Well, well, it has been more than a hot minute since I last wrote. My mojo for writing anything outside of my novel and journal was more or less lost. I have been percolating ideas, but also I have been pushing aside the voices in my head out of _____ (fill in the blank with whatever you like; it’s probably accurate).

Fortunately, I feel myself coming out of the unintentional yet self-imposed box of written-for-the-public-silence. While it put me behind and out of sync with my writing goals, I see it as something I needed to do, as lessons from the past few months have bubbled to the surface, whether I wanted to learn them or not. Strangely, or perhaps not so much, it is in these lessons that I have found my reason and purpose again.

In a future post, I shall share more about these lessons once I can put them into an orderly and as understandable post as possible.

For now, though, I wanted to keep the yearly habit and share some reflections on the year.

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2025

It was a busy year that started with a lot of fun in the sun. We were in Jamaica when the year began and then spent time with my family in Hawaii. From there, we spent more time in Italy at our home since we both felt the year before had been rather full of travel and to-ing/fro-ing. That’s not to say that we didn’t do quite a few short trips to the UK or within Italy.

We also got to spend time with M’s family at Easter and in the summer months, which is never to be taken for granted. Family time is important, yet can easily be something that we do not prioritize. So, it was with extra pleasure that I got to travel with my mom to Greece in September. Although neither of us were enamored with the country, it was about sharing an experience together.

Then, in October, I got to walk the Camino de Santiago via Portugal with two friends. I highly recommend this if it is something on your radar.

Oscar and Olive joined our family, making us official “cat people” with four felines in the house.

Finally, my biggest highlight is being able to spend time on my novel, which has taken various forms since my freshman year of college. It is finally taking shape and filling pages that I truly hope will be worthwhile in print.

CHALLENGES OF 2025

Of course, no year can be perfect; nor should it be.

Sadly, at the end of February, we lost my uncle on my dad’s side. Even though we knew that his time could come, no one is ever ready to lose the physical presence of someone dear. My view of death is not conventional. I do not feel it is the end of the soul’s journey for most; therefore, while I mourn the physical loss I am always joyful for the passing of the soul on to its next cycle.

While we are talking about loss…as my lack of posts after June 27th shows, I deeply and soulfully mourned the sudden death of our two Beagle pups. They were, indeed, still pups at barely three years old. I continue to miss them every day, every time we come down our drive, every time I see another sweet dog, every morning as I come down the stairs, and so on. Grief truly comes at random times. Although we talk about getting new dogs to fill the home, I know that I am not yet ready. Honestly, I am not sure if I ever will be. Monty and Peanut opened up a piece of my heart that I didn’t know was possible. (I suppose this is what people mean when they have kids.) So, losing them, on my birthday, will take time to heal. Just how much? I cannot say.

In other aspects of life, there have been some financial downs and professional woes, but nothing to complain about, because overall, my life is full, blessed, and greatly privileged.

RETURNING TO A HIGH NOTE

I shall not end on the lows because that is not the tone in which I want to say goodbye to 2025. It has been emotional. It has been filled with laughter, dancing, and love. I would not change any of it. Our Great Universe and Lord continue to work with us to create the beautiful, extraordinary life we lead. For that I give thanks and walk into the next year with deep gratitude.

My 2026 plans are written out. Some are already in action. Some are yet to be fully developed. Some are yet even to be known. Either way, I look forward to what is to come.

Thank you for continuing to read and follow my journey through this life, you random anonymous readers. If what I share helps even a little, I am content and will carry on.

See you in the new year!

~T 🔥🐉♋️