Dear Friend,

Hey there, how’s it going?

We finally made it to the end of 2025! As turbulent as this year has been, we've managed to survive 100% of the bad days, and ideally fly above the headwind. As with most years, the week between Christmas and New Year’s is when I intentionally do the absolute least. So I'm going to keep this one short (as I usually do in my December letters to you) and list out some of the musings I came across this year — and bolded some of them that you may enjoy as well.

Apps:

Admittedly I’m not a huge apps person (I usually prefer stock apps), there are several apps that has helped me stay away from algorithms and provide focus and clarity in my day-to-day.

• Craft Docs
• Today’s Budget

  I’ve mentioned this app in October, but even after decades of managing my own personal finances, this app provides clarity like nothing else out there. By fundamentally providing the answer to, “How much can you safely spend today?”, I no longer have to worry about which of my accounts have what balance to pay for my credit cards on which dates, and instead I just know that “Today I can spend up to $918.85 (guilt free)” and carry on with my day.

• Longplay
• Shutter Declutter
• Pimsleur
• Focus Friend
• Diarly
• Overlap: World Clock

Books:

This is the year where I relied heavily on fiction to disassociate from the world. When I have no energy to do anything else, I turn to a book to slow it all down. I had a goal to read ten books this year, and though not all of them are fiction — they each offer me solace in their own way when I need it most. (All links to Bookshop.org)

• Adventure of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
• All the Ugly and Wonderful Things, by Bryn Greenwood
• Chinese Groove, by Kathryn Ma
• How to do Nothing, by Jenny Odell
• The Intuitionist, by Coleman
• James, by Percival Everett
• Meditation for Mortals, by Oliver Burkeman

  I’ve written about this book before, but it’s as if I’m reading a mirror about myself. So many of us (Asians, Millennials) grew up learning and believing that we have to consistently do the most (and the hardest work) in order to find self-confidence and self-worth. But, this book thoroughly disprove this mentality on how impossible it is to do more when humans are but flawed, finite beings.

• The Satisfaction Cafe, by Kathy Wang
• Sirens’ Call, by Chris Hayes
• When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead
• Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame
• The Witch of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth George Speare

Music:

I’m still trying to dispel algorithms from my life, and though I haven’t made the full transition (or return?) to physical media, in 2025 my music listening experience is mostly through self-created playlists or full-length albums (ie: artist intended playlists). (All links to Apple Music)

• BITE ME, by Reneé Rapp
• DON’T TAP THE GLASS, by Tyler, The Creator
• The Dream, by The Favors (FINNEAS & Ashe)

  Not to be cliché and always be simping over the O'Connell siblings, but both Billie Eilish and Finneas just have a strong hold over me. This album is notable as I just didn’t see The Favors coming. It’s old, it’s new, and it’s thoroughly enjoyable from beginning to end.

• EUSEXUA, by FKA twigs
• Flux, by Alison Goldfrapp
• a kiridiculous distance, by Kiri T
• MAYHEM, by Lady Gaga
• Mentiras: La Serie
• Starlit Alchemy, by Rachael Yamagata
• Virgin, by Lorde

Movies:

I often hear Hollywood is in trouble and I suppose this short list is the proof of that. We watch way fewer movies at the theaters, especially compared to pre-2020 and especially post-Avengers Endgame. Sinners was the only movie we actually saw at the theater, which was definitely the way to go. (All links to Wikipedia)

• Frankenstein
• Sinners

  This movie (some even say musical) has everything, including Hailee Steinfeld, my favorite actor since Dickinson. I'm giving it some time before revisiting this movie but its layered themes and overall impact of this movie is still fresh on my mind.

• KPop Demon Hunter
• Until Dawn
• The Wild Robot

TV:

Where we lack in watching movies, Ian and I spent a lot of this year watching TV. It’s not as Anime heavy as previous years, but it’s safe to say we’re making good use of our subscriptions (and couch!) (All links to Wikipedia)

• Alice in Borderlands
• Black Mirror
• Brush Up Life
• Chair Company
• Dan Da Dan
• The Glory
• The Hot Spot
• A Man on the Inside
• Nine Perfect Strangers
• Pluribus

  This show came out of nowhere and it lives up to every bit of the hype. When today’s world is increasingly obsessed with AI and chatbots, which can be friendly and helpful but lack context and soul (and also at what cost?), Pluribus shows (not tells) the audience the effect of hive-mind thinking in a darkly funny way.

• Pokémon Concierge
• Ranma 1/2
• Rick & Morty
• The Sandman
• Squid Game
• Solar Opposites
• The Summer Hikaru Died
• Wednesday
• Yellowjackets

Notable Quotes:

• “The opposite of depression isn’t happiness. The opposite of depression is interested.”
• “I used to float, now I just fall down” (This line hits especially hard when I’m feeling down)
• “A Little Light Dispels Much Darkness”

Interesting thing to share:

• I am in the process of moving my website, now located here. The new platform is way more flexible and offers a better experience for both you (reader) and me (creator). The site is mostly functional, though you may encounter some dead links here and there.
• The photos I took this month
• Find Your Own Color (Reply and LMK what color you are!)
• How Californians Spend our Time

As always, thank you for reading and being part of this journey with me! Let me know what’s going on in your world and share something that’s been giving you life, and have a happy 2026!

Love Wins