LASIK, Life Choices & Leveling Up in Japan: My Q1 2025 Plot Twist

Somehow, we’re already through the first quarter of 2025, and honestly? It’s been a season of clarity — literal and metaphorical. Between eye surgery, life decisions I didn’t see coming (pun intended), and an unforgettable trip to Japan, the past few months have been… a lot. So here’s a quick life update while the cherry blossoms are still fresh in my memory.

Hello, old friend. It's nice to see you again.

👁️ LASIK, But Make It Complicated

At the end of January, I finally got LASIK. This was something I'd debated for years — mostly because eye doctors kept reminding me that it wouldn’t really improve my vision beyond what glasses and contacts already did. But convenience won out, and I did it.

The results? I can see! Like, see-see. Waking up and being able to read signs across the street without groping for glasses feels like a superpower. But here’s the twist: my near vision decided to nope out. Small print is a struggle now, and I’ve officially entered my reading-glasses era. Disappointing? A bit. Worth it? Absolutely. No more contact lenses, dry eyes, or accidental naps with crooked frames. I’ll take the trade-off.

🏡 Job Market Chaos & The Phoenix Fork in the Road

If you read my last post — Written in the Stars… or Just Cosmic Confusion? — you’ll know I’ve been contemplating a major life shift. The desire to move, start fresh, or change careers is very real. But in today’s economy, “taking a leap” feels more like “jumping into a foggy abyss.”

I peeked at jobs in Omaha and Lincoln for a hot minute, but between questionable vibes and rumors of Nebraska going bankrupt (???), I decided to stay put in Iowa and keep throwing resumes into the void here instead.

Then came a surprise offer from my parents: they’d buy me a small house… in Phoenix. Sounds amazing, right? The catch? My brother would live with me, and I’d essentially become his guardian. He has behavioral and developmental challenges, and while I love him, I had to be honest with myself about the weight of that responsibility. I declined.

It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve made, but I’m learning that choosing my life — with all its uncertainty — is still valid.

🎮 Japan: My Happy Place, Now Shared

March brought joy in its purest form: a trip to Japan with two friends. One had Japan on his bucket list, the other had never left the U.S. Watching them experience it all — from their first konbini run to riding the bullet train — was something I’ll never forget.

We hit Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, and the highlight was easily Super Nintendo World. Picture it: a grown man (me) nearly crying inside Peach’s Castle. No notes.

Because it was my fourth trip — and because I forgot my gimbal — I was blissfully present the entire time. I wasn’t trying to capture every moment, just living them. Shinjuku and Nichōme felt like coming home. I've even semi-mastered the train system, which is basically a Tokyo rite of passage.

This trip reminded me that joy doesn’t always come from something new — sometimes, it’s in sharing what you love with people who matter. 

[For photos from this trip and my 2019, check out my Instagram highlights labeled Japan. Also, check out my posts in the archives labeled Japan Trip.]

🌟 Looking Ahead

So that’s Q1: LASIK, job search limbo, a hard no to Phoenix, and a deeply fulfilling trip to Japan. Not everything is clear (except my distance vision), but I’m moving forward — slowly, deliberately, and with a little more grace than before.

Let’s see what the rest of 2025 has in store. Hopefully fewer existential crises… and more passport stamps.