tarot reading & looking ahead
not another 2025 resolutions post, well kind of
I recently stumbled across a tarot reading on Instagram that revealed what 2025 might have in store for each zodiac sign. And to be honest, I laughed at mine. Not because the reading was wild, per se, but because it looked almost identical to last year’s, and the year before that, and... I think you get it. As a Libra, I’m always predicted to find a new job or promotion, travel the world, and, of course, discover love.
Don’t get me wrong—I’m not opposed to any of that. But I’ve supposedly been on the verge of meeting the love of my life for the past five years. Does that mean none of the others were it? How many “love of my life” am I destined to have? And can one of them please stick around for longer than a year?
It made me laugh. I know these readings are intentionally vague, designed for you to interpret as you like. This time, though, I decided to use it as a starting point for reflection—to look back on the year that was, consider the year ahead, and decide where I want to focus my energy.
“Enjoy your single season because this is your last one”
Every year, I’m told it’s my “last single season,” and every year I enjoy it. I suppose I’ll give it another go this year. But honestly, But honestly, I’ll just let fate work its magic and go with the flow when it comes to love.
“Increased money coming (new job/promotion)”
This won’t happen at my current job, so does that mean I’ll get a new one this year?
Last August, I quit my office job after over two years with the company. I was fortunate to find work in hospitality, which gave me the courage to take the leap. However, the pay cut has been challenging, and I’ve had to rethink my spending.
This break from corporate life was much needed—it helped me reevaluate what I want (and don’t want) in a job. I currently work in an art gallery, where I meet people from all over the world and work alongside lovely colleagues. This role has been a blessing for my mental health. That said, it’s a temporary solution.
While I’m not especially career-driven, I do crave growth and learning, and I know this job won’t provide that—not in the way I seek. For now, I’m grateful my temporary contract has been made permanent. It’s brought me peace of mind and a sense of stability, which is invaluable as I refine my job-hunting strategy while staying in a safe, welcoming environment.
“Discovering your self-worth” & “Increased spiritual awareness”
As I get older, I uncover new facets of my personality. My tastes change, I become more aware of my self-worth, and I accept myself a little more with each passing year. It’s a long, ongoing process—one I know will continue.
“Booking a much-needed trip/vacation”
Top of my list? Returning to Seoul or New York—or finally exploring Berlin. It’s funny: whenever I mention Berlin, people tell me I’d love it, that it’s very much “my vibe.” Hopefully, this will be the year I see it for myself.
“Building friendships and networking”
I have two very close friends who live in different countries from me. While I try to be there for them, I want to nurture those friendships more this year. Perhaps a trip to Canada or France should be on the cards.
At the same time, I feel like I sometimes neglect newer friendships. It’s unintentional, but making friends as an adult is hard—and it takes time. I want to invest more in those connections because they deserve care, too.
As for networking… well, I’m not the best at it. That said, I’ve been trying to be more active on Substack, which has been a nice change. I’ve got social media fatigue (don’t we all?), and that’s made me pretty passive—just consuming content rather than engaging.
If a friend posts something that resonates with me, I’ll usually DM them (I’m not completely hopeless!). But when it’s a creator, I often don’t engage beyond a simple “like.” It feels like my words will disappear into the void. On Substack, though, I’ve been making an effort to share my thoughts. Whether it’s a writer with a small or large audience, I’ll leave a comment if something speaks to me. Maybe it’s because Substack feels fresh, or maybe it’s nostalgia for the blogging days—but I’ve been really enjoying the exchanges here.
Overall, this Instagram post was a useful tool for reflection. It helped me examine the past year and consider the next 12 months (and beyond).
I’m not one for resolutions. “New year, new me” feels like an unnecessary burden. Instead, I prefer to focus on a few ongoing goals—things I’ve touched on earlier, and habits I’d like to carry over from last year:
Actively study Korean: I’ve dabbled in Korean for over a year, but my practice has been inconsistent. With my new schedule, I can finally carve out dedicated time to study. I don’t aim to be fluent—just confident enough to order at cafés or have simple conversations.
(Re)learn Dutch: I briefly mentioned this in a sense of identity. During my trip to Belgium, I picked up a Dutch textbook written entirely in Dutch to challenge myself to learn words without relying on translations and let my brain rebuild the connections.
Save for a holiday: To make this happen, I plan to: 1) stop random spending and 2) secure a new job with better pay, allowing me to save and finally book that much-needed vacay.
Be a better friend (or human in general): It’s something I continuously try to work on. Relationships are a two-way street and require effort. Reply to messages. Initiate conversations—even if it’s just a quick hello or a funny gif. Celebrate milestones. Send flowers or handwritten letters. Show up when you say you will. It’s the small gestures that keep connections alive.
Thank you for reading!
Until next time,
Amandine
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J’adore le format de cette newsletter 😊 C’est clair que les tirages de tarot sur Internet sont généralement vagues, mais j’aime bien en regarder de temps à autre. Je ne tire pas trop les cartes pour moi, mais j’aime beaucoup le faire pour les autres, si ça te dit 😉 Je ne savais pas que tu travaillais dans une galerie d’art, c’est vraiment la classe je trouve. Je suis comme toi, moi aussi je réalise enfin ma valeur, et ça fait du bien ! Ohh, si tu viens en France, let me know. Si t’as besoin de quelqu’un pour étudier et pratiquer le coréen, je suis là. J’essaye de m’y remettre mais it’s not easy, je fais du surplace depuis au moins un an et demi. En tout cas, tes objectifs sont vraiment inspirants 🤍
Alors moi, en 2025, je veux continuer de travailler sur ma confiance en soi et ne plus accorder d’importance aux gens qui ne le méritent pas, j’en ai marre de devoir me contenter des miettes qu’on me jette 😅