2025 - The Horrors Persist and So Do I
Maybe it’s worth starting this by saying that I believe 2025 will be a bad year in the history textbooks. In the context of all these interesting and terrible global events and general political deterioration…I feel helpless and overwhelmed. I think one of the smaller consequences of living in an era of such extreme wealth disparity is that we are bombarded with stories of individuals who have amassed such enormous wealth and influence on the world, and thus the example is set that any individual should be able to tip the scales of culture as much as these exorbitantly wealthy few. But I cannot reshape the world in my image in the way these people can. My sphere of influence is much smaller.
That being said, the world within my sphere of influence has been…pretty good this past year. And I’m proud of that, despite the backdrop it thrives against.
Mental and Emotional Fortitude! I finally got connected this year with a therapist who is a good match for me, and I’ve been feeling myself mellow out and get better at dealing with interpersonal conflict and points of stress. I am able to navigate situations now with some level of grace that would have flat out debilitating in the past. And that’s pretty awesome.
Job! After 2024’s unemployment adventures, I’ve been appreciating the stability of my return to video game work in a new light. I’m so excited for Escape Academy 2, I can see tangible examples of my growth as a puzzle and game designer, and that’s really fun and fulfilling.
Playwriting! My play This Place Stinks is currently a Finalist in the Jewish Plays Project, which was completely unexpected. The hapless optimist in me feels like this could be a very big door opening for me as a Playwright, and it’s fun to live in that imaginative headspace for the time being while the contest continues to play out. It’s really affirming to be recognized as a Jewish creative whose perspective is valued at this time where Jewish identity is being commodified in some really frightening ways.
Relationships! I started a relationship this year that has been so good and full of love and it’s been my favorite part of 2025 and I’m so excited for what 2026 has in store for us. :)
So yeah, 2025 has been good and tough and beautiful and ugly and full of learning and friendship and everything you want a year to be full of.
Goals for 2026:
I’ve been trying to train myself to spend less time on my phone by thinking about how else I can pass that time, and that trick seems to have been working for me. So more of that please.
I just got a gym membership for the first time and have plans to go with friends on a regular basis. Let’s have 2026 be a year of being more intentional with my commitments, and then sticking with them.
More travel and adventuring, both in LA and outside of it.