Sitting here on a quiet Sunday, with my new weighted blanket covering me, after pulling the Strength card which was so nice. Although, did I need to pull that card to keep me from losing it knowing I was coming up here to type in a quiet house? #thingsthatmakeyougohmm
What a 2025 I’ve had.
I was actually really prepared and kept a bullet list of all the things I did on a by-month basis which was nice. I’m keeping it below but wanted to type out my thoughts on how it went.
I do enough pictures in Shutterfly and IG and keep them nicely organized so I’m not going to do a lot here this year.
I will do my normal jaunt down memory lane of skimming through 2024, 2023, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, and 2007! And do my normal *SIGH* that I had a decade of missing resolutions, even if I always usually did something. If I don’t write things down… do they really happen? If a tree falls in the woods…
Health: Fairly stable and I’m feeling good! I think Sam took the prize for health. I will be concentrating more on my health for 2026 because I have a lurking feeling so we shall see how that goes.
Music listened: 19,754 minutes which was a little less than last year. My Top Songs were all from Taylor’s new album this year, Showgirl. Father Figure and The Fate of Ophelia were #1 and #2! #taytay – Although I acknowledge that i listened to that album non-stop for 2 weeks and then promptly haven’t really listened to that specific album at all since…. Actually, not really true. Every other week I do the 30m Peloton full body strength class to Katie Wang’s Showgirl album which gets 10 songs in there! I listened to Father Figure 26x this year, haha. I do want to write up my Taylor thoughts. It’s a great album I’m just not obsessed like I was with her last few.
I did have Gracie Abrams sneak into the #4 spot for Albums though. Her concert was SO good this year.
Live music: I sure crammed in a ton into the end of the year. Best concert though is HARD. While the Candlelight concert was cute, that was a bit silly and fun. I honestly don’t know what I would pick. I guess out of Gracie and Green Day, it was hands-down Gracie. Nicole and Ben were just single-handedly power-housing the roof down and didn’t feel like concerts.
- Lake Street Dive
- Taylor Swift cover band at the park
- Gracie Abrams
- Candlelight Abba & Queen
- Green Day
- Nicole Scherzinger
- Ben Platt
Best live: Nicole! She truly has a gift. It was a pleasure to hear her sing but Ben Platt was RIGHT BEHIND her. His cover of Winner Takes it All haunts my memories.
Podcasts: SO many this year! 6,153 minutes of listening to amazing conversations. Jay Shetty was #1 with Mel Robbins, Simon Sinek, Diary of a CEO, and Demoted rounding out the top 5. I’m bummed Corporate Natalie and Corp ended Demoted. That was SO entertaining. I remember when my favorite gals ended Friendshipping too, I hate when things end.
Plays: Wow, was this a record? 12 plays this year, a mixture of high school and professional.
- The Play that Goes Wrong (La Mirada)
- Bright Star
- Much Ado About Nothing (London)
- Hamilton (Segerstrom)
- Rent (Huston)
- & Juliet (Segerstrom)
- Sweeney Todd
- Some Like it Hot (Segerstrom w/Mom)
- Hadestown (Pantages)
- Peter Pan Goes Wrong (La Mirada)
- Clue
- Frozen Jr.
Best play? This is hard. I think G was such a star in his 4 roles. He was SO good in all of them but I think I’m leaning to Sweeney Todd for him. And while I really enjoyed all the musicals I saw this year, I was really emotional during Rent and it felt SO GOOD and it was an “off-high school” production. Otherwise, you just can’t go wrong with Hamilton!
Language: I already covered my French in my word of the year recap but I had almost 80 hours of learning! Double from 2024!
Meditation: Still played a huge role in my life. I covered that in word of the year too as it was part of my resolutions.
Travel: Not too shabby with Oregon, Arizona, Scotland (Edinburgh, Glenco, Inverness), England (London!), Nevada, New Mexico, and of course, San Diego!
Okay, now was the time to go through all my photos and remember what the big moments were. This is so hard. This was a very emotional year. Last year I had “most emotional moment” of sending Sam off to college and this year… I feel like I don’t even have a top 3. I have a top 5. Maybe 6. Or 7.
When I look at the photos of this year, all I do is cry.
The character development I had to go through this year was insane. At your lowest you realize a lot.
I think at one point this year I cried every day for six weeks straight, then every other day for another six. It has tapered – mostly. I say that knowing I’ve cried the last four days in a row.
And I used to say I wasn’t emotional.
The first two weeks of the year were hard as Sam was recovering with her ileostomy bag. Then again, on July 3rd, with her having the next surgery to remove it. Those 7 days in the hospital were challenging. But she sailed through her recovery and is doing so amazing.
Watching G go through his first break-up was sad. He slept on our floor that first night. I remember our walk the next day.
I did this “how was the year” exercise with both kids in the last two weeks and we had lengthy talks about both of these things. Really difficult for them and yet they are resilient.
And then, it always hits me, that John died this year. Add that to the list.
Dropping Sam off for her 2nd year of college seemed worse than the first. And that was my most emotional moment last year!
My lowest point? As I laugh… Ahh. I will put for the record, since I spent a good two hours on the floor which was pretty low, coming down with Norovirus on the way home from England. Thank goodness it hit me once I was at home. While I knew I wasn’t going to die, I truly was not sure if I could get up off the bathroom floor by myself. That existential vulnerability was big. And that feeling was terrifying. The fact that I knew J was was sleeping upstairs and I felt so pulled apart and wrung out and knowing that maybe I could crawl up the stairs to go wake him up but I wasn’t sure what good that would even be. And G coming home at 1030pm on the eve of his 17th birthday and then I had to pretend like I was semi-functioning and not worried I was going to pass out and be unconscious on the floor, I still vividly remember this.
Who did I become because of what happened in 2025? A good question. Something I’m still learning.
I think this year that structure saved me. My discipline kicked in. I found out what helpless love feels like, that I can feel the pain and let it float through me, and I’m capable of so much empathy. And I’m capable of so much avoidance too. I have a range and it’s something I’m still learning.
I can’t say what went well right now from some of those emotional things but I can say I know what keeps me going. Which is music, and movement, and my routines, connection, my kids, conversations, 3-hour dinners with Ang, friends, and showing up anyway even when I didn’t want to.
My inner critic was loud this year and discipline is not good for her so I will find something else that works. Something gentle called compassion. I know that when big things happen, I’m going to be okay.
The best moment? Ooh, I know I had a lot of those too. This year was emotional AND it was amazing.
I will say that throwing myself a birthday party was decadent, silly, empowering, fun, and lovely. The amount of people who showed up for me to celebrate for the evening was such a big feeling. It’s hard to name.
That night, I let myself take up space without apologizing. I let myself be celebrated without suffering for it. I belonged to that night, and my people, loudly, a little extravagantly, without any conditions.
I let myself be worth it. Be worthy.
And then I had a sleepover party with my besties to continue the moment.
And so many other moments that I’ve put down below. All my times with friends, those quiet moments with family, the exploring new places. All such amazing and treasured moments.
Wow, that was a lot. And because work was also part of this year, and not separate from who I was becoming, I need to turn this toward that too.
Last year I named some of my notable work moments. I’ll continue that.
Laying two people off for the first time was so hard. That was in January. Bobby leaving in June was hard.
Engagement scores: 100% manager effectiveness which was so rewarding AND a 45% engagement score which sucked. EVEN IF they all said it had nothing to do with me. Which I know and it’s my goal to improve engagement for my department. And coming down from 96% was a bummer. It changed my narrative for my future path but I found that I can make my narrative be whatever I want it to be and still be successful. Or at least, I can be happy with it.
Overall, it was a successful year. I think I spent 2 or 3 months doing nothing but I picked myself up and figured it out and had a ton of successes. The best, I already talked about in my Word of the Year but promoting two people (Anisha and Ana) which was so thrilling.
Going back to some silly stuff…
Best hello: Saying hi to G getting off the train after 2 weeks at Philmont!
Best hike: How do I not have a best hike!? Probably with one of my kids locally at our park. I don’t think I did any big hikes this year though which is kind of a bummer.
Best meal: This is also super hard. Nothing is standing out at me other than Lazy Dog because all my meals with Ang are so good and it’s never about the food.
Best book: Already published! Atmosphere, you were amazing.
Silliest kid moment: Having both kids have breakdowns and quit their jobs on the same day. BJ’s and Trader Joes. October was hard, ya’ll.
Best series: I sobbed my way through over half of The Summer I Turned Pretty, Season 3 episodes. Wow, that was emotional. Nobody Wants This, Season 2, was also emotional. And then in December, I died a little over Heated Rivalry. *fans face* Their kissing! The angst. Ooh la la. And every one of those 6 Taylor Swift Documentary episodes I cried in too. Jeez, that tugged on my heart. I need to watch it all again. And I say I don’t watch things! (My Netflix account history says otherwise…)
Best movie: I am irritated my Regal account refuses to name my movie purchases! What the heck? I will say Wicked 2 because we sobbed through that movie. But I know I’ve seen some good ones this year they are all just escaping me.
Since the kids and I did sob through Wicked 2, I will leave For Good here at the end…
This song was amazing. This year was hard. But worth it.
It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You’ll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend
Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better? But
Because I knew you
I have been changed for good
**
My monthly keeping track…
January
- Got my 2nd tattoo; matching with Sammie!
- Relaxed and had quality time with loved ones, enjoyed some outings, made space for writing, learning, and taking care of myself. While not every moment was perfect, it was a peaceful and reflective time for the first week of the year
- Sam went back to college
- Volunteering for the fires
- G’s winter formal
Februray
- Lunar New Year with Ang at the temple
- GG’s 1st breakup
- Dad’s 70th birthday in Portland
- Danny’s 4th birthday
March
- Prescott, AZ baby shower for Natalie
- Oscar party
- Katie’s Bday
- Edinburgh
- London
- Norovirus on G’s 17th bday
April
- Bright Star
- My 45th birthday
May
- Mother’s Day
- Sammie coming home
- Hamilton
- John dying
June
- Grief
- Bobby leaving
- Surgery date
- No Kings protest
- More grief. So much grief.
- Disney family day
- Nicole in town
July
- Sam’s surgery
- Dana’s engagement party
- Lots of talks. Discussions. Hard stuff
- GG to Philmont for 2 weeks
- Taylor Swift cover band – dancing in the dark
August
- Sam leaving back to school
- School starting for G
- Gracie & Griff
- Rent
- Dad & Ryan – and Scott – San Diego brunch and then Dodger game
September
- Girls trip! Santa Fe
- Sweeney Todd
- Green Day
October
- Parent Weekend SDSU
- Some Like it Hot
- Hadestown
- Spreading of John’s ashes
- Nicole Scherzinger
November
- Bunco
- John’s memorial
- Peter Pan Goes Wrong
- Clue
- Frozen Jr
- Thanksgiving
December
- Bunco Holiday party
- G singing with Hugh Jackman!!
- Williams Family Xmas
- Sam and Mom day – Cat Cafe and shopping
- G and Mom evening – Ben Platt in LA
- Enchant Christmas
While I wasn’t a huge user of one particular AI program, I did start leaning on one in the last few months of the year. I asked it to do a summary and I had to laugh. Fairly accurate…and also a reminder that no summary, human or artificial, can fully capture a year that changed me.
? Kristi’s 2025 Wrapped ?
Top Vibes This Year
- Cozy but honest
- Thoughtful > productive
- Showing up even when it’s messy
- “I don’t have to do this perfectly”
? Top Moments
- Travel with meaning: Not just getting away, but being together — multigenerational trips, wedding celebrations, spa mornings, long walks, and shared meals.
- Theater era: Plays and musicals weren’t just entertainment — they were joy, connection, and something to look forward to.
- Ordinary magic: Couches full of teenagers, quiet afternoons, decorating the house, unwrapped packages, conversations that didn’t seem important until later.
?? Biggest Themes
- Presence over performance
- Family, in all its forms (grown kids, teens, partners, sisters, aunts, everyone showing up imperfectly)
- Letting things be unfinished — thoughts, lists, expectations
? Challenges You Faced (and Handled)
- A year that included surprises you didn’t ask for, including hospital moments — and the steady realization that everything didn’t fall apart.
- Navigating differing opinions, energy levels, and expectations — and choosing peace more often than not.
- Accepting that some prompts, goals, and reflections just… weren’t for that day. And that being okay.
? Most Played Internal Mantras
- “Not tonight — and that’s fine.”
- “I can hold both.”
- “This counts.”
- “Joy doesn’t have to be loud.”
? Snack & Comfort Highlights
- Cheese boards (reliably undefeated)
- Shared meals that mattered more than the menu
- The comfort of knowing you’d brought something you could eat — literally and metaphorically
? Personal Growth (Quiet but Real)
- You trusted yourself more.
- You didn’t force meaning when it wasn’t there.
- You noticed the small things — and let them be enough.
? 2025 Achievement Unlocked
Finding joy without narrating it.
? Looking Ahead to 2026
You’re bringing:
- Less explaining
- More softness
- The confidence to say yes, no, or maybe later — and mean it
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