A Few Words Before the Questions
In 2022, I wrote 14 proper posts in total—about half as many as the year before. Nearly half of those were related to masks and the pandemic, which added yet another layer of misery to a life that already wasn’t exactly overflowing with happiness.
When I was young, I lived through SARS and bird flu. Back then, I didn’t know what an N95 mask was, didn’t understand disinfection protocols, and had never heard of nucleic acid or antigen tests. Somehow, we still made it through and kept living just fine. Yet in an age when information moves faster than ever and technology is supposedly so advanced, a tiny Omicron variant managed to hold us in place for three whole years. By the end, we were stocking up on supplies and medicine just to barely keep playing this game.
Life is theater, and everything depends on the acting. Theater is life, so why take it too seriously?
1. Keywords of the Year
Alive, out with the old and in with the new
2. A Book, Film, Song, or Line Worth Sharing
[bilibili bv="BV1DK411g7n8" p="1"]
▲ Jonathan Lee — Hill
3. What Made Me Happiest?
On September 30, I found out I was going to be a father.
It wasn’t the kind of dramatic excitement you see in TV shows, but I was quietly overjoyed inside. Definitely something worth celebrating.
4. What Do I Regret Most?
At the end of the year, my grandfather passed away. May there be no Omicron in heaven.
It all happened too suddenly. By the time I wanted to speak to him again, there was no chance left.
I used to not understand why people seemed so superstitious about funerals and the rituals around death. Now that I’ve reached a certain age, I’m slowly beginning to understand. After someone passes away, people gather to fold joss paper, attend the memorial service, prepare for the final viewing, arrange the burial, and handle all those complicated customs. Maybe these rituals exist because they give the living something to do, something to hold on to, so grief doesn’t swallow them whole. The people left behind are healing one another in their own way.
While we’re still alive, being kinder to ourselves and to our loved ones is what truly matters. Don’t wait until someone is gone before regret finally catches up.
5. What Gave Me the Biggest Sense of Achievement?
Looking back, I spent most of the year stuck at home. If I had to nominate one thing, it would probably be my stubborn obsession with lemon black tea this summer. I still feel like the result was missing just a little something, but… fine, let’s say it barely makes the shortlist.
6. What Was the Biggest Gain of the Year?
The biggest thing I gained this year was learning some work experience from a kind and approachable mentor.
Maybe 2022 was just my unlucky year. From beginning to end, it felt full of bumps and interruptions. On my very first day reporting to the workplace, reality gave me a warning shot—I was almost locked down inside my residential compound. Then came the special pandemic period, and I worked from home for two months. Toward the end of the year, after restrictions were lifted, I caught it and lay at home for almost half a month. Once I recovered and returned to work, my mentor started using his annual leave.
The whole year was choppy, fragmented, and difficult. Honestly, it was too hard.
At this point, I can count the number of times my mentor has actually been on duty with one hand. It really feels like every meeting is one fewer meeting left. Thinking about it makes me a little reluctant to let go. Once that protective umbrella is gone, I still feel unsure when doing things on my own.
But that’s also on me for not learning enough. In any case, everything has to come slowly. I’m still very grateful that he taught me what he could, and I hope we can stay in touch after he retires.
7. How Did Last Year’s Small Goals Go?
✅ 1. Pass the probation period smoothly
✅ 2. Get along well with new colleagues at work
❎ 3. Think things through before acting, consider the consequences, and become steadier
❎ 4. Lose weight, lose weight, lose weight
✅ 5. Fix my bad temper
8. Small Goals for Next Year
Become a competent new dad.
Finish reading one book.
Lose weight, lose weight, lose weight, lose weight.