Coming To A Close
Glowing star marking the transition from one year to the next
Editor’s note: This post will continue to evolve as I do.
Welcome, friends—old and new, to the last post of 2025. This past year was a year of exploration across mediums, mindsets, and miles. 2025 wasn’t just about ticking boxes, it was about pushing boundaries from what I create to what I consume to changes in my daily life and beyond, this year had it all. Let’s reflect back:
Creative Work
80 posts published: Each piece helped refine my voice and clarify of what matters to me
8 Series completed: 8 (New Beginnings & Transformations, Rising From the Ashes, Eternity, The Making of Me, State to State, Past Present Future, Creative Creations, and Around the World). Around the World series was both challenging to write and rewarding to complete
Favorite post: “Coming to a Close” is my favorite post every year. It’s the opportunity to look back at what I’ve accomplished, what improvements I can make, and plan my goals accordingly
45 Paintings completed. From initial sketches to finished canvases, this was the year I found a rhythm
One piece that stayed with me: “Read Between the Lines,” inspired by a personal experience
Photo taken this year: Way too many
Quotes shared: 40
Photos shared: 40
Learning & Growth
9/10 books finished: Across a mix of genres. Each one stretched me me in a different way. Some challenged how I think, others reminded me how to feel. together, they shifted my perspective, piece by piece.
Most impactful read: The best read I had this year was The Cousins by Karen M. McManus. Not just for the mystery, but for the way it shifted my perspective. It made me think about how deeply our experiences shape us, often in ways we don’t even see until much later.
Key lessons learned: This year broke me in ways I didn’t expect. I had to walk away from people I still cared about. I had to accept silence where I once felt safe. I learned that not everything that once fit still belongs. I started noticing where I felt heavy, and where I could finally breathe. I let go of trying to meet every expectation, even the well-meaning ones. I gave myself permission to be a little louder, a little more honest. And after betrayal, I chose to stay soft. To trust again. To show up anyway. Maybe the hardest part was realizing I didn’t need to earn space, I just needed to learn to take up space.
New skills explored: This year, I stopped waiting for clarity or perfect timing. I made choices, even when things felt uncertain, even when it was hard. Life didn’t always make sense, but I showed up for it anyway. I dipped into realism painting which was messy, humbling, but also inspiring. I worked on how to speak, how I show up, how I connect. I found rhythm in the kitchen, joy in baking, and patience in training a puppy.
Biggest mindset shift: What shaped me the most this year wasn’t something I planned. After a tense period, I had to unlearn the feeling that everything was urgent. I started slowing down. Letting things come. Taking one step at a time, then the next, without rushing to the end.
Ancestry & Family History
Research highlights: Traced lineage back to 1875-1900
Stories uncovered: Newspaper clipping of a family member’s car that went up in flames. The title was “Who Started It”
How this changed my understanding of self/place: I knew bits and pieces but it was surprising to learn even more about my family’s heritage. In particular, how it differed than originally thought
Tech & Tools
Apps or tools I tried: In 2025, I explored a handful of new apps. Some stuck, some didn’t, but each one taught me something different about how I work, think, or stay inspired. These are those apps: Bend, Foodvisor, SnoreLab, Yoga-Go, Shmoody, Orai, Clever, Headway, BrainGain, Deepstash, Speeko, Pratika, Lingvano, Snapseed, Brillant, Geotrainer, Finch, StoryGraph, Fetch, InKind, Substack, and Patter AI
Ones that actually stuck: Finch, Yoga-Go, Bend, Snapseed, StoryGraph, Pratika, and Patter AI. These became my go-to’s as they simplified my life or made it more entertaining in some way, shape, or form
Experiences & Adventures
Trips Taken:
Visited my old stomping grounds in Wisconsin - Spent time outdoors and reconnected with familiar places
Traveled to Texas - Spent quality time with family, tried new activities, and explored food spots that added a little adventure to the getaway
Events attended: Scarecrow Fest 2025
Media & Culture
Most meaningful: I don’t use Spotify or any streaming service, but music still found its way into my year. Here are some of my favorite songs I listened to in 2025, in no particular order:
New artists, albums, or genres I discovered - This year with a mix of fresh finds and unexpected favorites
New Artists: Noah Kahan, Shaboozey, Joel Sunny, Gigi Perez, Royal & the Serpent, Aurenth, Tony Ann
Albums: Stick Season, Forever
Genres: Ambient
Films and TV Shows that stayed with me this year - I don’t watch a ton, but the ones I do tend to stick with me. That said, I probably spend more time in YouTube watching podcasts and a mix of other channels that keep me curious and entertained. Always open to new recs
Squid Games: The Challenge - Wild ride from start to finish. Intense, unpredictable, and genuinely happy with how it ended
La Palma - Emotional, intense, and beautifully done. One of those shows that stays with you
YouTube & More
I didn’t watch many films this year, but YouTube took up most of my screen time
A mix of vlogs, commentary, creativity, and deep dives. It’s where I go to learn, relax, and recharge
Open to new channel or podcast recommendations if you’ve got any!
For learning or inspiration, here are my suggestions: Captain Steve and Peter Sanenello
If you enjoy more deep dives or entertainment: European Reacts, Graham Family Reacts, Your New Zealand Family, Jenn, Matthew and Paul, GregBroDudeMan, and Santagato Studios
Podcast episodes or series that stuck with me: HaHa Podcast, The Unplanned Podcast, The Squeeze, and Wine About It
Video games:
It Takes Two - Played with a friend recently and it was such a good time. The story was beautiful and meticulously designed. One of the most fun co-op experiences I’ve had in a while
Favorite Game Apps:
Kept it pretty casual this year, but here are a few of the mobile games that I enjoyed when I had some downtime: Solitaire Association, Blaze Shooter, My Supermarket, Hexa Sort, Epic Orchestra, and of course, Wavelength
Health & Lifestyle
Here are a few habits that helped me stay grounded, present, and a little more in tune with myself this year:
Spending more time outside - even just sitting in the sun or getting a good workout in
Going for day drives - To get out of my head or to be inspired
Taking quiet time - To relax and recharge
Routines shifts that changed things:
Less multi-tasking - Focused on doing one thing at a time, instead of multiple
Relaxed meals - Started focusing on what felt nourishing vs. perfect or structured
Letting rest be part of the routine - Treated rest as something that was necessary, not something to “earn”
Mental & Physical Wellbeing - This year, I felt more energized and creatively empowered than I have in a long time. Something shifted, both mentally and physically. It gave me the momentum to show up more fully, with clarity and purpose I hadn’t tapped into before
Relationships & Community
This year, my only collaboration was through my art page. It’s still just a hobby, but it’s been a fulfilling outlet. I’m open to future collabs if the vibe and timing feel right
People Who Influenced Me: There weren’t as many influences this year as in the past, but the ones who mattered most have always been close to me. The people in my life continue to inspire me through their strength, their insight, and their quiet determination. That didn’t change this year. If anything, I noticed it more
Theme of the Year
The only “word” I got this year came from a random social media page: Assert. Ironically, I think I ended up living it out more than I realized through making decisions, setting boundaries, and speaking up, even when it felt uncomfortable
If I had to choose my own, it’s being more authentic to myself. it’s not that I wasn’t being myself before, but this year, a shift happened. I stopped trying so hard to fit into what others needed or expected from me, and began recognizing that I’m allowed to take up space too. I’m allowed to have preferences, to say no, and to exist fully, just like anyone else. And that realized changed everything
This showed up in: Small but powerful ways. From speaking up when I would’ve stayed quiet, choosing what felt right for me even if it didn’t make sense to others, letting go of roles I felt boxed into. I stopped shrinking myself to keep the peace and started honoring what actually resonates with me. It wasn’t about becoming someone new, it was about finally giving myself permission to be fully me.
Looking Ahead
As I move into 2026:
My focus is simple: keep building, keep growing, and keep learning. No pressure to have it all figured out. I’m staying open, steady, and grounded in the process
What I want more of: More time with the people who make me feel at home. More fresh air and quiet moments. More adventure, big or small. And more of the things that make me feel connnected, purposeful, and fully alivr
Projects Waiting to be Born: A few ideas are still taking shape. Mainly creative experiments and things I just want to do for the fun of it. But hopefully a collab or two, as well.
To everyone who followed along this year, thank you. For reading, reaching out, answering poll questions, sharing kind words, or simply being part of this space. It means more than you know.
Let’s see what comes next.
The first post of the new year will be Monday, January 5th, 2026. Until then, wishing you a fun, safe, and beautiful time celebrating the arrival of the new year.
As a signature of my blog, I’d like to end this post with a suggestion to “Pass on kindness.” There’s no time like the present to Inspire Those Who Inspire You. Acts of kindness, no matter how big or small, can have a direct, positive impact on someone else. Go out there today and change someone’s life for the better!
***These are my personal opinions and may not be those of my employer.***
