mcclellangg.com

Update December 2025

Dec 31, 2025

The final month of the year

Overview

As per usual this month has been a mixed bag. On one hand I am truly thankful and joyous for all the lovely people that fill my life. On the other hand, I am absolutely relieved to have made it through the social crucible that is the holiday season. 

I have been learning about myself and reflecting A LOT the past few months. 

Normalize failure

One of the most valuable lessons I have learned is that failure is absolutely acceptable, and a necessary part of the learning process. I've undone a lot of unhealthy habits that I have built up over previous years. I want to continue this trend, and make more efforts to put myself first.

Get out there

Taking local classes (drawing) and attending meetups (programming) have taught me so much, and are such a positive experience. I love meeting other people, learning their stories, and hearing what they have to share. I plan to keep putting myself out there in order to connect with others who are interested in similar creative domains (primarily programming and drawing). Going to meetups, and taking classes are easily some of the best things I have done for myself this year.

Connecting

Connecting and staying in touch can be hard. It doesn't have to be. It all starts with a simple act, checking in. One example is asking someone how their day or week is going. This seems trivial, but by taking that first step you create a space where connections can begin and lasting relationships can develop. I think connecting and keeping up with people of all types is imperative, and fear that I have been negligent to do so. I've been working to improve this, and plan to continue improving in the coming year.

Progress

I am a bit afraid that the road to a 'successful career' is going to be more arduous than I previously believed. However, I feel like I've found a more sustainable way to travel that road. Through recent changes I have acquired pertinent knowledge about myself, and the world surrounding us all. Although this journey is not turning out how I thought, I feel freshly equipped and excited for the possibilities ahead.

I'm really proud of all the progress I have made this year. Progress is a sneaky demon that often hides in our day to day failures and improvements. It can be damn near impossible to see up close. Don't forget to step back from time to time and take in the bigger view. Our society often works against us to abstract or mitigate our progress. Make time to reflect and enjoy whatever progress you have made, no matter how big or small it may be.

Anyways, here is to another trip around the sun. Happy (end to the) holidays, and best of luck to you in the New Year!

PS: DEAR GRAYSON, PLEASE MAKE POSTING PAINLESS, AND DO IT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER!

Content

Movies

  • Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
  • Ready Player One, (Interesting adaptation, the book is preferred)
  • Maze Runner 1
  • Maze Runner 2 (not a fan)
  • Escape From New York (Have I never seen this?)
  • 10 Things I Hate About You
  • The Family Stone
  • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows PT 1 and PT 2
  • One Battle After Another

TV

  • Watching Fallout S2 ...
  • Watching Stranger Things S5 ...

Books

  • I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream
  • Death of the Liberal Class
  • Snow Wanderer (Has a cool alien code, I wonder if anyone has cracked it)
  • ADHD 2.0
  • The Michael Moorcock Library - Elric: The Eternal Champion
  • Reading Orsinian Tales ...
  • Reading Animorphs #25 ...
  • DNF Linux Command Line

Music

In an instruMETAL mood

  • Russian Circles, Gnosis
  • Double Ferrari ("Like wearing a Minor Threat shirt to a Fugazi concert")
  • Yakui The Maid (wtf this is AWESOME)

Articles

Stats

  • Ran 31.4 miles