What positive events have taken place in your life over the past year?

A few small things happened this year, and they quietly pushed me forward.

I started practicing the violin.

No big reason—just wanted a clear sound in my daily routine.

I learned to slow down.

To push when I should, and to pause when I need to. My mind finally has some room.

Work feels more manageable.

Not easier, but I know my limits and how to pace myself.

I found a bit more courage.

Moments where I would’ve stepped back before, I stood my ground.

No major events.

Just a steady sense of growth—calm, unhurried, and honest.

And that made this year a little better than the last.

Do you ever see wild animals?

In the city, the most common are sparrows.

But over the years, they’ve been replaced by invasive mynas.

The irony—

These invaders were brought by humans too.

Like the green iguanas running wild in central and southern Taiwan.

A disaster carried in from outside,

growing unchecked in neglect and inaction.

Between species, there is no right or wrong—only survival.

The real chaos has always been ours.

What we can do—at least what I believe I can—

is to stay true to ourselves,

do what we can without overreaching,

maintain our edge, maintain our survival.

Sometimes, that alone feels like enough.

Do you have a favorite place you have visited? Where is it?

It used to be Kyoto.

But now, it’s Kobe.

There isn’t one dramatic reason — Kobe just feels right.

A place where you can quietly slip into everyday Japanese life,

without rushing, without trying too hard.

Mountains behind you, the sea in front of you.

Rokkō if you want a view, the harbor if you want some air.

And whenever you feel like exploring, all the famous temples, castles, and historic towns are just a short trip away.

Kobe isn’t the flashiest destination,

but it’s incredibly livable — gentle, balanced, effortless.

The kind of place that makes you think:

maybe life could move at this pace, and that might be enough.

Share five things you’re good at.

I’m not good at many things.

Even the parts I’m confident about — there’s always someone better.

So I remind myself to stay humble.

Stay hungry, stay foolish.

1. Reading what a system is really struggling with.
2. Catching the tiny details others walk past.
3. Learning at a steady, human pace.
4. Making complicated things lighter.
5. Quiet persistence — the only thing that stays.

What is one thing you would change about yourself?

If I could change one thing,

I’d want to be braver.

Back in high school,

I could have taken the entrance exam a second time.

But I didn’t.

I chose the easier path — accepting the first result,

telling myself it was “good enough.”

During military service,

there were moments I could have shown more of who I was.

But I stayed quiet,

safe,

invisible.

At work,

there were roles I wanted to try,

paths I wanted to explore.

But I kept myself inside the familiar,

even when I knew I had more to give.

And in everyday life,

ideas and possibilities came and went.

Most of them disappeared before they had a chance,

shut down by my own hesitation.

Looking back,

life feels like a book I flipped through too quickly —

chapters I never fully stepped into,

choices I accepted too early.

Regret is part of being human.

Maybe unavoidable.

But now things feel a little different.

With AI as an assistant,

and a thinking partner,

I can bring those old “maybe someday” ideas back to the table.

Ask.

Test.

Simulate.

Try again without the weight of consequence.

Life doesn’t restart,

but the way I think can.

Courage can, too —

one small step at a time.

And maybe this time,

the story really doesn’t have to repeat.

Are you more of a night or morning person?

Ideally I belong to the morning, but mornings are when everyone is rushing.

In reality I linger in the night, because that’s when people finally have time to sit together.

Somewhere between the two, I’m just not ready to end today—or start tomorrow.

What are your feelings about eating meat?

Eating meat, to me, is part of staying balanced — a simple way to survive in this world. Going meat-free isn’t necessarily cheaper or healthier; it just shifts the cost to a different place. In the end, it’s really about how well we control ourselves, how we listen to our bodies, and how we live in line with nature.

What are your two favorite things to wear?

Honestly, I’ve never been good at dressing myself.

More than ten years ago, the girls at work even said I looked stiff and boring.

Thankfully, Taiwan already had stores like Uniqlo back then—easy to shop, clear styles, clear sizing.

For someone with a not-so-broad Asian build, avoiding the awkward moment of “Wait… this is the women’s version?” was a big relief.

Since then, my wardrobe has slowly improved.

Nothing you’d call a real style, but at least it’s comfortable, not rigid.

And in summer, I like wearing T-shirts from charity events.

Nothing flashy, nothing loud—

just a small way to do something that feels right.