This is my first attempt at writing an annual summary. Previously, I always thought my life was too ordinary to summarize any valuable insights. However, upon reflection, the year passed quickly, yet it was filled with many events: things I was once passionate about but gave up in 2024, and things I was once timid about or thought were difficult but tried in 2024. My 2024 does not have a core theme; it feels less like a report and more like a prose poem.
The memories of the first half of 2024 are already sparse; perhaps it's the cold of winter now that makes me forget the warmth of spring. However, the most unforgettable thing is my first courageous confession of feelings. She and I are separated by thousands of miles, connected through the internet. At first, our conversations were casual, but I don't know when it started to take on a hint of ambiguity, yet neither of us dared to break the final barrier. It was still like playing games together, sometimes making a phone call, cautiously probing our feelings, but it was like the spring breeze at that time, afraid to blow too much, fearing it was all just my misunderstanding.
Until April Fool's Day. On April 1st, it was still spring, but there was a hint of summer's heat. She chatted with me about her daily life as usual. She said her roommate was confessed to on April Fool's Day and asked me to analyze whether it was real. I analyzed that it must be real, wanting to use April Fool's Day as a backup for a failed confession. In fact, I was also indirectly talking about myself. I wanted to take this step repeatedly, but I hesitated time and again due to fear of failure, often stumbling at the starting line. I hesitated for a long time, thinking maybe I should try confessing today, comforting myself that today had a "backup." I walked many laps around the playground, and before I knew it, it was already 9 PM, a time that was neither too early nor too late. I opened our chat interface. I hesitated for a long time, unsure whether to send a long message or simply express my feelings directly, unsure whether to prepare a gift. In the end, I just sent a few simple words: "I like you," and then turned off my phone screen. My heart raced, and my mind was in chaos. My first confession seemed to have started so simply.
I peeked at my phone several times; it seemed like each time I looked, a long time had passed, but the time showed no change. Suddenly, I saw a typing indicator, and my heart raced even faster. Soon, a message came through: "If you are serious, then I like you too."
Looking back now, I still feel a bit excited.
In the second half of the year, we traveled to Hangzhou, Nanjing, and Wuhan. We had no plans for our outings, and even when we went to Wuhan, we randomly found a riverside, rented two shared bikes, and rode for a long time. I'm not someone who enjoys walking or biking, yet I could happily walk and ride for a long time with her.
Here are two pictures.
I wrote a lot but didn't save it. I don't want to retype it.
In summary, 2024 was a mundane year for me. Although there were many emotional breakthroughs, it seems I didn't explore anything new technically. For example, with the recent popularity of AI, I feel like I will always be a user without participating in anything.
The mundanity of 2024 may be due to my daily efforts being overlooked by myself, or perhaps I was simply slacking off. Summarizing the past won't change any outcomes; only the future can serve as a measure of the present.