On this last day of the year, as I look back at 2025, I’m staggered by how many major, life-changing things happened for me and my family in the last twelve months. Many of them have been among my hopes, dreams, and ongoing efforts for years, and I admit, it sometimes felt as though we’d never get there. Then, this year, several of them come together nearly all at the same time. It’s possible I’ve never been more tired (and happy and thankful too).
Moments of quiet reflection are so important. Remembering and pondering what we wished for, what we achieved, what we lost, what we learned. Celebrations, gratitude, and a little grief here and there. It’s all part of our story.
I say to my family, friends, design team, that I love lists. (Have I said it to you?) Well, I do. I really do. Physical lists, digital lists, mental lists... so many lists. They’re everywhere, around me and inside me. This is from today, the final day of 2025.
Things I’d been working to accomplish/realize for a really long time (and how many years they’ve been on my list):
Start graduate school (MSW, Wayne State, ’29) — 2 years.
Find an [authentic, traditional] publisher for my debut young adult novel (dream of a lifetime) — 3+ years for this book... 33+ years if you count how long I’ve been writing and dreaming of this moment.
Purchase and move into the historic home next door that captured our hearts [and has been vacant for 29 years] (yes, you read that correctly) — 4 years.
Advance my career and take on new challenges in line with my design values (UX in EdTech) — 5 years.
Reach our baseline savings goal (finally!) — 6+ years.
Looking ahead, do I have a list for 2026? Goals, hopes, dreams? Yes, of course I do, because, lists... This year, I want my list to be brief, with a mix of broad/flexible and very specific/actionable items. Here’s what I’ve got.
Things to accomplish/realize in 2026:
Celebrate my book’s birthday with a big launch party and as many friends as I can get to show up (working on details — sign up for my newsletter for upcoming announcements).
Get serious about protecting quiet/recharge time and rest more (I’m so tired!).
Run a half-marathon (I try to do this every year, but I missed 2025, boo).
Complete a rough draft of my new novel (also YA, first in a three-book solarpunk series).
Nourish and deepen my relationships — with friends, family, coworkers, community, myself, God (because everything is, in the end, about relationship).
What about you? Who will you become in 2026? The possibilities are limitless.
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