Hello, I'm still here — welcome back to my blog 👋🏻

Finally, I get to sit in my hometown and take some time to reflect on everything that happened in my life in 2025. Some friends asked why I didn't write this blog at the end of December 2025. I chose to write it after Lunar New Year for a reason. For me, this moment marks a full year since I started doing things differently compared to 2024 and many years before that.

A Change

After Tet 2025, I changed companies. I'm truly grateful to my previous boss for everything I learned there — it shaped how I think about my work to this day.

The new chapter has been demanding. Work often left me feeling drained this year, more often than I'd like, and that's part of why I barely wrote any blog posts. Most evenings, I simply didn't have the mental space left to sit down and reflect. Writing has always required a certain quietness for me — not just time, but energy and clarity.

I also had the chance to work closely with a boss from Russia who is genuinely awesome and highly skilled. Throughout the year, I worked in a role that was very close to an AI engineer, which pushed me beyond traditional software development. I learned a lot from him, especially around the AI tech stack and related areas, and that collaboration significantly broadened my technical mindset and how I approach problem-solving.

Outside of Work

I spent more time playing sports this year. I played badminton regularly and also picked up pickleball, which I quickly grew to enjoy. Most weekends, I played for almost four hours a day. It was tiring, but completely worth it.

This year, I traveled a lot — almost every month to a new destination. I visited Vung Tau, Ninh Thuan, and Nha Trang twice each, and also had the chance to explore Ha Giang, Ha Noi, Da Nang, Hoi An, and several other places. I truly loved it.

It wasn't cheap, but I never regretted it. Traveling, for me, is a way to discover new things and gain a deeper understanding of the world, and I truly enjoyed every journey. I hope that as I grow older, I'll have the financial freedom to travel full-time.

Conclusion

Looking back, I think I quietly met my goal for 2025. But what I'm most proud of isn't what I achieved or where I went — it's simply that I didn't quit. And I'm grateful to all the friends and brothers who walked with me this year. We turned it into memories.

For 2026, I've set a clear plan, and I intend to stick to it.

I hope everything will be okay. See you in 2027.