A different kind of year in review

So much of our contentment in daily life rests on how we define success. Our society judges success by external and measurable factors: whether you're married with children; whether you own a house and how much it's worth; the type of job you do and your salary; how well you fit the current health and beauty standards; maybe even the number of followers you have on social media. I've learned the hard way that many of these traditional metrics of success aren't how I want to measure my life.

As we move into 2026, I've been taking time to rest, reflect on 2025 and celebrate some of the changes that made the year feel meaningful to me. I've been dreaming about what success looks like going forward as I build this life with my family in Granada. A key part of it is doing work that's aligned with my values and feels sustainable long term. But so much of what felt successful in 2025 isn't apparent from the outside or easily measurable. Instead, it's far more about what's happening internally – about finding ways to connect with my body, the people around me and a sense of home.

So here are the some of the things I'm taking a moment to celebrate from 2025 (in no particular order), in case this way of reflecting on the year resonates with you. Many of them represent meaningful starts to work I plan to continue in the coming year, rather than end points in themselves. I've also mixed the personal and professional because this work is personal to me. If you make your own list, I hope it helps you to feel more connected to yourself, and to take small, hopeful steps towards the person you're becoming.