Minding Our Business in 2025
Being a selfish empath.
Sometimes, when I read about the nightmares of the 1970s, I thought about people who could find happiness in that decade, and of course, many did. It was the decade when my own parents found each other and settled down. Overall, it was a decent decade in eastern Asia, pretty unaffected by the Energy Crisis (thanks to Japan, which found ways to solve it).
I can only imagine what it was like in the United States and the United Kingdom. Variety shows on primetime TV and serial killers. Piling trash and football. The Bicentennial and urban blight. The German Autumn and the cults. Disco and overdose. My luck is to be born in the 1980s and grew up in the 1990s, at least until the Asian Financial Crisis and the anti-Chinese riots, which thankfully both ended by 2001.
And living long enough to get into another dark decade. Economic uncertainties, global antisemitism, angry common people, and weak global leadership. Because, like in the 1970s, the prevailing technology and system worked so well that everyone ended up with crumbs. Personal computers and neoliberalism fixed the ruts of the 1970s, and we need something new in the 2030s.
That’s still at least a five-year waiting period. As I said, 2024 has been one of the best years of my life. That is why I believe there must be some Americans who felt happier in the 1970s than they ever did in the previous decades, and not just those who were lifted from poverty.
I want the good run to continue in 2025. One of my secrets to 2024 is not taking personal politics seriously while being receptive to my friends and family’s political concerns and thoughts. This keeps me updated and empathic but not overstressed over things beyond my control. The problem is, while everyone was skeptical of 2024, 2025 is anticipated to be an even worse year.
Last year I occupied myself with political predictions. No one looks forward to this year, apart from North American conservatives who believe that Trump can bring positive changes to America and that a Conservative government will rule Canada. That’s all. Nobody in Asia anticipates a better year ahead, no one believes in the Asian Century anymore.
This week I occupy myself with personal anticipation. I need to improve this Substack of mine. I need to clean my computer and accounts. I need to convert likes into followers. I need to offload my excess possessions. I need to touch the grass. I need to move to the next stage of life.
And that’s all my plan for 2025. I am fully aware that a larger scale of war is possible. I am fully aware that the economy will bite me hard. I understand that I just need a wrong reply to damage all the connections I have made. And all things that can go wrong, manmade or not.
But I’m done worrying. I’m done asking why (well not really, otherwise it’s no more blogging). I’m done living in limbo.
I don’t know and don’t care to see myself now. Anti-woke? Heterodox? Conservative? Liberal conservative? None of such labels work in real life, and I can get along with most people without any political label.
That is all so far. This year is young and there is so much to do. I intend to write better posts, better comments, and most of all, live better. Welcome to 2025. Fight for what you can fulfill your responsibilities, and mind your own business.
And more importantly, love your family, love your friends, and love yourself.