Reflecting on 2025: Lessons Learned and Looking Ahead to 2026

Here we are, at the end of 2025. We are moving quickly toward the start of 2026. I am doing what many of us do at the end of a year—taking inventory. I am not taking inventory of accomplishments or failures. I am not taking inventory of what I gained or lost. I am taking inventory of what I learned. The lessons of the year were loud, clear, and sometimes uncomfortable. The year 2025 taught me more about myself than I expected.

Discovering Inner Strength

I learned that the strength I have is more than I thought. I learned that the softness I have is more than I admit. I learned that the toughness I have is more than the praise I give myself. I learned that the growth I see does not always look like the progress I expect. Sometimes, growth looks like sitting, breathing deeply, and choosing not to fight battles that do not deserve my energy. There are things that I have found that I gave much of my energy to, and those things should not have taken it.

I finally allowed myself to pursue things I’ve always wanted to do—things I once held back from because I was too afraid of what people would think or whether they would accept me stepping into something new. Silly, right? Why give anyone that much power over my happiness? But the truth is, we all crave acceptance in one way or another.

Major Accomplishments of 2025

Two of my biggest accomplishments this year were starting this blog and releasing my long-overdue children’s books. I originally set a goal to publish a blog story every Friday, but life had other plans. Still, I managed to post at least twice a month. Every single time I hit “publish,” the support was overwhelming. What began as a form of therapy through writing slowly turned into something joyful—something I genuinely look forward to. One day, I hope to “rent” space on my blog so others can share their voices too. I’m not quite big enough for that yet, but I’m working toward it.

My other major goal was releasing my children’s books. I’ve wanted to write them for years. I had so many stories sitting quietly on my computer, waiting for me to be brave enough to let them out into the world. Publishing those two books was exciting, emotional, and scary—but also one of the proudest moments of my life. It reminded me that my dreams deserve to breathe and grow just as much as anyone else’s.

The ripple effects have been incredible. My books opened doors I never expected: being accepted as a vendor at a fair, receiving invitations to read at schools, and even having my books sent to a teacher in Africa for her class. That still amazes me every time I think about it.

Embracing Rest and Renewal

I took a tiny step back toward the end of the year, but that’s okay. Rest is part of the journey. In 2026, I have even more to share, create, and step into with confidence.

Letting Go Without Losing Myself

One of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn is that not everyone I love will love me the way I hoped—or the way I love them. And that’s okay. What I don’t have isn’t a loss; it’s often a blessing in disguise. Sometimes distance is protection. Sometimes silence is clarity. Sometimes letting go is the only way to make room for what’s truly meant for me.

I’ve also realized that my love language isn’t universal. It’s not fair to expect people to change theirs to match mine—or for me to change mine to match theirs. Love lands best when it’s offered in the way someone can actually receive it.

I’m a giver at heart. I show love through gifts, and while that comes naturally to me, I’ve learned that it can make some people uncomfortable. The last thing I ever want is for my love to feel heavy or overwhelming.

This year, I stopped chasing people who made me feel like an option. Instead, I started appreciating the ones who show up without being asked. As some relationships naturally faded, others grew stronger and more grounded.

We all have different circles—family, neighbors, coworkers, gym buddies. For me, most of my closest connections come from my sports communities. Each little pocket has a handful of women who make the everyday moments feel lighter and more meaningful. They take me exactly as I am—silly, quirky, emotional, and everything in between. With them, I never feel the need to shrink or pretend. I get to be fully myself, and that kind of acceptance is rare.

My husband has been my anchor—steady, supportive, and present in all the ways that matter. In a year full of uncertainty, his love has been the one thing I never had to question. He has held space for me on the days when I felt stretched thin, celebrated me when I forgot to celebrate myself, and reminded me—quietly, consistently—that I am never walking through life alone. When everything around us felt unpredictable, he remained my calm, my balance, and my safe place to land. His presence has been a reminder that real partnership isn’t loud or showy; it’s built in the everyday moments, the shared glances, the unspoken understanding, and the unwavering belief that we can weather anything as long as we face it together.

And then there are my kids, who somehow grew a whole new set of wings this year. The twins stepped into middle school, and my oldest headed into high school. Watching them grow is like watching time sprint ahead while I’m still trying to tie my shoes. They’re becoming their own people—curious, bold, and beautifully unpredictable. Their milestones remind me that life keeps moving, no matter what storms we weather. I’ve cherished every moment of watching them grow. Each birthday tugs at my heart, a reminder that they’re drifting farther from childhood and closer to who they’re meant to become. It’s bittersweet, but I wouldn’t trade the privilege of watching them blossom for anything.

A Year of Uncertainty and Lessons Beyond Our Front Door

2025 brought a new administration and, with it, a wave of uncertainty. Policies shifted, tensions rose, and the future felt blurry at times. It felt like the ground beneath us was moving in slow, unsteady waves—never enough to knock us down completely, but just enough to remind us that nothing stays still for long.

While none of us can predict what 2026 will bring, one thing is clear: we can’t afford to move through the world asleep. We have to stay alert, informed, and connected. We must pay attention not just to what’s happening around us, but to how it affects our families, our communities, and our sense of direction. Most importantly, we have to stay optimistic—not blindly, but intentionally. The kind of optimism that doesn’t ignore reality but chooses to believe we can shape it. The kind that understands hope isn’t a feeling; it’s a practice. A discipline. Something we commit to even when the world feels heavy.

As we step into 2026, that discipline will matter more than ever. We’ll need clear eyes, steady hearts, and a willingness to stand together, even when the path ahead feels uncertain. Because no matter what comes, we’re stronger when we face it side by side.

Welcoming 2026 With Open Eyes, Lessons, and an Open Heart

As we step into 2026, I’m carrying my lessons with me—not as baggage, but as tools. Every challenge, every joy, and every moment of clarity has shaped me in ways I’m finally beginning to appreciate. I’m choosing gratitude over resentment, clarity over chaos, and community over isolation. I’m choosing to appreciate what I have and release what was never meant for me, trusting that letting go creates space for something better, something truer, something aligned with who I’m becoming.

This year, I want to move with intention. To love the people who love me. To pour into the spaces that pour back into me. To honor the quiet progress I’ve made and the strength I’ve earned along the way. I want to walk into 2026 with an open heart, steady faith, and the kind of hope that doesn’t waver just because life gets loud.

The new year won’t be perfect. It never is. But perfection has never been the goal. What matters is how we show up for ourselves and for each other. I know we’ll face whatever comes the way we always do: together, aware, and ready for the next chapter—hand in hand, heart to heart, choosing optimism even when the world feels uncertain.

Here’s to growth. Here’s to grace. Here’s to 2026 and all the beautiful possibilities waiting for us on the other side of midnight.

Glowing light art spelling out 'Happy New Year' illuminates the darkness with festive energy.