I want to use the last day of the year to thank the community here on Mastodon.
Every day, I learn things here that are worth learning. The discussions are, by Internet standards, very polite and focused on the issues.
But most importantly, I see people here having a voice that they do not have in traditional media or in algorithm-driven social media.
That makes Mastodon extremely valuable, and we should all strive to preserve that.
The year 2025 has been a tough one, and I have little optimism that 2026 will be easier. We will likely see a further rise in authoritarianism, fascism, and racism.
To stem the tide, we must work together. My wish for the coming year is that we continue to see others fighting the same fight as allies, even if they have different priorities for where they invest their energy.
But please take care of yourselves. Do not feel guilty about time spent on self-maintenance. Keep this in mind: You can only help others if you are first in a position to do so.
Best wishes from Kiel, Martin
P.S. Special thanks to @jerry for maintaining this instance. I really feel "at home" here.