New Year Reflections

As we wrap up 2025 and make intentions for 2026, I want to share some of the interests and lessons that stuck out to me this year, hoping that it might inspire some of you!

Activities that are in for 2026

writing in cursive!

In November of this year I switched from writing in print to writing in cursive. I write a lot between journaling and taking notes, and while there was a learning curve I have thoroughly enjoyed improving my cursive and writing in a new way.

If you don't believe me, believe the research!

"Analyses of temporal spectral evolution were performed on EEG data recorded with a 256-channel sensor array. For young adults, we found that when writing by hand using a digital pen on a touchscreen, brain areas in the parietal and central regions showed event-related synchronized activity in the theta range. Existing literature suggests that such oscillatory neuronal activity in these particular brain areas is important for memory and for the encoding of new information and, therefore, provides the brain with optimal conditions for learning."

If you're interested in a less academic, less jargon-y argument, I suggest you check out this substack post:

"This is not about resisting modernity. Now, as much as—if not more than—ever, we should be focused on developing a kind of cognitive-motor fluency that has real, tangible benefits and a creative undercurrent that’s often ignored. Cursive is not a relic. It’s a technology of the hand, the brain, and the self. And for those willing to slow down and reconnect with it, it can offer something rare: integration."

There is certainly something special about cursive, and it's a relatively easy thing to learn or re-learn, and the reward is beautiful writing. Try it out!

hunting

I have been interested in learning to hunt for a long time but I didn't grow up doing it. An activity that involves taking a life is very intimidating, and luckily I had some people in my life that helped me get started. First, I recommend the book The Shotgun Conservationist by Brant MacDuff, even if you don't want to hunt, because it does a great job of providing lots of basic information about hunting for beginners while going into the philosophy and politics of hunting and conservation. Then, if you are interested in learning and don't know where to start, go ahead and sign up for a hunter's safety course. You will need to take it at some point if you want to hunt and there you will learn the basics and at least get acclimated to the idea of shooting something with a firearm. The last thing that I'll add is that most hunters are enthusiastic about passing down the tradition as less and less people participate, so don't be afraid to ask around for help or advice!

Reading at Horse Race Rapids

finding a discussions on a book/movie you have more questions about

Have you ever finished reading a book or watching a movie and you want more? More opinions, more perspectives, more commentary, or you just don't want the story to be over yet? One of the things I really miss about school is reading a book or watching a movie and then going to class and discussing it with enthusiastic professors and peers. Without that conversation, the story gets easily lost in memory and I may even miss out on some key themes from the book. This year I really started to find podcast book clubs discussing the stories I have in mind, and I always learn something, whether that be about the story itself, the author, or the real-world context that led to the story. If you're not ready to commit to a whole podcast, I've found some great Reddit threads as well!

mindful consumption

I feel like all over social media I see content on mindful, ethical consumption. Here are some things I do to practice mindful consumption.

• I subscribe to the Patreon of small podcasts that I care about, where every dollar makes a big difference!

• Don't want to fund big companies like Netflix? There are plenty of free movies with ads on Youtube; I haven't done the math to weigh the ethical pros and cons of this decision, though. I still use Apple Music, but I'm building a CD collection - listening to albums creates a more mindful musical experience in my opinion. Also, you can oftentimes rent CDs and DVDs from local libraries!

• If I'm buying something new, I get it high quality. If I can't or choose a cheaper option, I buy it used.

scrolling pinterest instead of shortform videos

Piggybacking off of mindful consumption, engaging with social media is becoming more and more problematic as platforms offer more and more addictive short form videos. I find that social media can be very useful for inspiration and to stay connected, and can even be a humorous or motivating form of escapism. When I get the urge to scroll, I turn to Pinterest, which hasn't been so destroyed by the algorithm and I can find genuinely unique and wholesome content on there. I even have a widget on my phone that shows me different Pinterest posts that I might like every day.

qi gong

Qi Gong is a component of traditional Chinese medicine that "involves using exercises to optimize energy within the body, mind, and spirit, with the goal of improving and maintaining health and well-being." I love how it combines breathwork, swinging, rhythmic tapping of oneself, and so much more. I do this five-minute routine every morning and it feels like a ritual and an early victory. I also love this Youtube channel, the instructor makes it almost impossible to be in a bad mood!

Podcasts

Throughline by NPR

Throughline presents the history that led up to the events today. The context ranges from America, to Middle East, to Africa, to outer space, there will be soemthing for you there. Relevant, informative, unbiased.

Revisionist History by Malcolm Gladwell

This has got to be one of my favorite podcasts, Malcolm Gladwell is my celebrity crush. Gladwell is a Canadian with an English dad and a Jamaican mom who is fascinated by American culture. He is progressive, yet he doesn't shy away from perspectives. He seems to have a healthy relationship with his ego, he's not afraid to admit that he was wrong and is more concerned with reporting on the truth than furthering a certain agenda. He is personal, funny, and satirical in the most impressionable way imaginable. He also has a bit of a fixation on rural religious folks that I'm obsessed with. I've watched all Revisionist History episodes, I can recommend some good ones to start with.

• The Joe Rogan Intervention and The RFK Junior problem take a non-emotional stance that is refreshing and bring some humorous clarity to America's current political / cultural situation.

• I loved his six part-series on guns in America in season 8, his honesty about his own lack of experience with firearms makes him respectable and I'd hope that wherever you fall on the political spectrum you could enjoy and learn from this series.

• Malcolm Goes to Debate School is an episode that not everybody could make. Gladwell shared his experience getting his ass kicked by a conservative pro debater that he doesn't like. After the loss, Malcolm goes over what went wrong with other professional debaters. As a journalist, this is like failing a test and going over everything you did wrong with a world-wide audience. I have massive respect for that.

• Free Brian Williams has you questioning memory and what memory means if it's not reliable. A larger theme for me this year: How can we lay blame or judgment on anyone?

Country of Dust

I have no idea how I found this podcast tells the stories of modern Armenia. I know very little about that area of the world and have loved the stories and style that podcast uses.

The Gray Area with Sean Illing

Philosophy podcast for modern times. My favorite episodes are "The case against free will," "So, what exactly is the 'New Right?'", and "Do you have moral ambition?"

The Dirtbag Diaries

In particular the episode "Growing Home," it's the story of a man who grew up in rural Appalachia, had a brief stint as a snowboarder out west, got injured, and created a new career for himself as an environmentalist. I appreciate stories about unconventional career paths, people making it however they can.

Music

Zay Lewis

I mean this in the best way, I don't know how Zay Lewis isn't way more famous than he is. I can't speak much for him as a person but his music is though provoking, insightful, and energizing. Songs I particularly enjoy: Fly on the Wall, THINKING AHEAD, American Hysteria (Save My Life), Justice Freestyle, Mch, Secret Police (Conceited), and Fly on the Wall. Seriously, one of my favorite artists.

Woody Guthrie

Recently I picked up a book from the local library called House of Earth by Woody Guthrie. I recognized the name and the introduction was by Johnny Depp so I decided to check it out. Turns out, Guthrie is an absolute legend. A predecessor to folk legends like Bob Dylan, Guthrie wrote hard-hitting political songs advocating for the marginalized in America. He wasn't only a songwriter but a painter and author. Within the first page of the book Guthrie managed to include a tasteful land acknowledgement and make this story inclusive of all races. He didn't fall for class infighting and as an artist, he demanded that his political views be respected. House of Earth was finished in 1947 but not published until it was re-discovered in 2013, making the piece something really special. I highly recommend you check out the book and his music including bangers like This Land is Your Land, Tear the Fascists Down, Dust Bowl Blues, and Pretty Boy Floyd.

Books

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

After finishing this book I listened to a podcast about it where the hosts commented on the therapeutic potential of literature, how much you're missing if you only read nonfiction books. This book was therapy for me. This book is a unique combination of the Steinbeck family saga and biblical allegory (the Cain and Abel story) that states profound truths with precision and conviction. I promise, the 600 pages are worth it.

Reading East of Eden on the North Country Trail

Black Feminist Literature

I've written about my love for Black Feminist Literature before, it continues to rock my world. Toni Morrison and Octavia Butler in particular write stories with complex realities and social dynamics that make us understand history through new lenses. Throughline actually just made an episode about Octavia Butler! If you're looking for writing that is more straight-forward but just as poignant, I suggest checking out work by Audre Lorde (my favorite is The Cancer Journals) and The Body is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor (also check out her Ted Talk!).

Walk Across America (Peter Jenkins) series followed by Jedidiah Jenkins Books

Okay so here's the basic story: Peter Jenkins decides to walk across America, the first book is the beginning half with his dog Cooper who tragically dies at the end. The second book is the latter half of the journey with his new wife, Barbara. While reading you travel space and time to discover the highs and lows of small town America in the 1970s. But that's just the beginning, because Peter and Barbara have children and get divorced, and one of their sons, Jedidiah, also became a travel writer. Importantly, he also writes about the vulnerable parts of interacting with his parents. The happy story we got at the end of Peter Jenkins' books didn't last forever, and reading Mother, Nature by Jedidiah Jenkins highlights the dark side of the life that the young, adventurous couple chose to live.

Lessons from 2025

If you read my recent blog post Lessons from Rock Bottom, you know that this year has been pretty rough for me. But with all of those hardships came with some amazing highlights. I did a 100 mile solo backpacking trip and won a 6-hour rocket hill climb, both of which helped me find new limits and build my confidence in the process. I deepened my connection to the earth by learning to forage and hunt, and have cooked some pretty incredible meals in the process.

Sweetest of all is that I got the courage to confess my feelings for a friend of many years. We decided to give a romance a try, and I have never felt this level of trust and stability in a relationship before. As hard as this year was, I experienced so much love and support not just my partner, but my family. I am genuinely so excited to grow with my partner and continue to nurture so many relationships.

This year has also been one of creation, reaping the fruits of my labor. I don't often talk about my career as a chemist on here, but I was a co-author in a research paper in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, a project that I basically sold my soul to be a part of. I refined my process of making homemade paper cards, did more sewing and weaving projects, and even dabbled in poetry!

I learned lots of hard lessons this year; I'm starting to learn how to dissect my suffering to find the root of what causes it. We all get caught up in the way we believe things should be, but who are we to judge that? This is partly why moving on from certain ideas, people, places, has been so painful. With that comes patience, the ability to sit with intense feelings of urgency. What happens if we sit and wait? What if we stayed still?

If you're still reading, thanks for sticking with me, I would love to hear about the reflections, predictions, hopes, and dreams that are on your mind during this transformative time. I wish you a happy and healthy 2026!