cheriepink | 2025 year in review

~~It's taking everything in me to stop playing Genshin and write this wayyy overdue post instead.~~

Ahem, happy new year everyone! This week I'll spend a lot of time overwriting 2026 on 2025 in everything I write. It feels surreal a year has gone just like that but it is what it is. I've definitely experienced high highs and low lows and I'd like to spend a little time reflecting what the hell just happened the past year.

In my personal website (which I have already deleted any traces of it because I realized it actually isn't for me in the end...), I did a year in review for 2024 which was roughly inspired by this website. And of course, I'm doing it again this time.

Highlights

I passed two major examinations to get me registered as a practicing pharmacist
I survived a year after moving overseas (yay me!)
I started therapy/counselling and I'm truly grateful for how much it helped me as a person
I joined a writing group and had one of my WIPs workshopped by lovely writers
I spent the best two week vacation with my partner on November
My family visited me for two weeks and I got to show them around where I live :D
I'm not as anxious as I was in social interactions at work compared to the start of the year

Best of 2024

Album: Don't Laugh It Off - hitsujibungaku
- Despite it releasing late into the year, this album have truly pulled me out of my lowest and most anxious moments. I always listened to this on the bus on the way home, and it's even more comforting after a hard day. From sonotoki to map of the future 2025, each song felt like a warm embrace packed into 54 minutes reminiscent of the relief that comes with sunsets. My favorite song has got to be sonotoki, with Feel coming close as a runner-up.
Book: In Memoriam - Alice Winn
- A book I finished close to the end of the year and it was the perfect way to close my reading year! This has been in my tbr list for a long time because of it's gorgeous cover but I haven't gotten around to it. In a writing group I joined, they hosted a holiday book exchange and it turns out my secret santa also wanted the same book! So before sending it, I read and annotated along the way and god I never expected for it to get me hooked for 3 days straight. I literally spedran it because I just needed to know what happens next. What made the reading experience more enjoyable was reading it along with my partner (whom I will refer from hereon as Gako hehe yes it's a metal gear solid reference) who's the biggest World War nerd I know -- his roman empire is actually World War II. The book is set on WW1 and I had no prior knowledge about such before reading it heh so it was so much fun telling him about the events and locations mentioned and him yapping to me about the real-life events it was based on. Overall, I loved the character arcs and the perfect dynamic between Gaunt and Ellwood, scarred by war aftermath. It also made me realize I love historical fiction more than I thought; I mean, my most favorite otome games are Hakuoki and Birushana which actually says a lot. Ha! Anyway, I highly recommend this book; five stars and give me fifteen more of them thank you
Game: LoL Worlds 2025
- Due to my lack of PC, I haven't been able to game that much (with exception of live service games) so I'll make an exception because I have free will and make it e-sports related. This month-long run was one of the best I've experienced (at least through screen) and I've been watching Worlds and League esports in general since 2018. I got Gako to watch VODs with me, and I even made a powerpoint presentation for him to keep him up to date to esports drama and League mechanics. One of my fondest memories this year is watching each series of T1 with him (yes, I'm one of the stereotypical biased T1 fan) and from a viewer perspective, each match was so entertaining to watch; the storylines production were cooking go hard. And the underdog upset in semi-finals!??! chef's kiss. From a T1 fan perspective, it was a rollercoaster but the finals was so hype! It's just *tearing up* absolute cinema, I tell you.
Memory: 2-week vacation with Gako
- Call our relationship Tanabata with how we only meet irl once a year. He flew all the way here in the land down under and we had so much fun together <3 We even saw Evanescence live!
Fanfic: Your Perfect Tempo by Tricky Sleeves (Felix/fem!Byleth)
- The author's treasure trove of Felileth fics is nothing short of amazing!! Anyway, I haven't really considered Felileth because I'm a true blue Dimileth truther/enjoyer through and through but still, this fic blew me away and it's now my favorite fic ever. I'm a complete sucker for music-related AUs and the author weaves musical terms and themes so so well. Pair with romcom-coming-of-age vibe, I fell to my knees forreal!! I also love how they translated/referenced their support talks into the modern setting. After reading this masterpiece, I was so moved that I got back from my writing slump and inspiration just started pouring in. I highly, highly recommend this, and all of their works really.

Things I was looking forward for 2025

Based on my previous review... I had the following list:

~~Out of country trip (hopefully Japan with Gako and my family)~~
- Well, this didn't happen but they both did visit me on separate times and I appreciate it so much <3 :D
~~More finished otome games~~
- I didn't finish any at all LOLOL
More books borrowed (and read!) from the library ✓
- Our city library is a gem!
Buying Steamdeck ✓
- I actually did buy one! As a christmas gift to myself hehe and it's the best thing ever (I can play Genshin on my bed for 6 hours straight)
Meeting up with family in North Elysium ^^ ✓
~~Seeing Kang Daniel live with Sis~~
- Was unfortunately cancelled :(
~~Losing weight healthily~~
- Not losing weight per se, but I was more... intentional with what I ate? And that's what matters.
~~Registering as APh by end of the year~~
- Close! But I didn't meet it at the end of the year. I'm one step away so it kinda counts as accomplished
~~Consistent updates and maintenance for my personal website~~
- Lmfaooooo... I ended up deleting it and ngl it was a relief. Still, it was nice while it lasted!
~~Publishing more fics and letting them see the light of the day instead of being locked up in my WIP basement~~
- Ha ha ha haaaaa... anyway-- I'll try again this year!