Every new year, I designate a theme for the coming calendar year. Different from a resolution--rather than prescribe specific goals--it provides a framework to influence the decisions I make over the course of the coming year.

My theme for 2024 was "Say yes to things". The goal was to get myself out of my comfort zone and try things I might not otherwise try, even if my anxiety would typically steer me away from them.

Someone invited me to a concert last-minute? Or on a trip with few concrete details? Or to an event I don't know if I'll enjoy? Or to a party where I don't know anyone? Or to a new social situation I don't have a script for? My anxiety would typically steer me away from saying yes to these kinds of invitations, but since it's my Year of Saying Yes to Things, I guess I'll go anyways.

This year's theme was a huge success. Most of the things I said yes to (and might otherwise have said no to) turned out to be good experiences, and many of them even cherished memories. I got to have a lot of experiences I might not have had otherwise, and I think this experiment has been good for me in lasting ways; navigating new and unfamiliar situations helps me build up a library of scripts for those situations, which reduces my anxiety considerably the next time I find myself in a similar one.

My theme for 2025 is "Getting involved". Taking the success of 2024 a step further, I want to push myself to get more involved in the communities that I'm a part of. Whether that's getting more involved with activist groups, helping to build a furry art space in Somerville, contributing to more open-source projects, civic engagement, or something else I haven't thought of yet, I'm tired of being siloed in the work that I do. I want to be part of something larger than the solo projects I usually occupy myself with. I want to make a difference.

If you're reading this, leave a comment letting me know what your theme for 2025 is. This isn't YouTube--I'm not getting points for engagement--I genuinely want to know!