Starting Fresh: My 2025 Goals
Isn’t it funny how every year we’re met with an opportunity—a chance to look at ourselves, reflect, and decide what we want to focus on? A whole new year, a fresh start. Last year, I had my goals, and if I’m being honest, they were pretty ambitious.
I’ve always been the kind of guy who dreams big—probably too big at times. But big dreams lead to big goals, right? Out of the eight goals I set for myself last year, I only achieved four. At first, that felt like a letdown, but I realized something important: progress is still progress.
Those four goals I achieved? They taught me a lot. They gave me the chance to reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and what I could improve. More importantly, I learned what truly matters to me and what might be holding me back.
Cherishing family moments together, dressed up for a special wedding day.
What’s New Since My Last Post?
It’s been a while since I’ve posted here, and a lot has happened!
Parenthood Update
My son is now eight months old (in just three days, to be exact), and it’s incredible how much he’s grown. He has the biggest personality—always smiling, always curious. He has learned he has a voice and he loves to share it with us. Lately, he’s even started “backwards crawling.” It’s adorable, though it sometimes frustrates him. The other day, he backed into a wall and couldn’t figure out how to move forward.
That moment when you back-crawl your way into a predicament! Miles exploring his world, one crawl at a time.
Honestly, there’s a lesson in that moment. He’s mastered moving backward because it’s what he’s learned so far, but moving forward is uncharted territory. How often do we, as adults, stick to what’s comfortable and familiar, even when it backs us into a wall? “Growth happens when we confront the unknown and push forward.”
Hobbies
I’ve also been diving deeper into my 3D printing hobby. Recently, I enclosed my Flashforge AD5M 3D printer, which will let me experiment with unique filaments. I’m excited to see what new creations this opens up for me—it’s always fun to challenge myself with something new.
Lessons Learned
Taking a break from this blog gave me a fresh perspective. Blogging is more time-consuming than I initially realized, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy blogging—I truly do—but I wasn’t giving it the time it deserved because I was focused on other priorities. Writing here pushes me to reflect, articulate my thoughts, and stay accountable, and I’m excited to embrace it again with renewed energy.
It also made me reevaluate my priorities. I’ve had to ask myself: what truly brings me joy? What’s worth my time? What aligns with the person I want to be? This time away helped me refine my focus, and now I feel more motivated and clear-headed than ever.
Overcoming Distractions
Realizing the Impact of Gaming
My distraction..
Gaming is an amazing way to unwind and connect with others, but for me, it became a distraction from my goals, my family, and the life I want to create. For a while, I was living for the weekend. The moment Friday hit, all I could think about was jumping online to game with the boys, playing late into the night—sometimes until 3 a.m.
I’d wake up a few hours later to the sounds of my wife and son, Miles, starting their day, but instead of helping, I’d just close my eyes and drift back to sleep. By the time I woke up closer to noon, I’d already missed so much of the morning with them.
Missing Out on Precious Moments
I am so blessed to have them in my life.
Even when I did spend time with Miles, it felt rushed. I’d play with him until his nap, but as soon as he was asleep, I was back to gaming, often playing well past the time he woke up. Looking back, I was stuck in a cycle, thinking I was “enjoying” my time, but really, I was missing out on the moments that truly matter.
One night, it hit me like I had run into a wall: What am I even doing? I was wasting away time—precious, fleeting time—that I won’t ever get back. Time with my wife, who had been carrying so much of the load. Time with my son, who would never be this little again.
Asking the Hard Questions
I couldn’t stop wondering if, years down the line, I’d look back and think, At least I got that max camo or reached champion rank. Or would I regret not being fully present? Would I look back and miss out on milestones, like the backward crawling stage, and think about how much more I could’ve done to build a better future for my family?
It wasn’t an easy realization to come to, but it was necessary. Don’t get me wrong—video games aren’t inherently bad. They can be fun, a great way to relax, and even a way to connect with friends. But I had to draw a line. I had to ask myself, Am I in control of when I game, or does it control me?
Turning Realization Into Action
That question changed everything. It made me more intentional with my time. It helped me realign my priorities—to be fully present with my family, to work toward goals that genuinely matter, and to create memories that will last far longer than any game ever could.
Rediscovering My Passion: Documenting Memories
Reliving High School Vlogs
Throwback to my vlogging days—hard to believe it’s been nearly a decade!
That realization wasn’t just about stepping away from distractions—it was also about stepping toward something meaningful. In high school, I used to make vlog-style videos just for fun, capturing moments with friends and sharing them online. Almost a decade later, I can look back at those videos and re-live those memories, and it’s such a gift to see those snapshots of my life from years ago.
Starting Fresh with a New Purpose
That’s when it clicked—I want to pick that back up, not just for me, but for my family. I want to document our journey, the precious milestones we experience, and all the fun, crazy, beautiful moments that make life special. I want to create something lasting, something we can look back on years from now.
Creating Content That Matters
This time, I’m taking it a step further. I’m starting a YouTube channel—not just for us to treasure these moments, but also to share them with others. I hope to inspire, encourage, or simply bring joy to someone else’s life, just like some YouTubers have done for me. Whether it’s showing the fun adventures we take as a family, sharing personal growth, or offering a glimpse into fatherhood, I want to create content that matters.
Celebrating Small Wins
Even though I didn’t achieve all my goals last year, I had some small victories:
• Japanese Learning: I’ve learned more Japanese than I ever thought possible. I can speak basic phrases and understand more than I expected. It’s been an awesome experience, and I can’t wait to keep improving. I’m sure I’m still making small mistakes, but I love the language and hope to speak it fluently one day. 日本語を話しますか。
• Fitness: From January to April, I stuck to a workout routine, going to the gym three times a week. I felt great during that time, and even though I didn’t keep it up all year, it was a motivating start.
• Writing: I wrote 3,000 words for my novel. It’s a small step, but it’s progress, and I’m proud of it.
These wins remind me that progress, no matter how small, is still worth celebrating.
The Big Picture
Miles sitting up all by himself—just look at that smile!
There’s so much I want to accomplish in life, but above all, I want to be the best father I can be, the best version of myself, and the kind of man my son can look up to with pride.
This year is all about purpose—focusing on what matters most and letting go of what doesn’t.
Your Turn: What Are Your 2025 Goals?
I want to invite each of you to join me on this journey. Take a moment to reflect: What are your goals for 2025? What distractions can you let go of to make room for the things that truly matter?
Let’s make this year one to remember. Thank you for reading, and may your 2025 be blessed!
よんでくれてありがとうございます。
