Wandering into 2025

“A torch is lit by another
and burns till it’s burned out;
a fire is kindled by another fire.
A man becomes wise
by speaking with other men,
but foolish by keeping to himself.”

— Hávamál, st. 57 (Crawford trans.)

My thoughts are thick heading into 2025.

Inwardly speaking, I’m much healthier and happier than I once was. I’ve recovered a great deal from my burnout in 2022, learning and growing and understanding myself more deeply. Outwardly, however, I see a world of worries. My friends and I fret about our fears, great and small, becoming reality. And so I hold both hope and horror for 2025. Hope that I’ll continue to bloom in the garden of my own, but horror at the state of things beyond my ever-threatened enclosure.

But that’s why I chose stanza 57 of Hávamál to begin this post with.

To remind ourselves that we’re not alone.

Following the winter solstice, light now returns to the land; but we are lights for each other, too. When I started crawling back to this hall (or, rather, the ruined remnants thereof), I was welcomed warmly by many old friends. Their support and encouragement gave me the strength to take back the name “Fjorn.” And it still does.

So, whatever you may be feeling or experiencing as we head into 2025, remember that you don’t have to face it alone. I know that’s easier said than done, but please at least try looking for the light of others when your world seems dark.

Alone, I burned out; but through others, my fire is kindled anew.

So here’s what I intend to do with my renewed light this year:

• Continue salvaging “Fjorn’s Hall” through YouTube videos, podcasting, and resources on this website while being more conscientious of the needs and voices of vulnerable communities.
• Continue serializing my fantasy web novel and, hopefully, publishing its first volume later this year.
• Maintaining a balanced lifestyle by rejecting modern expectations like hustling and overconsumption. I could (and should) write a whole blogpost about this point because I have some thoughts on this.

In no particular order, those are my top 3 personal priorities heading into 2025. I essentially just want to continue doing the things I love at a healthy pace. I have a tendency to hyper fixate, yes…but I especially don’t want to feel obligated to create content at an unreasonable pace just to appease an algorithm. That goes for both my work as fjörn and fëolnir.

I spent 2024 focusing on my lifestyle and mentality, including a virtual venture into Buddhism through Plum Village. I will spend 2025 watering those seeds while creating things, both educational and fantastical, with greater care and consideration. The key to that is, I believe, creating with passion (not for gain) while keeping my health (not social expectations) at the forefront.

I’m a person, after all, not a business—and that’s how it should be.

I hope you’ll focus on yourself in the new year ahead, as well, friend.