You can never go back, so move forward

learn from failure
Photo by Brett Jordan on Pexels.com
Daily writing prompt
What could you do differently?

My late father used to say, “No can do.” Of course, he said it in Finnish, but it was something like that. The past is the past, and you can’t go back and do things differently. You should look forward and learn from your failures. Some things aren’t meant to be, and that’s just life.

I could have done many things differently, but what I didn’t do then, I can do in 2026. Of course, I can’t be younger or have a perfectly stable life without any problems. Last year, it felt as if more bad things happened than good. Those were things I couldn’t have planned for. But it wasn’t all bad. I went to five different concerts: Toto, Bryan Adams, Kylie Minogue, The Rasmus, and Duran Duran. That’s where the bad luck happened; I hurt myself in the hotel room and had to go to the ER. I thought I would have to miss the entire Duran Duran concert, but luckily, the injury wasn’t too bad, and I saw at least half of it, even though I was in discomfort and felt like I couldn’t move. Music is a good healer. This year, there won’t be any concerts, and even if there were, I couldn’t afford them.

Last year, money seemed to go but not come in. So many bills to pay. My savings are going, and there is no income coming. I had to pay inheritance tax, repair my car, pay the monthly fee for two flats, and if that wasn’t enough, my car wouldn’t start. It’s been cold weather, and I hadn’t used the car for about a week. I can’t afford to pay for a towing service to help me. Perhaps the car battery is empty or something else. I can’t do anything about it because of the lack of funding. Luckily, I don’t need to drive anywhere important. And I don’t need to pay for gas, either. I have a battery charger, but I don’t know if that will work. And I don’t know how it works either.

I also drove into a pole under the carport outside my building because the idiot beside my car can’t park theirs far enough from my spot. They think I have a car that fits into narrow places. So I drove into the pole, broke the cover of the turn signal, and scratched the car. Then I had to take the yearly car inspection twice because there were other problems in the car that I had to fix.

If I sold my flat, I could get money, but I can’t afford a cleaner or moving help. Since my car doesn’t start, I can’t move things to the other flat. The problems keep on coming. One problem is solved, and then comes another one. I have to save money for basic needs, and I don’t want any more surprises.

Is this what my life is about? Financial struggle, no friends (not that I need them), no job, and no one who cares. All the people I had are gone, and not even meeting anyone new. Even if I did, no one cares enough, or I have nothing in common with people. But I’m not lonely, alone yet, but I’m used to it. Luckily, I’m an introvert, and I don’t need a lot of people around anyway. Try to tally everything together so I don’t end up broke. I already had to stop paying for Grammarly Premium, and who knows what I have to give up next.

I hope 2026 will have less drama than last year. And no surprises. At least not bad ones.

My Christmas present is to be present

a big christmas tree with lights
Photo: Mia, 2025

My Christmas present is to be present. I have only 24 posts on this blog in 2025 (this is number 25). I won’t make any promises, but hopefully there will be more than that in 2026. It depends on how next year goes. I don’t make New Year’s resolutions because most of them never happen. E.g., if I say I would eat less candy/sweets. Will it happen? No. The same goes for anything. You shouldn’t promise things you can’t keep. You’re lying to yourself and others if you do.

It’s Christmas, and you should be present. So no Internet or social media. If you have a family, spend the holidays with them and not your phone. Stay safe and relax. Christmas is only once a year, Father’s/Mother’s Day is every Autumn/Spring.

Not much new on the horizon

a view
Photo: Mia

Recently, I haven’t learned new things. Only repeat old skills and lessons. So not much new on the horizon. Oh, except that there is no Pullquote block on WordPress anymore, so the quote gives me nightmares. The font is too big, and you can’t change the size. It just looks terrible on the post.

Now, when I think about what I’ve learned recently. I’ve learned that no matter what I do, I can’t seem to find graphic design clients. My savings are soon gone, and no money is coming in (except welfare). If I sold my flat, I could get money. But I can’t afford to hire a cleaner or moving people. Being unemployed blows. I only get bills, bills, bills.

Another thing I’ve learned, but it isn’t recent. It doesn’t matter what I post on Facebook, not even my relatives, no one reacts. But I post anyway just for myself. It’s nice to look back at the memories. People’s lives are so busy that they have no time to care about what I do. If I weren’t used to being alone, I would probably be depressed and distressed. Luckily, that’s only Facebook, and who takes that seriously?

There are always new things to learn. For example, you’re never ready to be creative because you can always get better and realise something you haven’t before. I’ve used Canva for 10 years, but I’m still learning. It gets updates, and new things come up. Then you learn the latest tools. The same goes for any app you use.

Learning new things is fun, and it makes life worth living. Especially if it’s something you love doing. It’s good for the brain to stay active.