My media journal is all set up for next year. Now I just need to make a conscious effort to actually consume media, so I have something to fill it with. Whether it’s books, television shows, movies, video games, or music, I’d like to be more intentional about keeping track of the things I enjoy throughout the year.

Music is probably going to be my biggest challenge. I don’t consume much music on its own. Usually, I just have some lo-fi music playing in the background while I’m doing other things. I suppose that still counts as listening to music, though! I don’t necessarily have to be actively sitting down and listening to an album for it to qualify. I’d also like to make more of an effort to watch television shows and movies. Those aren’t things I typically consume very often, but it might be fun to explore more of them and expand the types of media I enjoy. I’m hoping my media journal will encourage me to step outside my habits a little.

Another thing I need to get back into is writing in my commonplace book. I haven’t added anything to it in about a month, and I’d really like to make it a regular habit again. It’s not that I haven’t come across interesting things worth saving or writing about. Quite the opposite! I’ve encountered plenty of things that could have made their way into my commonplace book, but instead, I’ve ended up writing about them in my journal. I think part of the problem is that typing is just easier and more convenient for me. I can get my thoughts out much faster when I type than when I write by hand. Still, I don’t want my commonplace book to become something I only occasionally remember exists. I’d like to find a better balance between the two and make a point of adding interesting quotes, thoughts, ideas, and observations whenever I come across them.

Speaking of typing, Final Fantasy XIV’s newest collaboration with Final Fantasy VII has a rather unexpected activity: a typing game. Yes, an actual typing game! And yes, I have mentioned this before. I feel like I’m taking a typing test every time I play it. It’s a pretty funny concept, especially considering I spend so much time typing already. I’m currently working toward unlocking Tifa’s outfit and the minion reward. You earn a special type of currency by playing the game, which you can then exchange for the rewards. Naturally, I want to collect both, so I have a little incentive to keep playing. Hopefully, my typing skills will get some practice along the way!

On a completely different note, my anxiety has been acting up a little. One of the ways it manifests physically for me is through itchiness. My skin starts getting itchy whenever I’m anxious, although I’m not entirely sure what’s triggering the anxiety this time. I ended up taking my as-needed anxiety medication to see if that would help settle things down. It has helped somewhat, but the itchiness hasn’t completely gone away. Part of me is wondering whether I should also take some Benadryl since that usually helps with itching. I’ve applied lotion as well, trying to keep my skin moisturized and calm. I have to be particularly careful because of my eczema. Stress and anxiety can trigger flare-ups for me, and the last thing I want is to end up with an uncomfortable breakout. Hopefully, things will settle down soon.

The weekend was a lot of fun! We had a full-on Lord of the Rings weekend, which was a nice change of pace. We played the Lord of the Rings board game, although I have to admit I was getting a little sleepy while playing. We also had the Lord of the Rings movies playing in the background throughout the weekend, so there was plenty of Middle-earth atmosphere.

To make things even better, we had Lord of the Rings-inspired meals to go along with the theme. We also spent the night at our friend’s house, where we played other board games and enjoyed some good food and company. It was a really enjoyable weekend, and I always appreciate having opportunities to spend time with friends doing something a little different.

Looking ahead to next year, we’re planning a trip to Japan. I’m really excited about the trip, but there is one medication-related issue I’ll need to sort out before we go. I won’t be able to bring my Ritalin with me because of Japan’s restrictions on the medication. This means I’ll need to have a conversation with my doctor well ahead of time to figure out a safe plan. I’ll need guidance on whether and how to gradually discontinue the medication before traveling and how to safely resume it once I’m back home. I definitely don’t want to wait until the last minute to figure everything out. Traveling internationally already involves plenty of planning, and this is something I’ll need to make sure is handled properly. I’ll also need to confirm the current Japanese medication regulations and travel requirements so there aren’t any surprises.

As for today, nothing particularly exciting is on the agenda. It’s mostly a day for looking for jobs and catching up on laundry. Not exactly a glamorous schedule, but both things need to get done. Job searching can sometimes feel like a never-ending task, but hopefully, I’ll find some promising opportunities. In the meantime, I’ll work through the laundry, get some things organized, and hopefully make a little progress on the job front.

Next year, I’d really like to make an effort to learn more Tagalog and Cebuano. Cebuano is especially important to me because it’s the language my family speaks. Although my family speaks both Tagalog and Cebuano, I think it would be meaningful to learn both languages so I can better connect with my family, understand conversations, and feel more connected to my Filipino heritage.

My only concern is whether learning two languages at the same time would be too confusing or overwhelming. I know that Tagalog and Cebuano have some similarities, but they are also two distinct languages, each with its own vocabulary, grammar, and expressions. For example, one similarity I’ve noticed is that both languages use the word “Kumusta” to say hello or ask how someone is doing. It’s little things like that that make me curious about how much the languages have in common and where they differ.

Part of me thinks I should start with Cebuano since it’s the language my family speaks most often, then gradually introduce Tagalog once I feel more comfortable. On the other hand, maybe learning a little of both from the beginning wouldn’t be such a bad idea, as long as I take my time and don’t put too much pressure on myself.

Oh! Tomorrow marks the beginning of voting for the Goodreads Choice Awards. I’m going to try to participate this year, although I have a feeling it might be a little difficult to choose. The thing is, I haven’t read very many books that were actually published this year. A lot of the books I’ve picked up have been older releases, some published several years ago. A few of the books I read earlier this year were published in 1964. Maybe next year I will try to read a few new releases.

So far, I’ve managed to read 17 books this year, which I don’t think is too bad. Of course, I would have loved to read more, but there have been a few months when I haven’t picked up a book at all. Sometimes life gets lifing, and other times I’m just not in the mood to read. I’m also curious to see which books make the list. Maybe I’ll discover a few new ones to add to my ever-growing to-read list.

Every year, we usually receive those address labels in the mail… the little stickers with our name and address printed on them. I honestly can’t remember what organization or mailing they come from, but they always seem to show up around this time of year. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen them arrive yet, and I was hoping to use them for the Christmas cards. It would save me so much time and effort not having to handwrite the return address on every single envelope. I mentioned this to Tommy, and he told me to remind him about it when he gets home.

Speaking of Christmas, I really think we should get our tree up soon! I recently read an interesting article about how putting up Christmas decorations early can actually boost your mood and contribute to your overall mental well-being. The idea is that decorating early can bring a little extra excitement, happiness, and anticipation into everyday life. When you think about it, it makes perfect sense. Christmas decorations have a way of making a home feel warmer, cozier, and more festive.

I know it’s probably a bit of a no-brainer for anyone who loves Christmas, but I still thought it was interesting to read about the actual benefits behind it. Besides, who couldn’t use a little extra holiday cheer? I say there’s no reason to wait until December to start enjoying the Christmas spirit. Let’s get that tree up and make the house feel festive. I know I will get a bit of backlash since it’s not Thanksgiving yet, but it’s fun to joke around about getting things out early.

Oh, I need to clean up the fridge. Get rid of old leftovers. I should do that now. I’m going to end this here and get on with that task.