2025, a reflection

I've told people that every subsequent year from 1997 to 2024 has been my "best year ever, objectively."

I don't think I can say the same for 2025.

However, I could say confidently, that 2025 has been my most important year ever.

I'd like to convince you of such by:

1. Doing an inventory check of tangible accomplishments / stats I've accomplished in 2025

2. Yap through a list of fundamental life lessons I feel confident in applying for the rest of my life

3. Project my aspirations for 2026, based on 2025

Inventory Check of 2025 / Weird Flexes (in no particular order)

• Planned 2 weddings, both not near my current residence

• Churned through 2 different wedding photo shoots (trust me, this is an accomplishment)

• Traveled to: United Arab Emirates, Korea (x5), Indonesia, France, Guatemala, Türkiye, Spain; including 2 mission trips

• Spoke at 4 conferences

• Obtained 50 million views across 3 social media outlets

• Survived a 12 hour time difference post-engagement long distance relationship

• Read 10 books

• MC'ed 2 weddings

• Survived an international crime scene in a country with one of the highest violent crime and homicide rates in Latin America

• Advised hundreds of students and young professionals

• Increased my net worth by 30%

In the most humbly arrogant way possible, I did a lot, but not as much as years before.

Fundamental Life Lessons (brace yourself for yap) 2 Overarching themes for 2025

• Jesus truly is the only answer: and I mean this quite literally. With all due respect, if you're living life for anything else, it's truly meaningless and you'll end unfulfilled, sad, and frankly (I'm not a great representative for Christians and I'd love to give the God loves everyone message here, but sorry in advance) waste your life otherwise. I'm certainly no billionaire and there's people far more accomplished than me at my age, but as a person with a great significant other locked in for marriage, zero family problems, a stable and dynamic community, phenomenal work life balance, financial security, an American passport, near-perfect health, internet clout, industry expertise, and a long list of people who love and respect me, I can assure you none of those things matter if Jesus is not at the center of it all. You can be like me and continue to question this, look for some greater purpose, find fulfillment through volunteering at a soup kitchen, but there is only one way, truth, and life. DMs are open if you're interested.
  

• It's objectively better to live the most holy life possible than try to be cool by being a prodigal son: for those not familiar with the Bible story, the layman's terms explanation here is it's better to never drink alcohol than crack a cold one every week and then tell your kids at 40 with liver cancer to not drink. I think this world glorifies people with experience, and even churches love to make an example out of people who "returned" or "woke up." As one of those individuals who lived a majority of his 20s glorifying such a life, I can promise you that wounds heal, but they're still there. If I "went back," I'd do everything in my power to stay away from anything and everything that deters me from a Christlike life. Your habits in your teens become a lifestyle in your 20s and your identity in your 30s. Before you do anything, ask yourself if you want that in your pronouns at 35.

Rapid fire list, you can DM me for explanations

• Get married before you're 30, otherwise you're most likely cooked (you'll be less attractive, less motivated, flirting is not cute anymore, desperation overrides feelings)

• As you get older, close your mouth and open your wallet

• Men: act masculine, women: act feminine, your life will be easier and better

• Let the people who don't have a stage elsewhere grab the mic in their only stage; your 3 minutes of patience can make 3 days of their happiness (even if they speak at a 3rd grade level)

• Intuitions are 90% correct, whether you think your close friend is secretly dating or a local community leader is corrupt

• Young people need guidance, old people need assurance

• Men need recognition, women need attention

• All politicians and celebrities are trying to mass exploit while they can, but Democrats/Progressives are just not it (especially in Korea)

• Put on sunscreen

My 2026 Aspirations

• I'm going to go on the offensive in terms of my faith. I have no intentions of being a false prophet, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't feel like the end times are near. Regardless of when that might be, I'm pretty ashamed of how passive I've been in trying to live a Christlike life to be a decent Christian example for my non-Christian friends. I'm going into 2026 with a "it's my fault if they go to Hell" mentality. Because they will.

• I'm prioritizing God, my health, my soon-to-be-wife, and our collective marriage. Everyone thinks you kiss your wife at the end of the ceremony and magically become a committed man dedicated to your partner and family. I've seen too many examples of that being far from the truth. Having a God-centered relationship is the key to this all and every aspect of the four-prong focus will lead directly back to having a healthy marriage. It's been awhile since I started doing something for the first time - I'm excited.

• Im cutting away everything that doesn't align with the life I've lived and the life I'm building. This sounds like the most obvious thing ever, but plenty of us live illogical lives where our daily actions aren't backed by our past and aren't funneling into the future. Self-awareness is key here, and 2025 has taught me that I'm inevitably:

  • Christian

  • Korean American

  • Extroverted

  • Charismatic

  • Family-oriented

  • With no filter

  • Best suited for the creator economy

  • Incredibly good with people

  Anything that doesn't have synergy with these core aspects of my 28 year life and the decades to come, I will actively chop away.

All the optimism aside, 2025 wasn't great. I slept poorly, didn't find much fulfillment in my job, didn't spend enough time with my family, doom scrolled more than reading the dead sea scrolls, felt depressed about getting old, and even questioned the value of marriage.

But after 27 years of up and to the right, 28 was crucial in re-orienting to get ready for this next thematic half of my life.

If you're looking for answers or struggling with back pain, just know the best next step is to sit straight up.

Cheers.