Tell HN: Happy New Year

Hacker News Discussion ↗

Global greetings & community tone

  • Thread is a large, informal roll call of “Happy New Year” wishes from around the world: North and South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and extensive representation from across Asia-Pacific.
  • Several people express hope that Hacker News remains civil, kind, and a contrast to more combative platforms.
  • Many express gratitude for the community’s daily insights and sense of safety or belonging.

Reflections on 2025

  • Numerous “2025 wrap” posts: internships, job switches, first businesses, SaaS launches, GitHub stars, and open-source milestones.
  • Life events feature heavily: new babies, marriages, engagements, travel to new countries, moving homes, and major career shifts (including selling a company and leaving academia).
  • Some highlight difficult experiences: bad years overall, microfracture knee surgery and recovery, student protests and campus occupations, living through political unrest, burnout, depression, and losing beloved pets.

Health, sobriety & self‑improvement

  • Several posts celebrate physical achievements: significant weight loss (including with GLP‑1 and tirzepatide), gym PRs (notably very high deadlifts), and renewed exercise habits.
  • Others describe major psychological shifts: going sober after problematic drinking, changing coping mechanisms, and learning to manage stress without “vices.”
  • People set concrete goals for 2026: language exams (e.g., JLPT), working abroad, consistent workouts, finishing long-standing todo lists, and reading or hiking targets.

Side projects, startups & technical work

  • Multiple makers share progress on SaaS products, open-source tools, games, and niche technical ventures (e.g., CVD diamond manufacturing, control systems).
  • Themes include “betting on myself,” learning both coding and marketing, focusing on shipping instead of starting endless side projects, and ambitions to grow revenue or user bases.

Hopes, fears & outlook for 2026

  • Optimistic wishes for peace (especially in conflict regions), better years than 2025, improved health, and career stability.
  • Some dark humor and speculation about 2026: regime changes, cyber catastrophes, earthquakes, and even an AI-driven singularity.
  • Personal crossroads appear too: amicable breakups over differing desires for children, unresolved career transitions, and ongoing political struggles, all met with empathy and encouragement.