The New Year always feels like a natural checkpoint for reflection. I don’t believe in waiting for January 1 to make changes, but there’s something about the date that helps crystallize my thoughts.
Three things were on my mind: relationships, craft, and perspective.
Relationships
There’s a pattern: when I dive deep into work and projects, I lose touch with people who matter to me. For years, proximity did the heavy lifting—running into people at work, living nearby, or sharing the same spaces. As people move and lives change, that isn’t enough anymore.
Staying close now takes more effort. It means scheduling the catch-up, sending the message, or making the visit instead of waiting for it to happen naturally.
Embracing change in my craft
AI is becoming real, fast. Part of me resists the shift. I used to get caught up in traditional ideas of “craftsmanship,” sometimes at the expense of making progress.
I don’t think caring about craft and experimenting with unfamiliar tools have to be at odds. What I’ve learned still matters; it just isn’t the only way to build.
Broadening my perspective
I’ve also been living in a self-made bubble. It’s easy for my usual media and conversations to make my corner of the world feel like the whole thing.
This ties back to relationships. Learning from other people’s experiences helps me see the world through a wider lens.
These aren’t groundbreaking observations. Mostly, writing them down helped me notice what had been taking up space in my head.