2025 recap <3
12 chapters, 365 pages.
I can’t believe it’s over! And by that, I mean: thank goodness it’s over.
2025 was one of the hardest years I’ve had in a while, and I feel like I’ve been hearing the same from friends and peers. While there were many good, exciting moments throughout the year, I also struggled with health, routine and the ongoing adjustment to a new era of life.
I am someone, though, who loves a do-over. I love the idea of a new year as a chance to reset and reinvent pieces of my life. I know there is a lot of chatter about New Year’s resolutions and the pressure tied to January 1, but personally, I love it. To me, it feels like permission—an opportunity—to start over.
This past week, I’ve been evaluating areas of my life where I might want to make a change. I’ve been researching hobbies I want to take up, and habits I want to crush, as well as ones I want to start. Perhaps more on that later in a separate post. For now, these are all of the things I’ve loved in 2025.
What I loved reading:
New year resolution for 2026 No. 1: read, read, read! I did not come even close to reading as much as I wanted to this year. The mental overload was too much, but I am making it more of a priority in this next year. I did, however, consistently love Caitlyn Richardson of milk fed’s Substack articles. She brings out a sort of inspiration and critical thinking I’ve been missing in my life since college.
In a similar realm, I’ve loved Ayushi Thakkar’s milk & cookies. My favorite post of her’s this year was one titled, “on social values, moral confusion, and being a decent human offline.”
Some of my other favorite articles of 2025 include Intelligencer’s piece on AI, “Everyone Is Cheating Their Way Through College,” Vogue’s cover story on Hailey Bieber, “Hailey Bieber Is Shutting Out the Noise—and Finding Her Bliss” and Elle’s profile of Daisy Edgar-Jones, “Daisy Edgar-Jones Takes the Lead.”
What I loved writing:
If anything, this year reminded me how lucky I am to work in the industry I once only imagined. Journalism is woven into my sense of self, and I don’t take for granted that I get to live inside it every day.
My favorite article I wrote this year was, by far, 417 Magazine’s March cover story, “Sounds of the Ozarks.” I explored the lives of local musicians as well as the Ozarks’ history of musical talent. In December, I wrote another cover story all about pets, which felt especially fun this year since I became a first-time pet owner.
When it comes to my Substack, I feel so thankful for this growing community and creative outlet. Some of my personal favorites include “what if the dream looks different up close?” “i don’t have a favorite color,” “notes on soft ambition” and “confessions of a nostalgia-aholic.”
What I loved watching:
Sooo many things. I loved watching The Summer I Turned Pretty and having something to look forward to each week. I cannot wait for the movie, whenever that is actually happening. The same was true for Dancing With the Stars. This was my first year watching, and it was nice to have a weekly ritual to get excited about.
This was the year I finally fell for reality TV. I was sucked into Love Island, and I absolutely devoured Love Thy Nader, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and Traitors. I am unashamed (and also incredibly basic).
In 2026, I’m planning to watch some of those classic everyone-should-see-this movies, like The Titanic, The Great Gatsby and Gone With the Wind. This holiday season, I watched The Holiday for the first time, and it quickly became my favorite Christmas movie ever.
What I loved listening to:
Obviously, I loved The Life of a Showgirl. It’s the die-hard Swiftie in me—it’s just inevitable (my favorite songs are “Honey” and “Actually Romantic”).
More surprisingly, my favorite song of the year is Kelsea Ballerini’s “People Pleaser.” I almost wrote an entire Substack post just to sit inside the feelings it stirred. Every single line cuts deep and resonates. Her entire EP, Mount Pleasant, is great, but that song takes the cake for sure.
I also spent time with Olivia Dean’s discography this year. I love how classy and sophisticated her sound is at such a young age. It felt like a softness the music industry has been missing.
2025’s small joys:
Paris
Extremely oversized cozy sweatshirts (Parke really is that girl)
Vintage designer watches
Rhode everything—blush, skincare, peptide lip tints
Computer work while sitting outside
Day trips
Gluten-free cinnamon rolls
Becoming more analog
Handwritten anything
Adding color in home design
Thoughtful gift-giving
I am cautiously excited for everything 2026 might bring. Whatever it is, I hope it’s soft, new, lovely and maybe a little life-changing.
As someone who also dealt with health issues in 2025 one thing that helped me was to really focus on my mental health by getting into journaling and yoga!