thank you 2025
end of the year reflections
It’s December 29th, my last off day of the year. I’m spending it reading in bed, going on a morning walk, journaling, seeing the dermatologist, and then meeting Taylor for coffee.
As I reflect on this year, I feel filled with gratitude for how it restored me in so many ways. Big things happened: two of our friends welcomed their first baby, I went to two weddings, C graduated with his masters. I changed jobs and moved apartments. I returned to myself—finding joy and safety again after being stuck in fight-or-flight. Momentum picked up again after a bout of depression. I also achieved one of my larger writing goals (more on that later).
A lot of small things happened, too. I felt the sun’s warmth on my skin at the beach. I laughed until I cried. My uncle and I ran into an old Italian bakery in Brooklyn for coffee and cannolis after having dinner with my father. We sat in traffic on the way back to Queens listening to the Mets game on the radio. I left that trip with a carry-on filled with books he gave me and bagels. I saw so many critters! Got a pair of binoculars for Christmas. Had the realization that coloring connects me to my inner child and is amazing for my mental health. I saw some gorgeous sunsets and one of the most stunning sunrises.
⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆
If you missed my last post, you can read about my favorite books here:
⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆
food/drinks from this year I’m still thinking about…💭
the cacio e pepe at tratto
the dinner we had at gjelina in la
this chocolate strawberry cake I made for valentine’s day 💌
pizza from amore in flushing
the rack of lamb from mas amable
soufflé pancakes and the hash browns from morning glory in san diego
the nola from moxie
this NA drink at bacanora with mango, agave, lime, chiltepin, and tajin :)
5 reminders to myself, lessons I learned this year.
It is so easy to claim certainty and cling to absolutes when talking about hypothetical situations. It is easy to have opinions, to say, I would do this or I wouldn't do that, but the truth is, no one really knows how they would respond to a situation unless they were presented with it. And the rules other people abide by, don’t have to work for you. There’s a lot of comfort to be found in turning inward—leaning on your individual values, principles, and needs. Your life is yours to live.
It’s so much easier to repair conflict when you recognize you’re fighting to be right and being curious about where that part comes from.
EMDR is so hard, but keep going. It is giving you your life back.
Maybe the negative narratives you have kept about yourself for so long actually aren’t all true. Maybe you are more capable than you think <3.
Every time you avoid discomfort, you’re reinforcing the belief that you can’t handle it. Remember how far you have come!
2026 ins and outs 💫
Ok I’m logging off! Can’t wait to watch the Stranger Things finale!!! Hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year. Talk soon xx
Maria