I can guide, nurture, and protect her the best I can. This is a year of positive news and challenges I was able to face, and boy, were there challenges this year. I guess I realized that I could handle things better today than I did a couple of years ago - Is it growth?- my family had a year of respite, and I was able to take a break from all the twists and turns from the last couple of years. I was lucky to return to Japan, my beloved Japan. I love this country so much, and I hope to be able to return and go to the Tokyo dome, watch sumo and wrestling, and visit Onsens.  I was also able to travel to many other countries, like Oslo, Crete, and others. 

This year, I was lucky to grow and learn with my friends. It was a year dedicated to watering the garden of beautiful friendships. I am so humbled to genuinely be loved by them. I am finally believing that I can be loved and I can be important in the eyes of others. I am so happy. I saw beautiful demonstrations of love and heartfelt messages that left me crying like a baby and happy to be alive.

Thank you, darlings. Thank you so much for everything. This year, I was able  to grow more comfortable in my skin. I still took care of my mental health, and still fuel my creativity. I have a new project, which I hope will see the light before the book. I won't jinx it, but I am working hard on it right now. So I can only hope to continue like this, especially with the lifestyle changes I made. 

Yes, I know, it's the same wish for myself as the previous years, but why break what works? 

It's been a really good year, and I really loved it. I can only wish that the year to come would top it off or be even better. 

I really hope that you will have a wonderful end of the year and that 2026 will treat you better. 

May