my theme for 2026
Last year, I made a post called "My theme for 2025". Inchwyrm's post about the year of the wizard reminded me I should do another one for this year.
My 2025 theme was 'learning'. I think I have managed that pretty well, even if it wasn't exactly the things I mentioned in the post. I just cannot make time for The Odin Project and Rust, and to make little games; I have to prioritize my studies, my volunteer work, staying up to date on data protection law and writing about it. Maybe one day :)
The rest fits though: I passed everything I enrolled in last year, and finished the certification process in just 6 months. I started summarizing and translating cases for noyb.eu, and I was creative with my notebook and some pixel art. I learned a lot and I tried new things.
My theme for this year is 'rejection'. I'm collecting them!
A little while ago, the concept of collecting a 1000 no's was picked up by some blogs, and it helped me view rejection, criticism and other feedback in a more positive light. I want to grow, I want to try new things, and I want to become (positively) hardened by challenge. It feels uncomfortable and a part of me doesn't want to, but in a way, I also want to be humbled in a constructive way.
This year, I will send out a lot of applications for both new work and a new apartment. That will undoubtedly result in a lot of no's; the market for both is just incredibly tough right now, and there always seems to be someone better. I have already received one rejection this year just a week after I sent out the application for something I thought for sure I'd at least get an interview from, so there's that.
Other on-going things that produce rejections:
- I have submitted an idea to my workplace's idea management team and they are notorious for shooting down anything, but at least I tried.
- I'm sending out e-mails for a blog project I wanna do, and I have received no answer so far from the places/people I've messaged. I'll have to rethink my approach and then keep trying.
- Doing things that are a little embarrassing, like my post making known I am looking for work.
You can also help with something rejection-adjacent: This is your opportunity to give me constructive criticism on what has always bothered you about my blog's theme, writing, or my behavior.
I want the pressure and polish to result in a version of me that is better. That's what I need right now. I have relied long enough on mostly gut feelings, learning by myself and my own assessments of myself, and always thought I had to do it all alone; but I need outside feedback now, especially from people who want to see me grow and do better. I want to know how I can improve.
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