A letter to the past, present, and future me.

Since my birthday is in January, I like to start my year on January 13.

I don’t really have a habit of setting formal New Year’s resolutions, instead, I like to give myself a general direction. No matter when the calendar begins, January 13 is my personal day of reflection. Rather than setting rigid goals, I prefer to quietly look back on the past year and see how I’ve really been doing :)

One thing that never changes is how grateful I am for the version of myself who shows up every day, lives sincerely, and makes it safely through.

So, what is my overall direction for this year?

In simple terms: to keep updating my YouTube channel and blog regularly, and to stay focused on completing my illustrations. I’m also planning to sketch my third book — a story I’ve been writing on and off for the past year, which I’m very excited about!

My publisher hasn’t placed many strict requirements on me. They simply ask that I submit my work regularly, and I even get to decide the timeline myself (which feels like a huge vote of trust!). Because of that, I feel even more motivated not to let them down. Day by day, I move my work forward little by little, letting my perfectionist side do its best to bring each piece as close as possible to the limit of my current ability.

This isn’t for anyone else—it’s for that deep sense of satisfaction that comes from finishing something wholeheartedly :)

I never expected the world of drawing to bring me this much fulfillment and growth—not just in my work, but in my life and emotional well-being.

I’m truly content :)

If I were to make a wish, it would simply be that my family stays safe, healthy, and happy. That alone would be enough. Of course, wishes don’t come true just by saying them out loud. Health requires us to be intentional about how we eat and live; happiness requires learning how to cultivate it, turning it into a habit, and facing ourselves honestly. All of these things require real action.

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That brings me to something I’ve been thinking about: the difference between “dreams” and “goals.”

I’ve noticed many people tend to mix these two. This is simply my current understanding, and it may evolve over time. To me, a dream is a direction—the kind of person I hope to become. A goal is a milestone I set along the way toward that direction. And daily execution is what actually allows those goals to happen.

As goals are completed one by one, the dream slowly begins to take shape. It’s a bit like playing a game: if you want to reach Level 100 (the dream), first you have to clear the 99 levels before it (the goals).

Dreams can sound distant and abstract, while goals feel concrete and practical. But in reality, they support each other. Goals are built through small, consistent accumulation—year after year of experience stacking quietly on top of itself. It is exactly this accumulation that brings us closer to our dreams.

No matter what I’m doing, I’ve come to realize more and more that mindset is what matters most.

I wouldn’t say I’ve been through a vast amount, but in every experience, I’ve been learning to adjust my mindset. In the past, when I was exposed to certain "strange" ideas, even if I didn’t agree with them, I would still quietly turn them over in my mind and question whether they might be true. Those words would plant tiny seeds of doubt in my heart. Over time, they grew into pressure, making me feel like I wasn't good enough.

That’s why, as I’ve written before, we should always think carefully about how we speak to others, especially to children. It took me six years to slowly clear away those shadows.

I used to wonder what advice my future self might give to the present me. Back then, I didn’t even understand what I was capable of. But now, I can finally offer my past self something clear:

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Believe that you are capable of finishing what you start.

Don’t let outside noise interfere with your growth.

Many things are more possible than they first appear—often better than expected.

No one understands you better than you do.

If there’s something you truly want, give it your best effort.

These words are also for the version of me who is still walking forward today. Because we are all growing, day by day, and perhaps the future me is simply hoping that I can continue moving through life with a steady and healthy heart.

Lastly, what would you say to your past self? Feel free to share in the comments :)