It’s that time of year again: Christmas 2024. It is a time of year that invites reflection. As I look at our Christmas tree, proudly standing in the middle of the room, my thoughts drift back to the past year. Our tree is not traditionally decorated with shiny baubles — which often remind me of the “bubbles” in the crypto world. No, our Christmas tree is decorated with dog-friendly decorations and many lights. Those lights bring a nice warmth in this cold winter period. Skipper, our faithful German Shepherd, lies peacefully next to me with his ball, his favorite possession. This feels like the perfect time to look back on a year full of challenges, highlights, and lessons. Feel free to grab a cup of hot chocolate or a glass of mulled wine as I share my thoughts with you.
As usual, 2024 has been a rollercoaster in the crypto world. The Bitcoin halving in April slowly created a bull market, eventually peaking at $108,000. However, we didn’t get the expected Christmas rally around the holidays. The price has dropped by around 13% from the ATH. Reports of whales stopping buying can dampen the festive spirit even further. My crypto portfolio is currently nothing to write home about. Hive in particular is still struggling to stay above 30 cents. But let’s be honest: even if Hive were at $3, it wouldn’t help me much. My crypto is completely illiquid, “paper money,” as I call it. That feels a little better than nothing, but it’s still a small comfort.
My crypto activity has been limited this year. I’ve blogged less than I’ve ever done in the past seven years and haven’t dabbled in new projects or trades. This year has been all about HODLing, and hoping it will pay off one day. I’ve given up hope of hitting the jackpot, but my love for crypto remains.
Outside of the crypto world, daily life went on as usual. Although our limited budget left little room for grand extravagances, we tried to make the daily moments special. Unfortunately, this year was also marked by loss. In February, we said goodbye to our beloved Dutch Shepherd, Lana-Poes. She was thirteen. We had the honor to give her a loving home for ten of those thirteen years. Less than two months later, we lost our little Malinois, Myla-Muis, who gave us unconditional love for fifteen years. The hole they left behind was immense, not only for us but also for Skipper, who suddenly had to adjust to life as an only dog.
Fortunately, there were also bright spots. Skipper celebrated his sixth birthday in November. We hope he will be with us for many more years. We also spent a lot of time on creative projects such as painting, pyrography, and woodworking. And we think we have found something here that not only gives us the joy of creating but also a sense of meaning for other people.
Looking back on a year is not complete without a touch of humor. In crypto, I sometimes struggle — thinking I have a brilliant strategy, only to realize a minute later that the market has already outsmarted me. And outside of crypto, there’s plenty to laugh about in hindsight. Like the time Skipper unexpectedly threw me into an oak tree while I was out for a walk. Or last week when I had to evict a mouse from our house, an action that felt ridiculously exciting, but probably caused the mouse far more stress than me. It ended up making for a fun photo and a blog post, so even the smallest mishaps can prove valuable.
Looking Ahead to 2025
With 2024 almost behind us, I’m looking forward to the new year with mixed feelings. I’m increasingly focused on creative projects like painting, pyrography, and woodworking. However, the idea of creating a liquid budget so I can actively participate in crypto again lingers in the back of my mind too. For now, I am a HODLer, but who knows what the future holds?
What I do know for sure is that Skipper will be my faithful companion again in 2025. Together we will enter the new year, full of good cheer and with the hope that the world will become a little friendlier — for humans and animals.
Whether you are an avid crypto enthusiast or just love stories, I wish you a warm and cozy Christmas. Don’t let the vagaries of life discourage you, but inspire you to make the best of them. And don’t forget Skipper’s most important life lesson: sometimes it’s enough to hold on to your ball.
