On the last Friday of 2025...

…I’d like to reflect on this fast and furious year, specifically the “thingies” I said I’d like to do more of at the beginning of it and whether or not I did them, but this year truly went so quickly and managed to be monumentally horrendous and wonderous at the same time, so there’s absolutely no shame or self-criticism in this for-fun recap, which is below, followed by a new list for 2026:

• just do things if I’ve wanted to do them (hence, newsletter) (Paul Rudd Hot Ones “look at us” GIF vibes — 52 newsletters in 52 weeks — thank you so much for being here!!);

• write more (speaking of just doing things, I have finished a final-ish draft of a novel — AHHH);

• resuscitate my journaling habit (DONE);

• publish a thing or two (pubbed exactly two things, a short and a flash, and I’m proud of both!);

• be outside more (jury’s out because I did not really keep track — this is gonna stay on the list for next year);

• read some older books (ones not published in the last ~10-15 years) (only 4 of the 26 I read this year were “older,” this is gonna stay an intention of mine for next year but is inexplicably not going on the list — look, I make the rules, but I don’t understand them);

• read different kinds of books (more nonfiction, romance, maybe fantasy?? Would love recs if you have them!) (I’d say about 8 of the 26 from this year fit this bill);

• eat gluten-free Chinese food (got it in under the wire and it was delicious — thank you Cheng-Du in Mansfield, Massachusetts);

• watch more horror (I wasn’t in the mood!! Watched some but not more than usual, I’d say);

• stop getting maybe actually a teensy bit upset when my baby destroys the really cool castles I make with his blocks (I’m so good at this now, plus that baby is a full toddler now and he destroys everything he makes too, so I don’t take it personally);

• wish you a happy new year (CHECK!) (felt really good to be able to cross something off the list right away, LOL);

and a few new thingies for 2026:

• maybe grow this lil newsletter community a teeny bit (share with your friends, if you feel so inclined!);

• query my novel (holy shit! if you are a writer with any suggestions/words of wisdom/free time to beta read, let me know!);

• get back to writing/publishing humor;

• be outside more (again);

• read more books (Goodreads goal, here I come!);

• hang some pictures in my house;

• travel on more adventures WITH TODDLER;

• maybe not catch EVERY SINGLE daycare sickness that went around like we did this year;

• wish you a peaceful, happy, fulfilling new year (CHECK!).