{"id":3696,"date":"2025-12-31T12:38:42","date_gmt":"2025-12-31T12:38:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.joerivanveen.com\/blog\/?p=3696"},"modified":"2026-01-03T14:05:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-03T14:05:10","slug":"looking-forward-to-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.joerivanveen.com\/blog\/looking-forward-to-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Looking forward to 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Today I\u2019m writing to you from my favourite location on this planet that I know of: the French Alps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being amongst these mountains on New Years eve I realise how simple and inconsequential my life is. This has many upsides, but one of the downsides is that I have nothing to brag about online (or offline for that matter). I am perfectly happy just walking around for hours with my wife and looking at the mountains, the light, the clouds, the chalets, the people. Days may pass where I have done nothing but getting a baguette.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Lower clouds seen from 2000 m in the French Alps.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

New Years Resolutions 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last year I decided to finally quit alcohol, start meditating and start working out at the gym. I did those things during most of 2025, with the support and participation of my wife, and am happy enough about them to continue in 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tree, shot in Sweden this summer, Joeri van Veen 2025.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I also wanted to start working on a new book and make more artsy fartsy photographs. Those things did not happen, even though I wrote some nice stories (in Dutch)<\/a>. My motivation is too mirky for a book or to setup artistic shoots. I feel my motivation is more in the genre of \u2018look at me writing this book \/ shooting these scenes\u2019 rather than for the enjoyment of the process, to be honest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2025 I also wanted to start working on my driving skills, but my MR2 broke down and I had to wait several months and part with a bunch of money to get it on the road again, just in time for the winter. Will carry that resolution over to 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Signpost, shot in Sweden this summer, Joeri van Veen 2025.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

New Years Resolutions 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

New for 2026 are the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Work on the MR2 myself (with some help)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I would like to learn mechanics and \u2018do\u2019 mechanics. A lifelong dream of mine has been working on cars, but it was not a good career for me I inferred at a young age (not that I have one now). This year the engine of my MR2 needed a rebuild and rust treatment needs to be done, which is best handled by professionals I guess. Maybe in 2026 I can upgrade the brakes or add a sporty muffler, with some help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Butterflies on flowers, shot in Sweden during the summer of 2025.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Allow myself to be more of an adolescent<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

All my life I have been overly cautious and pretty scared of everything, except for a small hiatus while my brain had some development issues and I drove my mums Renault into a ditch. Fortunately all this nonsense is now fading away, with occasional help from professionals in the field of human psychology. I would like to dial up the adolescent in me a bit to live life fuller and be less hesitant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n