New Year, New You: A Game Developer's Journey to Self-Improvement

"See you in 2025. Don’t let me down."

(Scene: Night, December 31, 2024. YOU, a Video Game Developer in your 20s, are hunched over your keyboard, scrolling through social media.)

(The mirror on the wall shimmers. The “NEW YOU” steps out.)

New You: Wow. Look at this mess.

You: (jumping) What the—Who are you?

New You: I’m you… in 2025. The version of you that actually gets stuff done.

You: Oh, great. Another lecture. Go ahead, Professor.

New You: Alright, let’s keep it simple. Mornings—

You: Here we go.

New You: —Mornings, done right. Start with 30 minutes of Earl Nightingale audio, read the Bible, and shower—twice a day.

You: Do you know how cold it is out there?

New You: Hygiene! And while we’re at it, brush your teeth before bed.

You: Groundbreaking.

New You: You’ll thank me when you wake up not feeling like garbage.

You: Fine. What else? Impress me.

New You: Discipline. No more porn. No more jerking off. Social media—30 minutes max. YouTube? Strictly no entertainment.

You: And what? Stare at the wall all day?

New You: No, you’ll use that time to be productive.

You: I’m not some saint, you know.

New You: Speaking of productivity—100 push-ups and sit-ups every day. Pass your driving test. And for once, go to bed before midnight.

You: Midnight? I’m a night owl.

New You: You’re just lazy. Fix it. And let’s not forget your goals: finish your video game, master video editing, and practice Korean for 15 minutes daily.

You: What’s next? Run for president?

New You: How about becoming someone you’re proud of? And one more thing: write a to-do list each night. Start your day with purpose. Habit is key.

You: Sounds… exhausting.

New You: Do you want to stay this way for another year, or finally get your life together?

You: Alright. I’ll give it a shot.

New You: Not “a shot.” A commitment. See you in 2025. Don’t let me down.

(The New You steps back into the mirror and vanishes. You stare at your reflection, take a deep breath, and nod.)

(Posted on Threads on 26.12.2024)

#NewYearSelfImprovement