2025 felt busy, mentally heavy, and experimental.
I tried many things, paused many, dropped a few — and questioned almost everything. Surprisingly, it also felt… relaxed. Even as AI reshaped the software world, I enjoyed learning, adapting, and letting tools assist instead of overwhelming me. In many ways, AI didn’t make me exceptional — but it helped me survive momentum loss.

• Went deeper into backend engineering (Node.js, Express, TypeScript)
• Started Python, FastAPI & PostgreSQL properly
• Touched AWS seriously and earned 5 beginner badges
• Restarted DSA & problem-solving
• Enrolled in a long-term software engineering course
• Published my first research paper on LLMs
• Side projects increased income by 30%
• Mentally prepared to move and unfold my next chapter

Each year, I try to visit one new country — not as luxury, but as closure.

In 2025, that country was Sri Lanka.

Calm streets. Slower days. Fewer thoughts.
It gave me the pause I needed before stepping into a new chapter.

Sri Lanka felt like a beautifully decorated land — rich with history, nature, and soul. From stories of the ancient Ravana empire to its temples, villages, and landscapes, the country carries a quiet depth. The people were humble, gentle, and welcoming in a way that stays with you long after you leave.

I explored places like the Cave Temple, Golden Temple, Sigiriya Lion Rock, Sigiriya village, spice gardens, Colombo city — experienced local food, culture, and everyday life. Each place added a different color to the journey, making it feel both grounding and inspiring.

What made this trip truly special was my travel partner — my close friend Pujhon. He flew in from Finland for vacation and joined me on this journey. Traveling together made the experience ten times more enjoyable — full of conversations, laughter, and shared moments that turned simple days into lasting memories.

Due to unexpected incidents in the country, we had to wrap up the trip earlier than planned. The tour remained unfinished — but sometimes that’s how the best memories work. Short, sweet, and deeply memorable.

In the end, I’d recommend everyone to visit this beautiful country at least once — 100%.
Sri Lanka doesn’t just show you places — it gives you space.

Toward the end of the year, I shipped my first meaningful digital product:

👉 yearinreview.online

It wasn’t planned months ahead.
It came suddenly — from friction I personally felt.

Every year, I do a deep review and plan the next one. But the process is slow for me. Scattered across notes, tools, documents, and half-finished ideas. At some point, the thought hit me:

Why not build something that helps me — and others — do this better?

That idea became Year in Review.

I executed it quickly, knowing it’s early and imperfect. But it exists — and that matters more than numbers. In 2026, I plan to spend real time on it and evolve it into a complete, thoughtful platform for yearly reflection and planning.

If you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to start with planning your year, you can give it a try:
🔗 https://yearinreview.online/

And if you’re part of my close circle, just drop me a message — I’ve kept a full discount for my loved ones, so you can use the tool and craft your year in the shortest, clearest way possible.

This was a small launch — but an important one.

• Doing many things ≠ progressing
• Systems work better than plans
• Learning feels good, but shipping changes everything
• One focused quarter beats a whole year of scattered effort
• Progress comes from showing up, even on boring days
• The hardest thing is breaking habits, so choose them wisely