Answering Kepano's 40 Questions

16 Jan, 2026

A Brief Intro

The Obsidian.MD dev, kepano, has a list of 40 questions he answers after each year. I thought it was interesting and decided to try it out. Some of the questions were slightly personal and some of them I couldn't answer, which is because I didn't do much journalling last year. I'll try to do more journalling this year, and hopefully I'll be better equipped to reflect on 2026 next year.

My Answers

What did you do this year that you'd never done before?

Started a blog.
Did you keep your new year's resolutions?

Didn't have any, so there was nothing to keep.
Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes
Did anyone close to you die?

Yes
What cities/states/countries did you visit?

I did zero travelling last year (if commuting between two states doesn't count).
What would you like to have next year that you lacked this year?

More money
What date(s) from this year will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

I'd like to say my induction date, but dates don't stick in my memory that well, as exemplified by this date which was important but which I can't remember.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Leaving medical school
What was your biggest failure?

Can't really think of anything that could be called a 'failure' apart from schoolwork. Failing ENT tests perhaps? Thankfully, it didn't stop me from writing my finals.
What other hardships did you face?

Fearing for my mental health after being regularly threatened academically, occasionally having no money to do what I wanted, having to spend extraneous hours in school standing around when I could have been studying.
Did you suffer illness or injury?

Malaria and some serious food poisoning.
What was the best thing you bought?

Eh. can't think of anything. Didn't make many purchases that weren't food last year.
Whose behavior merited celebration?

Nil.
Whose behavior made you appalled?

All the brain-dead people on the internet who didn't seem to know the meaning of waka pass or rage bait. It's only successful if you let it incense you. And they are letting it incense them and descending into tribalism, online and offline, while the elite of different tribes wine and dine together. Idiots.
Where did most of your money go?

Food and data.
What did you get really, really, really excited about?

The release of the LOTM and CITY anime, even though I haven't watched either yet.
What song will always remind you of this year?

My top song of the year, Lexie Liu's COME DANCE.
Compared to this time last year, are you: happier or sadder? Richer or poorer? Healthier or unhealthier?

I'm in the same place I was last year; at home waiting for a date from official authorities, so I can get a move on with life. Definitely poorer though—no jobs at present.
What do you wish you'd done more of?

Nil.
What do you wish you'd done less of?

Worrying. I spent so much time worrying about stuff that in hindsight I clearly shouldn't have been worried about.
How ~~are~~ did you spend~~ing~~ the holidays?

At home.
Did you fall in love this year?

With what time?
Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

Don't think so. Hate is a strong word, and I'm too lazy tbh.
What was your favorite show?

Scream Queens
What was the best book you read?

Favourite: Chasing Sunlight.
What was your greatest musical discovery of the year?
- EPIC the Musical: After going through my playlist I realised this is the true answer to this question, but when it comes to music I can never truly have only one favourite. I'd avoided listening to any of the songs from this musical until an animatic for Hold Them Down on TikTok captured my attention. Honestly that was probably the best way for me to discover EPIC, with an old-school Disney-villain-esque song. If it was any of the songs about Odysseus and Penelope's love for each other (even if it was Suffering), I might not have bothered. Honourable mention goes to Full Speed Ahead, which got me through my exams.
- Eddie Quansah by the Peacocks Guitar Band. I'd always known the tune of the chorus from when Runtown sampled it in Answer, but I never knew it was from a highlife song. Thank you, highlife TikTok.
- MIRA by Lexie Liu
- AAA by FLO. I didn't like Cardboard Box, which was FLO's first big hit, but I loved this album.
- Twilight of the Gods, from the Fire Emblem OST. I haven't played Fire Emblem and probably never will, but I found this song from a YouTube playlist video. I love it.
- Replay by Cynthia Erivo
- Golden Brown by the Stranglers (can you guess how I discovered this?¹)
- Waloyo Yamoni by Christopher Tin
What was your favorite film?

The Craft
What was your favorite meal?

December salad. I ate all the coleslaw that I could.
What did you want and get?

To leave medical school.
What did you want and not get?

Can't think of anything.
What did you do on your birthday?

Stayed at home, watched anime/read novels, ate ice cream.
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Having more money in my bank account.
How would you describe your personal fashion this year?

As long as I don't look like I'm roaming the streets, anything goes.
What kept you sane?

Music and reading web novels
Which celebrity/public figure did you admire the most?

None
What political issue stirred you the most?

Living in Nigeria.
Who did you miss?

It would have been nice for my mother to see me become a doctor.
Who was the best new person you met?

My ex-roomie's sister. If she was an anime character, she'd be that cool side character that the fans would love to learn more about but can't because there's no lore.
What valuable life lesson did you learn this year?

Being afraid to do things isn't a good excuse for not doing them.
What is a quote that sums up your year?

You'll never know unless you try.

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