So, that broken toe kept me out longer than expected. As my good friend Boromir would say,
This past weekend, I finally hit the gym after an extended break. Every minute reminded me how out of shape I was. All this, on top of my toe telling me, “Brother, you ain’t ready yet. Let’s take it slow.”
To make matters worse, I’m that guy who always gets overzealous and works at 100%, no matter the scenario. First impressions-wise, this attribute is often mistaken for motivation, but it is exhausting and born of obsession.
It is also a problem of my own making. They say our greatest flaws usually stem from our deepest griefs. 2026 has taught me this lesson about balancing my ambitions with my obsessions.
The latter has been fostered by the setbacks I’ve experienced in my personal and professional life. It is the age-old tale of finding something that works for you and keeps you happy, only to lose it to circumstances well beyond your control.
If it happens often enough, what was once a craving for success becomes a desperate obsession that drives you to prove yourself. So much so that you end up forgetting what it means to simply enjoy your life and whatever you do.
In that context, my broken toe has been a godsend.
When life slows down, it forces you to reflect, especially on things you don’t want to think about. Long story short, I’ve been depressed, and it’s been about a lot of things.
Thankfully, the time away has helped me learn a few tricks, like accepting what has happened and recognizing that it is okay to grieve.
Part of that has been realizing that ambition is great, especially when it motivates you to try new things and be proactive. What doesn’t work is when that ambition replaces what may have been a natural enthusiasm with a need to prove yourself to others. That last part isn’t necessary.
The only person you need to prove anything to or be accountable to is yourself. Lately, I’ve also been repeatedly listening to Japanese singer-songwriter Yui’s third album, “I Loved Yesterday.”
The album’s message is poignant: “In order to love yesterday, let’s live today without regrets. I want to live tomorrow with the same feeling.”
Much like my broken toe, the last few months have been bruising, but I’m all the better for it. Being an overzealous creative like me can mean a lot of things. For one, I think a lot (or, as my partner puts it, “you think too much and too hard”) and often not in the most productive ways.
This time around, I’ve gained perspective on how to temper that urge. It is helping me bounce back, albeit gradually. Instead of pushing through things, giving it my 100% and whatnot, I’m now taking things a little more slowly.
And that’s OK.
Phew. All that being said, what’s ahead?
Well, a lot of exciting things, to be honest. I’m happy with how 2026 has turned out so far.
For starters, I transformed into a science history sleuth and published two articles in the magazine Sky and Telescope (two published, and one currently slated for a print issue in 2027).
I’m also having the time of my life as a classic motivated yet disillusioned writer, submitting a few stories to prominent publishers and getting rejected. Tradition says I keep grinding, and I’m currently doing so by resubmitting my stories to literary agents and others.
I have a small “renovation” of sorts scheduled for this blog, and will be restarting my science blog.
Lastly, I’m developing a standalone author website and working through a year-long art study plan that has me priming up a portfolio for storyboarding and animation.
In other words, as my brain (and Frodo) would put it on days when it’s burned out (in a good way),
Which brings me back to my readers at the Pensive Reverie; thank you for being so patient with me. With all that is set to go down in my creative endeavors for 2027, I’m just excited to say,
