It’s that time of year when thoughts turn to the past and future, and for me three words come to mind: gnawing, frustration, and creativity.
Let me get the good out of the way first. About 18 months ago, I started my first book with Lonely Planet. I’m now working on my fifth—my 40th book project if you add up the ones I’ve authored, co-authored or updated. 2024 also brought a good number of stories and branded content work from long-term clients such as Nat Geo, as well as a few new clients that I’ve enjoyed working with. I’ve been in the privileged position to not just continue making a living as a writer but to turn down work that hasn’t interested me.
But there’s also been a gnawing in the background. I can feel myself sliding unprepared toward a cluster of major life moments: aging parents (in the UK) and in-laws (in Japan); my hound now a senior pup; my son soon to head to college overseas; and only a couple of years left until I turn 50. Possibly, once the nest is empty, we’ll move out of Tokyo. As much as I love Tokyo, the latter at least I’m looking forward to.
Then there’s been a frustration with my own lack of creativity; or the lack of time I’ve spent on creative pursuits in 2024. I published a few haiku, but the collection I’m working on is going at glacial speed. The pair of scripts I’ve been writing? Almost zero progress. Travel narrative book? Likewise. The kind of in-depth features (like this) I most enjoy doing? It feels like they are getting harder to pitch. Features increasingly feel like content. All with a “why now?” peg. All designed to be easily digested during fleeting pauses between scrolling.
So for 2025 (and thanks to Fernando’s post on annual themes), I’ve set a theme: creativity. I’ll post separately on that another day, but in short my aim for the year is to give myself time and space to be creative, and allow myself to take a creative mindset into each day. There’ll be some habits to rebuild, but by and large this will be free of rigid goals and any notion of success or failure. I’m sure haiku will be a prominent part. Perhaps this blog will become a place where I write more frequently for myself. Maybe I’ll put the scripts aside for the year, so I can focus on the travel narrative. Or vice versa. It’s more a case of creating fertile soil and seeing what grows, rather than planting a specific crop.
As for the life moments on the horizon: honestly, I have no idea. At least my wife and I are drifting downriver in the same boat—our parents, our dog, our empty nest, albeit only she is dealing with a husband who’s developing shoulder hair and a penchant for cardigans. We have post-Tokyo possibilities to look forward to together. I’m even tempted to make the annual theme creativity and calm, so I can better meet whatever comes in a good frame of mind. Exercise, eat well, sleep well, be mindful and appreciative: the usual drill that looks simple but at times proves difficult. We shall see.