25 Things to Take Away from 2025

Merry almost Christmas! I’m still at school, soaking up the final days of relaxing alone in my apartment before I go home. I feel like it’d be a waste if I didn’t write this now—although, as you know, a good procrastinated publish speaks to me like a cold bottle of Moscato on a girls’ night.

Anyways, instead of yapping about what 2025 gave me—which was so, so much—I thought I’d instead give a quick-read list with little to no context. Mostly because I feel like the huge realizations I’ve had over the year have already been documented and thoroughly explained in previous entries. But before I begin, let’s do a quick recap.

I turned 20 very early in 2025, and for the first five months, it genuinely felt like I was stuck in a humiliation ritual. Like one bad thing after another happened, and I could not catch a break. I didn’t really see it like this at the time, but now that I am doing so amazingly, I look back and think, damn, someone had an absolute field day with my voodoo doll this year.

But now we’re doing so much better, and I could not love my life or my friends any more. Big things are coming for 2026. I’m turning 21, getting a new apartment with my friend, starting an internship, more than likely studying abroad, and also graduating from college. So much change in such a small amount of time—so when I put it into perspective, I’m kind of glad this year kicked my ass over and over again, because I don’t really have time for another identity crisis going into the new year.

All I can hope for in 2026 is good health, happiness, and new experiences.

Anyways—here’s my perfectly curated list (if I do say so myself) of everything I learned in 2025… because it was a lot.

1. Consistency over anything. Time passes anyway, so do it even when you don’t feel like it.

2. Family doesn’t just mean blood. The people I have in my life are more amazing than anything I’ve ever experienced.

3. Regretting something will not take it back. You live, you learn, and you move on.

4. People will think you’re better than them. Even if it’s not true, believe them—and walk away before invisible insecurity hurts both them and you.

5. Being selfish is okay when it comes to your own well-being. Always keep others in mind, but know your limits.

6. Make space for yourself. Every once in a while, find a cute coffee shop 45 minutes away and go alone to regroup and reset.

7. Actions do, in fact, speak louder than words. You can mean something—but that’s only 50% of what it takes.

8. Know when you’ve made a mistake and apologize for it. No one’s perfect, so recognize it, vocalize it, try to fix it, and then move on.

9. Tell people how you feel. This one’s scary, but it’s the difference between seeing the light or staying in the dark.

10. Give yourself grace. You’re not a superhuman—don’t punish yourself for not being one.

11. Do little things that make you happy. I like getting my nails done or grabbing a coffee here or there.

12. Clean space, clean mind. I hate how much better I feel mentally when my room’s clean.

13. Food is medicine. Eat whole foods and you’ll see how much better you feel.

14. He’s not a bad person. He’s learning—and he did you wrong—so you need to get up and keep moving so you’re not stuck on that level.

15. You do not have to forgive and forget. It’s not good to hold grudges, but lack of trust will break a relationship. Just distance yourself.

16. If you like something about someone, tell them. Last week someone complimented my smile, and I thought about it all day.

17. Prioritize your female friendships. At the end of the day, they will be the ones picking up the pieces from what a man broke.

18. People will show you what you mean to them. They. Will. Show. You.

19. Taking time to reevaluate in tense situations will almost always bring you back down to earth. Take a breath and a break. It will be alright.

20. Understand it’s probably not an attack on you, but an attack on themselves. Brush it off and move tf on.

21. Dwelling on the what ifs will hold you back. It is what it is—no amount of what ifs can change the future.

22. Love is in so much around you—once you stop trying to put it somewhere it doesn’t belong, you’ll realize this.

23. You have nothing but time. You’re not behind; you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.

24. Loving someone is never a mistake. You probably see something in them that they can’t see in themselves.

25. Closure is a myth. You’ll never truly get it—and if you do, it will never be enough. Be okay with the silence or the confusion. That is closure enough.

    
    

The biggest takeaway from 2025 for me is deeply introspective. Realizing that everyone is doing their own thing saved me from being such a people pleaser. I’ve been shown both the good and bad sides of people, and you have to learn to take that as a them problem—not a me problem. Separating your own worth from the actions of others was the best thing I could’ve done for myself.

In 2026, I want to continue this. Not chasing anything besides the best version of myself and new experiences. Everything will come in time—sitting around and waiting for it will do nothing if you’re just watching life pass you by.

2025 was, without a doubt, the most character-developing year for me. You name it—I went through it. 2026, however, is the year I take what I learned and use it to my advantage.

You can too.

Hope you all have a happy holiday, and I’ll get back to you in the new year.

XO-Em