Thoughts on 2024 / Marijke Luttekes

It is that time of the year again when we reflect on the previous 365 days.

We are nearing the end of 2024. It sounds like a warzone outside (something something unhinged Dutch fireworks traditions), and we will soon ring in 2025.

A lot has happened, and some of the most impactful things I will not put in writing. However, much is left to mention here, so let's go!

Highlight: Django spacefaring

This year was, without a doubt, my Django year. Look at these achievements:

During the year, I also physically and digitally met with many lovely people from the Django community. This community is fantastic, and I am grateful to have become an official part of it.

Learning: Accessibility

I was lucky to land a project with the people at Prime Access Consulting (PAC), who are accessibility experts.

I learned from PAC, especially James Scholes, that even the most minor details have loads of inclusive design and accessibility implications. While I always knew there was a lot I didn't know about this topic, this helped me realize it (which is a good thing).

I filed some of what I learned under the blog accessibility tag. Hopefully, I will learn even more next year.

James, Sina, and Luke, if you are reading this, thank you for a satisfying collaboration and for sharing your knowledge with me!

Bittersweet: Goodbye to the Bit Academy

After three years working at the Bit Academy, it was time to say goodbye.

I looked back on one of my favorite jobs in my article The Bit Break.

Upcoming: A new job in 2025

The Netherlands is cracking down on freelance jobs, and I am not a natural-born entrepreneur. So, when I recently received a regular employment offer that was too good to refuse, I accepted it.

I will still be a freelancer occasionally, but not full-time. Frankly, I am eagerly looking forward to it.

Gratitude: (Rekindled) friendships

I have to admit to being a social recluse in the later years, especially since 2019.

ADHD, in particular, makes friendships hard because you often do not communicate (despite thinking about each other). The upside is that other ADHD folk also understand how this works and that those friendships seldom decay despite months of difference.

However, there were plenty of social activities this year, and I got out of the house more. I also occasionally stopped by my old job to say hi when I was in the neighborhood, and people showed genuine happiness at small visits.

I rekindled friendships, had drinks and dinners, celebrated wins, mourned lost people, found a metaphorical twin in an old acquaintance, and cried over beautiful testimonials. And let us not forget all the lovely Python and Django folks we partied with at conferences this year!

The cherry on top is that my best friend and I realized that this year was our friendship's twenty-year (20!) anniversary.

Oh, and an eight-year-old girl made me a super cute friendship bracelet.

Growing up, I was often (indirectly and unjustly) accused of being a burden by multiple people, and it is incredible how other people's love and friendship can help heal these wounds.

While I do not do New Year's resolutions, if I had to pick one, it would be to get back into social more.

Concern: The world is on fire

I am wary, too. While I have not felt comfortable with technological advancements for years, I grew pessimistic about AI, especially this year.

After reviewing many job vacancies, I felt increasingly resentful toward the offers. I do not want to build the Torment Nexus or a tool that excludes or targets vulnerable people.

With big data AI in particular, you also know that anything you do will have a significant negative impact on the planet. While there are initiatives like ClimateAction.tech to help increase tech sustainability, I feel like our addiction to technology will remain a problem.

While I see AI's potential and don't want to dismiss it entirely, we cannot afford to consume it as we do now and in the future. (The same goes for planes, by the way.)

While we indirectly destroy humanity with our affluent lifestyles, there are also many places where people get killed outright. Wars are raging, and World War 3 looks increasingly more likely.

In Western Europe, we mostly see the news about the Russia–Ukraine war and Israel's genocidal attacks on Gaza.

I am not going to lie: seeing historical patterns being repeated is scary. The absolute lack of respect for life and the desire to destroy entire communities is evil, for lack of an eloquent description.

Since the old Twitter days, I have followed the timelines of the Auschwitz Museum. Seeing the old pictures of normal-looking, innocent people—many children, too—who were killed because they existed is a tangible reminder of what can happen when we let hate win.

While none of us can prevent a war individually, we can do what we can within our circle of influence. For me, that is where the next section comes in.

Wish: Let's love some more

I wish we all learned to love and appreciate others more. Love can take many forms; it does not have to be familial or romantic.

Humans are still animals, and our inner survival instincts make us less receptive to things we do not understand or control. However, we also can recognize and overcome this.

The day before the (disappointing) American elections, I wrote on Mastodon that most people "just want to live, love, be loved, and understood in peace."

I also wrote that people just want to be happy with themselves and feel at home in their bodies, and "Hating someone because they are gay or trans or whatever is fucked up and, frankly, not what Jesus would do."

What someone does with their body and who they fall in love with is seldom your business. The old metaphor goes that you should not deny someone else a cookie because you are on a diet.

Let's recognize that people are just people. You can still dislike them for their views and actions, but please do not hate someone because they happen to be black, gay, transgender, disabled, etc.

Instead, let's celebrate our differences and what makes us unique and wonderful in our own ways. Being open to others can lead to unexpected friendships and life lessons.

Let love and celebrations be a weapon against right-wing extremism.

Wrap-up

This year was a wild ride, a genuine rollercoaster. I am actively (and offline) gaining new insights into my plans for the future. While 2024 was mostly about professional development, I think 2025 will have more personal implications.

For now, I spend the last few hours of the year with my long-time partner and our elderly cats and with the occasional Mastodon post and direct messages.

This was my last article for 2024. I wish you all a happy, healthy, and safe new year.

Mah-Rye-Kuh, signing off.

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