Another Year Coming to a Close—Let’s Look Back Before We Look Ahead
Oh man. I can still feel the awkwardness of trying to force my blog’s identity into a “real life mastermind/villain” aesthetic.
My fourth article—the infamous “2025 Is Nearly Over: A 6-Month Reflection & Projecting Ahead”—was my attempt to be clever, narrating like a stylish antagonist.
What can I say? I liked fictional villains:
Mads Mikkelsen’s Hannibal (peak elegance)
BBC’s Moriarty (feral chaos gremlin energy)
Garou from One Punch Man (antihero goals)
But rereading that post now? It felt like finding an old childhood journal—full-body cringe.
The same cringe I felt during my gamer/emo phase. (For the record: no piercings, no dyed hair, and my vampire/werewolf fascination was definitely NOT Twilight-related.)
Here’s the thing: cringe is often just past-you doing the best you could with the tools you had. June-Me really was.
This continuing reflection? That’s Present-Me building on top of the foundation Past-Me laid down.
What’s Changed Since This Post?
Well, for starters, the mastermind/villain writing aesthetic is gone. My writing no longer reads like an edge-lord making edginess their personality.
I’ve shifted toward chronicling experiences, sharing interesting experiments, mulling “what if” scenarios, and yes—still procrastinating on folding my laundry.
I changed my handle from Plans2Action to The Stratagem’s Archive, which felt cooler and better suited to reflecting on life while helping readers explore their own experiences as Fellow Archivists.
And here’s the big difference: I’m not fueled by rage anymore. I’ve felt like an underdog my whole life—no talent, no skill, no charisma, just heart to keep going—but now, I’m not trying to prove anyone wrong. The people I once wanted to impress? I was chasing the wrong audience.
I’m ugly. Bitter. Wretched.
But also hopeful, exhausted through sheer willpower most days, and making my way through life with what I have—at a pace that doesn’t burn me out, doesn’t make me hate myself, and allows me to enjoy the frustrating process along the way.
Things Still Feel Surreal Months Into 2025
I still can’t believe how much The Stratagem’s Archive grew. It started as a way to get thoughts out of my head before they rotted. Now:
- 120 published articles
- 15 subscribers
- 5 newsletters from Letters from the Void Newsletter
- 2 manifestos Two Manifestos + A Gift (For Fellow Archivists)
- 1 ebook manifesto The Stratagem’s Manifesto 2.0: A Companion Ebook
- 6 sticker designs (plus a personal hoodie)
- 50 business cards because apparently that’s how one feels professional
And all of this is something Past-Me would never believe possible.
It’s not just the blog that’s grown. I’ve grown too:
- Renting my own studio
- Managing my money and building for my future
- Feeling at home being asexual
- Navigating friendships with clear boundaries
- Making my own map of life instead of blindly following someone else’s blueprint
Younger me would never have imagined this life. And yet, here I am—living life my way, not punishing myself for unconventional choices, and enjoying the messy journey.
What’s Next, Moving Towards 2026?
Ain’t that the question we ask every new year? New Year’s resolutions, envy, self-doubt, the constant “am I doing enough?”
I don’t know what’s next. Maybe I won’t have a corner office. Maybe I won’t run a Spartan race. Maybe I’ll learn Korean just to try something fun. Who knows?
What I do know: I’ll keep working on The Stratagem’s Archive, posting when I can—not chasing numbers like an addict—living life, writing, training, exploring, and seeing what else life offers.
Reflective Questions for Fellow Archivists
Looking back, what part of your past-you makes you cringe but also feel grateful?
Which accomplishments in the last months are invisible but meaningful to you?
If the next 5 months were yours to design, without limits, what would you focus on?
Thank You, Fellow Archivists
Whether you silently follow, like, comment, or share, thank you for spending your time here. Your presence, curiosity, and engagement—however big or small—are what make this archive worthwhile.
Here’s to 2026: one reflection, experiment, and late-night thought at a time.
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