40 Questions to Ask Myself at the End of 2025

A year-end summary for 2025. Continuing the tradition, reflecting on the year by asking myself questions once again.

1. What did you do this year that you've never done before?

Took on a project coaching role at HexSchool for the first time. Beyond being my first step into part-time work, it was also an attempt at something very different from pure development -- more of a PM-like role.

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions?

I didn't set any specific plans at the start of 2025, but looking back, it turned out to be a year of real growth.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Yes. My uncle's wife passed away.

5. What cities/states/countries did you visit this year?

Traveled to Osaka and Kyoto, Japan in the fall.

6. What do you wish you had next year that you didn't have this year?

I hope to explore entirely new fields. Especially in this AI era, I want to broaden my range as much as possible.

7. What date will remain etched in your memory forever? Why?

I explored a lot of new things this year, but nothing burned a specific date into my memory.

8. What was your biggest achievement this year?

• Successfully took on a part-time PM coaching role -- my first cross-domain work outside of pure development.
• Traveled to Kyoto, Japan.
• Completely transformed my development workflow: embraced CLI-first, with the code editor as a secondary tool.
• Bought my wife a new iPhone.
• As an ordinary person, I appeared as an extra in a commercial. Might not sound like much, but it was a genuinely new experience.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I'd planned to take the JLPT N5 at the end of the year, but the timing collided with my company's layoffs. I was in the thick of interviews and offer negotiations, with no energy or headspace to prepare. I had to give up. Lost the exam fee, and missed out on the challenge.

10. What difficulties did you face?

Got hit by a mass layoff at year-end, and had to scramble to find a new job before the 2026 Lunar New Year.

11. Did you get sick or injured?

Getting sick is unavoidable when you have a kid. My son catches a cold, and the whole family goes down with him.

12. What was the best thing you bought this year?

The new iPhone I gave to my wife.

13. Whose behavior deserves celebrating?

A friend who joined the parenting army. A true hero.

14. Whose behavior shocked you?

When a friend in the media industry invited me to appear in a commercial -- even just as a random extra. That was unexpected.

15. Where did most of your money go?

My son. That little money-eating machine.

16. What were you really, really, really excited about?

Getting ready to leave for the Kyoto trip.

17. What song will always remind you of this year?

No particular song. I just listened to whatever came on.

18. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder? Thinner or fatter? Richer or poorer?

Happier, I think. Didn't get fatter, but didn't lose weight either. Assets stayed about the same -- no major progress.

19. What do you wish you'd done more of?

I should seriously consider signing up for a weight training program. At the very least, I need to bring my weight down and avoid chronic diseases.

20. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Nothing in particular.

21. How did you spend the holidays?

Mostly going out with my wife and son, or traveling.

22. Did you fall in love this year?

I'm married, so...

23. Is there anyone you disliked this year that you didn't last year?

No.

24. What was your favorite show?

Nothing in particular.

25. What was the best book you read this year?

The Normans.

26. What was your biggest musical discovery this year?

AI keeps getting stronger, and even AI-generated music is surprisingly impressive now.

27. What was your favorite movie?

Didn't watch many. Probably Mercy.

28. What was your favorite meal?

Yakiniku.

29. What did you want and get?

After seven years, I finally got myself a new iPhone.

30. What did you want and not get?

Didn't get to take the JLPT N5.

31. What did you do on your birthday?

Had dinner with my wife.

32. What one thing would have made your year more satisfying?

If I'd actually managed to lose weight, I'd feel a lot better physically.

33. What was your personal fashion style this year?

Comfort and simplicity. Shorts are the way.

34. What kept you sane?

Coffee.

35. Which celebrity/public figure do you admire most?

No one in particular.

36. What political issue stirred you up the most?

The rapid deterioration of cross-strait geopolitical tensions.

37. Who did you miss the most?

My wife and son.

38. Who was the best new person you met this year?

Met a group of great people this year. Though, thanks to the layoffs, we all became former colleagues.

39. What was the most valuable life lesson you learned this year?

Be careful and deliberate about how you live your life.

40. What quote sums up your year?

"No plans at the start of the year, laid off at the end, but I tried a bit of everything in between."