Q01

Describe a significant experience that has happened in the past year. How did it affect you? Are you grateful? Relieved? Resentful? Inspired?

The economic instability continues for us. I dropped to part time then on call, so I've had 0-40 hours a week, but more like 0-10 all year. Unemployment is running out. I have been looking for work, but I'm so torn between the flexibility I have - and need - and work I'd like to do. I'm constantly overwhelmed. Trump is as bad as I though he would be; addle brained and suggestive, idiotic, ill informed, rash, reactionary. He's stoking fear and hate and he lies all the time. I'm utterly exhausted from the firehose of the past nine months. So, the answer to this question is that Trump's 2nd term has happened. It has only affected me negatively -- and that's VERY negatively. I'm angry, I'm sad. I'm overwhelmed, I'm paralyzed with fear and stress. I'm resentful. I'm horrified that I'm resilient and resourceful and I know so many others are less so; I don't know how those less fortunate will weather this.

I don’t have a significant experience but if I have to answer I think it’s giving up on my marriage. It’s like a big relief to say “I just don’t care anymore” and it just feels like there is nothing more to save. I’m happy to co-parent with him and he provides us a lovely life, but that’s it. I’m officially acknowledging the fact that we are room mates.

I finally got the job at universal as an attractions attendant at the new park Epic Universe. It showed that if I try, I’ll get what I want.

Esme's passing. Her health journey shaped my year and gave me a lot of purpose in showing up as an aunt and for my family generally. It taught me that grief is full of beauty. And I am relieved that she's in a peaceful place.

I turned 40. Feeling grateful and empowered, especially having worked hard to set myself up for growth and change, spent my birthday in Chicago with old friends, and then spent 5 days in silent meditation at IMS' queer retreat.

I should say up front - I'm rushing this. I'm doing these all in one evening because I mostly missed the window. Teaching during the High Holy Days is so cramped, and leaves so much less time for reflection and slowing down than I would have liked. I tried to get pregnant, but was unsuccessful. I graduated from teaching school and starting working full time as a teacher. I am so grateful that I got to try to make Rachelope in my body with help from Michael and midwife Anjali. That was a really special time, full of hope and disappointment, and a lot of peeing on strips. I wish it had worked. My year this coming year would look so different if it had. I can't control life, though, and this timeline is moving how it's moving. I also graduated, and I would have liked to feel so relieved, but instead I immediately started hustling to get a teaching job. This graduation was the least climactic of them all, but I'm nevertheless proud that I am seeing through this major life change. I also think I gave quite a nice speech! I am grateful for BATTI, for the people I got to meet and all they ways I got to think about education while going through it.

The day of my rabbinic ordination was the culmination of six years of study, learning, labor, and transformation. On the day, I felt elated. Even now, four months later, I still feel pretty fabulous. My work as a rabbi is just beginning but I'm ready.

I fell in love with Amelia, and I feel as though the world is open to me now.

This year has been one of the most overwhelming and defining years of my life. In twelve months, I’ve experienced joy, loss, challenge, and gratitude all tangled together. We found out we were pregnant, welcomed Madison Grace, started Micah’s practice, sold our house, and moved into a new one. At the same time, I lost my dad, started a new job that hasn’t been what I hoped, and walked through a cancer diagnosis and surgery. It’s hard to point to one “significant experience” because the whole year feels significant. If I didn’t have my foundation in Jesus, Micah by my side, and the support of my community, I don’t know how I would’ve carried all of it. Even with the grief and struggle, I end this year grateful. Grateful for my family, for health, for new beginnings, and for the reminder that life is fragile and precious. Inspired may not be the right word — but grounded, humbled, and thankful absolutely are.

The most significant thing that has happened this year is Donald Trump becoming President. The daily onslaught of cruelty, destruction, retribution, harm, and corruption is a constant threat to my central nervous system, and to our country. It has left me angered, outraged, pessimistic, and mostly paralyzed. I really resent having to put time, energy and money into fighting all this harm.

After two years of terrible pain and swelling of my left leg, I had my left knee replaced. The first two weeks were as awful as everyone said, but then the healing began to happen. I'm so glad I had it done. I'm relieved and grateful that I could have this surgery instead of being impaired the rest of my life. It had really made my life difficult. I'm active and healthy now.

I cut the top of my finger off this year and I was still the one doing laundry, dishes, cat litter, etc. I’m grateful that my MIL stayed in state to help me with my toddler for the first week of healing, but after that I was on my own. Sometimes good people don’t make good people, and I’m a fool. My MIL is a boss. But also, I opened a business. I’m excited to get that rolling.

Half Dome hike/climb, recent (Sept 13, 2025). I didn't train as much as I wanted but proud and grateful for my strong body as I enter the deep, deep middle of my middle age. Work slow, schedule more open but still the calendar packed to the brim with work tasks that take longer than my brain can handle. The fullness of life raising a family, immersed in school activities. Childhood, so fleeting. I try to take it all in. Grateful for California weather, my backyard, serenity even with neighbors' voices and only semi-permeable privacy. Annoyed by the airplanes that fly low and loud, but recognize we are so lucky beyond belief.... Desire to travel - videos to see pockets of the world where my heart would like to go, areas of the world with such rich culture/food/history, war-torn places that break my heart. Reserved to local explorations for now. Perhaps next year (inspiration). Grateful for 10Q, which rolls up in my inbox each year as life flies by. Thank you 10Q.

Inspired as I am creating a world view that brings me into present time to make and create success and building my world

I walked the Camino Ingles with Valerie. I was called to walk a Camino last year and we did it. I feel grateful, proud, expansive.

This year was filled with significant experiences, both personally and globally. The top two have to be that Jake and I got married and bought a house together! Many times throughout the year, I had to stop and acknowledge that I was having the very life experiences we tend to dream about one day. While on my honeymoon, I thought, "How many times throughout my life did I dream about where I would go on my honeymoon, long before I had a clue who I would marry or when?" I love that I get to do life with Jake. I feel grateful for his love, his partnership, and the many ways he enriches my life. I am also a homeowner at a time when many people my age are struggling to pay rent. Homeownership is expensive, maybe even more than I realized, and I know I am fortunate to be in a dual-income home where both of us are generally savers. Moving was stressful and overwhelming, but it is truly amazing to be in a beautiful home we get to call ours.

Finding grounding deeper

I finally qualified and set up my private practice as a therapist. And I got pregnant with my third child! And I proved to myself I can do this, I can do this work. It means an enormous amount to me to have completed something.

I finished my cancer treatment and am in remission. I feel relieved. But at the same time the mental aspect of having cancer has hit me much worse than I expected. It came after the physical part was done so I didn’t think it would be such a big deal, but I keep struggling with more anxiety, restlessness, less patience. I feel like people think I’m all better, while I’m still struggling on the inside. even my own partner doenst know my whole struggle since I don’t want to be a burden. And as a result I am conflicted in wanting things to evolve around me, something I normally want to avoid, but not wanting to shout out ‘hey, look at me, I’m not ok.’ Difficult exercise.

Finishing my Masters in Social Work program. While I will have to take the licensing exam, I am both grateful and relieved that it's over with. I never imaged I would get the change to go back to college to finish my bachelor's, let alone a master's degree. Additionally - I did this while also studying and in classes for the adult b'mai mitzvah and in Hebrew so that I could read from Torah in June. I also lead the mourner kaddish, which was significant as that same day was the 22nd anniversary of the passing of my husband's best friend.

Venous ulcers. Depressed as thought I was going to lose my feet 👣 didn’t know I had ulcers xx new doctors referred me to the nurses for the first time ever and they said I shouldn’t have had to struggle and look after them on my own xx after a doppler test I’ve had compression bandages and after 1 week my year old ulcer had healed, which was not short of a miracle xx :)

baby times! its been interesting in how i understand myself, the concept of family, my relationship, even myself as a child. often it has been hard and unpleasant and expensive! and physically difficult. hard to write about it without the end point of like, having a child, but the process has been notable

My stroke in India, recovery and medical investigation. The severity of my stroke in January is very concerning, and I spent most of the last six months in testing, therapy and medical sessions or sleeping. It's certainly gotten me focused on diet and exercise. I've lost a significant amount of weight and I started some regular exercise exercises, currently taking a an aquafunction class with Mary at the YWCA and really liking it. I’m also trying to do some exercises on my own. I've worked to eliminate or reduce snacks from my diet and to watch my consumption of other things high in unhealthy fact. But mostly it's made me mindful of my mortality and the importance of making changes.

Team at work went from three to me. I did feel a bit resentful if I’m honest as the two other people retired and I am now doing all three roles. It’s a lot and I didn’t ask for this. I am still grateful to have a job in this climate though.

So much has happened in this last year. Something I feel was significant was marrying the partner of my dreams. It feels like it happened all of a sudden. Neither of us had felt it to be a priority, or necessity historically, however all at once it seemed like the right choice. I was about to embark on a travel assignment in California for 13 weeks, and he was doing a lot of filming in NC. It would be the most time apart we had truly spent without each another since becoming a couple. We talked about what it meant to each of f us, and all of the details…like would I take his name., will we wear rings, how shall we do it?? Our biggest hope was that it wouldn’t have a negative impact on our relationship. It’s almost been a year and I can say with complete confidence that it has not. We have remained individuals within this union, yet we are closer to one another than we’ve ever been. I am proud to be his partner, and to call him my husband. I’m relieved that we are both still so grateful for one another.. still so delighted, and inspired by the other. He’s my very best friend, and I feel like the luckiest human in this world. We made our marriage what we wanted it to be, and it’s beautiful.

The fire in the palisades on Jan 7th. I can't believe almost a year has passed. It is hard to know all the ways it will effect me. Seeing it with my own eyes still feels unreal and may not hit til it is rebuilt and a totally different place. That everyone made it out safely, there is god. That so many people lost all of their things, their homes, it just feels like we are drowning in a burning world and I don't know how to hold living, loving, being present and grateful and happy while it is all crashing around me on so many levels.

I'm not sure about one specific instance. In the past year, I was able to present research in Paris, collaborate with other researchers in Washington DC, reconnect with a friend down in NYC, reconnect with another NYC friend out in Pittsburgh, and cheer my daughter on to the National History Day Finals in Washington DC. Maybe the latter was inspiring, given the topic of her project, but also her commmitment and determination to improve her project. I also got to read torah twice, including a Parashat I never read before.

Getting divorced. Left me shocked and hurt. I’m grateful that I have been set free to be with the person who is really best for me now.

I resigned from my job at the firm and moved into semi-retirement. It's only been a few weeks, so I'm not exactly sure how it will affect me going forward. For today, though, I am happy about it and grateful to be in this position. Putting Alice to sleep was (and is) monumental.

Not one big event but an unexpected twist in a small thing like listening to a podcast. About a year ago my podcast player suggested I might enjoy listening to the Jacaranda FM news podcast from South Africa since I was listening to English language news podcasts from around the world. The news helped me see the world through a more African continent focused lens similar to what happens when you read Nnedi Okorafor books. Then I began to listen to the stories the newscasters and radio presenters told at the end of news broadcasts. Now I listen to the station live several times a week and I'm learning the Afrikaans language with an app just so I can understand the other half of their conversations. Something small and insignificant became something significant. When news events in the United States began to center on South Africa such as President Ramaphosa's visit or the Afrikaner Refugee Program, I had a much broader and more accurate perspective than most of the American public, just because I took the nudge to listen to a podcast. To say that I appreciate a group of people half a world away that I'll never get to meet face-to-face is about the best way to describe how I feel about this ongoing experience. It's led me to connect to South Africa in ways beyond just the news podcast such as learning about and making some South African foods exploring holidays and their meanings and learning about every day events. This is going to be an ongoing multi-year Adventure but I'm enjoying the journey so far

Hm. I can't think of any one event. My life gets more and more stable and similar the older I get. That's a good thing. Maybe a bit boring but it's filled with good things and that's just part of growing up, I suppose. The most significant thing is I suppose that my relationship with my teenage dughter got a lot better. I also got into Harry Potter again, and it's been wonderful. I've been rereading the books, first through audio, and now through books again, and reading a lot of HP fanfic, Drarry fanfic. See what I mean about my life being very low-stakes? Yoel lost his job 5 months ago and that's not been fun. Mostly for him.

This year my brother contacted me to discuss our Dad’s drinking. This recurring theme is hard, although I am far away, I am resentful of this. However I am also grateful to remind myself the importance of healing, therapy, and not medicating with alcohol.

My granddaughter was born. Cute. Perfect. Adorable. The smartest, bestest, prettiest baby ever born. Except for her mother and uncle. We never expected to be grandparents, so my daughter's announcement last summer was a delightful surprise. I was/am amazed at how quickly Greg (spouse) and I turned to mush. I was astonished to see how quickly we were melted into baby talking adoring people. Thinking on it, I realize that grandparents don't usually have the full responsibility for their children's children. We've been through it and no longer have the omnipresent anxiety we had as parents. It's lovely. I will be long gone before she's grown. While I wonder what sort of world Avery will grow up in, I don't worry about it. I will do what I can in my own little part of society, but I won't worry too much about that which I cannot control. I will just enjoy her. They live in China, so there will be Zooms until next summer. And we will have a toddler visitor.

My mum's cancer diagnosis and being a 'carer' to her. I have been going through many emotional and physical states. I have felt exhausted, grateful, isolated, sad, full of grief and resentment (mostly towards other family members). It has forced me to look at my relationship with my mum in a different way - all the ways she has prioritised my needs and neglected her own. I am trying to shift this dynamic but also focus on healthier communication and boundaries between us. I feel that I am having to do a lot of this work.

I sold some art for the first time. I made needlepoint pieces specifically for sale, and it was stressful! I enjoyed it, but it did maybe take a little joy from the whole thing. Maybe the timing was significant there because it was at the end of the year, when I would normally be making more gifts and such. It made very little money, probably not much compared to supplies, but I think I learned a lot.

My dad is divorcing again and my sitter has the same age I did when my dad divorced my mom. In a way this has opened a path to deal with my emotions that I still had repressed, but it’s also creating new emotions. I feel angry, and was happy to communicate this with my dad, but there’s a lot of work that is still coming. I hope I can become better at dealing with my emotions around relationships because of this.

My oldest had her bat mitzvah. Watching her take the lead, pray jewishly and engage in our religion with her truth was magical. It was a lot of work but I think we hit the right note of fun and serious and enjoyable. And we made the budget work.

There lots of experiences, most significant was medhavis 40th birthday celebration at Isckon chippiwara radha Vallabh. It made me feel really grateful and happy. It made me feel the Radha ji and krishna ji really love me. It made me confident about my chosen philosophy of life.

We finished out LBK renovation, rather decided to declare it 'DONE'. We quickly paid the money owed — which was a thrilling moment. Over two years to renovate our 2-bedroom, 2-bath condo. The project became unbearably stressful. We could only be there for 2 months (instead of 6) and had to stay up North until the end of February. I was resentful almost the entire time. The contractors never kept to their word, and we felt at their mercy. I felt so disempowered. I was in despair much of the time and didn't know how to let it go. .

Mom died and we went to Africa. Mom dying I guess was a rite of passage. I still miss her, often finding that I want to ask her questions. I know I haven't been able to do that for years, but still. In some ways it was a relief. It was a lot of pressure and I felt so sad for her, seeing her be so frustrated with her body. I am grateful for the time we had with her. Africa. Wow. Just amazing. I am so grateful for having been able to go, for it having been such a good trip with B&D and the kids. It made me appreciate Africa, and what we have (or had) in the US. Clean water especially. The election and the US moves to a fascist regime. The politics of cruelty. It is exhausting and terrifying.

On the caregiving team for my brother, recovering from a major surgery, I was frustrated that the home blood pressure monitor no longer gave accurate readings (25/57 piece of crap yadda yada). My brother suggested I test on myself. Looking at my 127/80 reading, then looking at my brother, then looking at the reading, then looking at my brother, then saying calmly: Let's go to the ER. He calmly replied: OK. He recovered, and we laugh a bit about it only months later (medical humor runs in the family), but I'm different now. I feel the weight of my limitations. I'm infected by self-doubt. I'll always walk around referring to those days as "the time I nearly casually allowed my brother to die on my watch."

Trump won and are in the bad place. I’m feeling exhausted but at the same time inspired to fight. Fascism and authoritarianism is here and we’re not ok.

My great-uncle turned 90. What an inspiration! May we all live so long.

The issues with LS, JR and DC really tested my sobriety and mental health really affected me. Though I struggle with this even after two weeks I didn’t drink and continued to use healthy coping mechanisms. I hope that a year from now I’ll laugh at this. Part of me is grateful that I was tested and while I struggled I feel like I’ve been putting in so much work that it did inspire me to keep moving forward

This past June the start-up insurance company that I've worked for since 2021 had an IPO on the NASDAQ in New York City. As a friend remarked during my trip to New York, my ship had certainly come in. This event marked milestones on several different levels for me, and I felt a profound sense of gratitude and pride. I am now looking at what will perhaps be the final stage of my business career and the beginnings of a post-career (don't quite want to call it retirement) journey that may allow me to explore other facets of life heretofore sacrificed in the pursuit of career success.

Becoming a grandmother and watching how our adult son and DIL have grown together and into the role of parents - also acknowledging my role as a mother-grandmother and mother-in-law. When they asked me if I'd stay for the month of May, it was a huge affirmation of my role in their lives. Dad's 90th birthday celebration - lots of emotions as I watch them age, marvel at what they still do and want to do, and also a grounding reminder of life's impermanence.

I took a 40 mile solo hike in another country and it gave me space to really think about what I'm going to do with the rest of my life, my career, my happiness and all that. It was life-changing.

In the past year, I got married to the love of my life and had our first child. The feelings were enormous. i did not particularly enjoy pregnancy, and childbirth was traumatic, but having to meet and hold my baby filled my heart with a love I didn't know was possible to feel at all. It is completely different from the love for my spouse and the love for the rest of my family, I felt like my heart has become bigger and stronger. For the second time in my life, I was also afraid of losing my mum because of a sudden emergency surgery. This made me think a lot about the future, about how I can be a better mother for my children and if they will ever feel for me the way I feel for her. Being with her during a hard time again felt strange, she is one of the strongest, most amazing people I know, and seeing her getting older, more tired, and less healthy is really hard, but I want to do my best to be there for my family, even if I live on the other side of the continent, which it is making it harder every day.

My husband health issue in 2024. I am grateful.

My mental health has plummeted, and I had to go into residential care because I hurt my kid and came very close to killing myself. The good news is, residential mental health care is a far cry from the nightmares I had about psych hospitalization, and I'm finally getting the help I need to stop suffering. I'm grateful and relieved and I just feel guilty that I didn't do this long ago.

A significant experience that happened this year: -grandpa getting sick. It showed me that time is limited as we know and that it is important to have things in order. It has also made me feel bad for mom and dad dealing with all of this. It makes me sad to think that you just hit a certain age and then you are not yourself anymore -Another personal experience was getting bit by a friends dog. This was quite shocking and helped me see this persons true colors but also made me sad to loose a friendship in it

The birth of my daughter Esther. I had no idea of how much love I could have for her, given how much I love my first child. But it wasn't a matter of a set amount of love being divided in two — instead it was an exponential growth. Another beautiful tree blossoming next to the one for my son. She is such a gift and a treasure, and I feel so honored being her mother. I still struggle with the birth, which was difficult and I feel I failed her in many ways (the same as my son; i am not good at giving birth). Someday maybe I will come to terms with this, but not in the near future.

My grandmother died and I was with her at the time. I'd gone to visit her in Edinburgh after a stroke and had only been at the hospital for 40 mins when suddenly the death rattle came. Staff told her to reassure her and so I did. It was an incredibly profound experience. It made me question my belief that when we die our entire being shuts off and we disintegrate. Instead I found myself looking at her body and asking where the essence of her had gone.

Still the situation with C the Intern. Hopefully, this will be the last time I write about this. Time as flown, as it's wont to do. I once had the wish there could be a serious and honest conversation between me and C but I'm not so sure now. Closure would be good but I realise that often times that's just impossible. It does seem so at this point and I can say that, as time goes by, I feel less and less the need for closure. It's not that I'm entirely done but I'm definitely over it. I wish C the best and harbour no ill will towards her. There was a time when I thought there might be a chance of us becoming friends once more but now I just don't really care for that. Our friendship is a bridge that she burned and that I no longer want to rebuild. I'll just see what the future brings, then. Oddly enough, she unblocked me on Instagram and I have no idea why. Won't follow her, that's for sure. As for my female colleague, V, she's as unbalanced as ever. Found out she never loved any of her husbands and current boyfriend. She just tags along for their money and the benefits it provides like fancy meals and expensive trips. WTF? What kind of woman is she? I thought golddiggers were on the young side but she's around 60 and still at it. I suppose the easy money is addictive. All in all, it's just prostitution with extra steps. And I swear sometimes her conversations lead me to suspect she might have feelings for me, which is the greatest WTF in my life, ever. She certainly felt a change in me since the incident with C and she seems to like what she sees/perceives. I wouldn't date her even if she was the last woman on Earth. No fucking way. Either that or she's trying to manoeuvre me into another trap and I'm having none of that. She's not a snake, she's a pit full of them! As for intens, there have been four since C and I'm happy that all of them seem to have developed good and healthy relationships with me. Ok, one of them, T, seems to have had a tiny crush on me (matching body language and a breast firmly pressed against my back twice) and the fourth and current one, M, might as well, which I find disconcerting since I'm much older and unattractive. I hope I'm wrong though.

There has been no progress in the one year since I last entertained these questions. Tens of thousands needlessly killed; hostages still in captivity; leaders without hearts; and followers filled with greed. I remain brokenhearted and drifting away from our faith. For a second year, this is the only question I am answering and I am sending it to the vault.

The most significant event that happened in the past year, only days into 2025, was the passing of Mommy, unexpectedly, at 48 going on 49. It feels like it was just the other day, and yet, also so long ago. I will forever be transformed by her dying. As time has gone on and the crying has grown less frequent, I have had time to sit with what has happened and its transformative impact on me. I find myself to be simultaneously more at peace, grounded in the present moment, and more driven for abundance, in all areas of my life, than prior to this experience. I try to feel the non-dual nature of reality in as many hours of the day as possible. I truly understand, already, how Stephen Colbert could quote Tolkien when talking about the death of his father and his two directly older brothers; the event that brought him and his mother closer than ever, and led him down the path that resulted in his becoming a world famous comedian. “What punishments of G-d are not gifts?” This is not meant to anoint the tragedies of life, but to see them in a light that makes bearing them just a little bit easier. As the rabbis say of teshuva, tefilah, and tzadeka, they will not change the evilness of the decree, but transform our relationship to it. In that sense, I am grateful. Not that Mommy is gone. But that I am not letting this horrible thing be without meaning for me. I find myself more convinced of G-d, though not the silly image of G-d as presented in the Torah, New Testament, and Quran, but the G-d that is Being—Yud, Hey, Vav, Hey. This is a reli(e)ving change, in so far as the presence of G-d, which tends to be felt by me more often than not in soft utterances (and even silence) makes me feel less alone in this world, less likely to give into nihilistic despair. “The Lord is so very close to the brokenhearted.” If we are all G-d refracted into temporary form, waves, as the Buddhists say, then G-d is not only closer to me than I had often dared to imagine, but there is no separation. I think this way of thinking makes it where I don’t feel resentful. I am angry at times, yes. But not resentful. I’m inspired to be the version of me I know I can and WILL be. For me, for Mommy, for my other loved ones, and for the world.

A significant experience was moving from a beach town to a forested town to start a graduate program. It has many effects, but the overall feeling is of peace and purpose.

My husband had hip replacement surgery eight months ago. It was miraculous. He was in such pain prior to the procedure, but is the poster boy for speedy and complete recovery. Oddly, as I sat with our son during the surgery, I wasn't nervous. It never entered my mind that anything could or would go wrong. I'm so relieved that came to pass, as I recognize how much I rely on my husband.

A recent unnecessary event showed who are true and who are not. Grateful for those who are true and now cautious about those who have used me.

I got fired from my job! Somehow I knew it would come because of the rise of AI, but it came faster than I thought it would. I was part of a wave of layoffs that took away the job of 8,000 employees at my company, so I don't take it personally at all, more like a sign of our times and the big changes we will be going through as a society in the next few years and probably decade. It came as a relief in a way, because I had been unhappy at work for a long time but didn't feel ready to look for another job, so I felt trapped. Being fired and given a pretty good leave package gave me the space and freedom to not work for some months and reimagine my future, even if at the moment there is too much unknown to make any informed decision. I do feel relieved, grateful for the safety net, inspired to try something knew and excited at the variety of prospects, even if it is very scary not to know what I'll do next.

1. Well… I became a dad again. As much as I love my second child, he was not expected. And he came as a massive surprise. All year has been a surreal experience of having one kid, the promise of finishing our house, and expecting a second kid. It has been overwhelming. 2. We just finished building our house. As I’m writing this question (10 days late), we are in our 4th night at our place. It’s ours. After much work and effort, it’s really ours. For this I’m incredibly grateful and proud. Grateful with God for leading me through, and grateful with my wife for her support and love. And I’m proud because God placed us where we needed to be and we had answered. The reward for listening, and hardworking is now palpable within these walls. 3. My NN project kinda works. I am still a one-man-band and I’m no expert. But it’s moving. The amount of work is huge, as it is not only my project, but the new department the old engineering department, my project, and all the expectations everyone has for all of them. I’m grateful that I’m at that level of expectation, but it’s tiring. 4. Leaving Engineering and focusing on Data Science has been such a relief. I feel different. Like Prometheus bringing fire to mankind. My team is building the vision I have for the company. And it’s amazing to achieve all these things while the end users are amazed. The stress now is to deliver all this greatness in time (or at least not take that long ).

It always feels like I'm in the middle of a significant experience when this question comes up. My daughter just reported something awful that happened to her. Grateful that she felt comfortable enough to finally come forward. Anxious about the next steps. Angry at the people who did this to her.

Neil dying in January, and the last times visiting Neil at Thanksgiving and in January. Being at the house for the "Hindu Shiva" and then for the funeral in March. How did this effect me? I'm still working that out. I feel a little distant from this grief, it is still developing and travelling through me. Most of the times that I was at the Parikh house were deeply painful and I felt very trapped. I felt unable to experience and express my grief in my own way and to have the privacy I desired, I felt very burdened by expectation- from my mom for this to bind me closer to and soften me towards Jane and Barb, from Barb to perform very specific helpful tasks she had in her head but had not verbalized; as far as I could intuit - to be convivial, social, to provide lightness for her. I do feel resentful of th0se pressures. I am ultimately glad I got to be there and get to see Neil for those last few times but I wish they had gone differently. But I also aknowledge that this frustration is probably at least partly me channeling my grief toward something smaller and more manageable. I guess I'm relieved that Neil isn't suffering anymore, and grateful for my relationships with Grace and Gordon and their partners Daniel and Veronica, respectively, and yes even for Barb, who has shown me much love and generosity among her self-centeredness and need for control. I hope that one effect of my experiences of grief, including this one, are to make me more active and decisive in showing up for someone when I know they are in grief. I'm proud of going to Lele's mom's shiva earlier this week. It felt like maybe too much to do, inserting myself where I didn't belong, but we (me, John and Clara) stayed there talking with Lele for 2 hours and I think it was a great balm to her. I think we protected her from 2 hours of being a good hostess to people she barely knew, who were there more for her parents than for her. I have no regrets about going and I hope I can carry this feeling forward for when situations such as this one inevitably arise again.

I developed a problem with one knee just as I was starting to exercise more. Once again it feels like 1 step forward, 3 steps back.

Three of my hospice patients have died over the past year. I learned that every death will feel unique, because every person (and every relationship) is unique. It's incredibly profound to be with someone in the last days or hours of their life. In general, hospice has taught me how much more life there can be in the next 40+ years, should I live so long. How much the world around me can change in that time. How much more growth and learning there is for me. How that growth and learning lasts right up until the end of life.

I'd have to say amazing travel experiences that stretched my appreciation of this beautiful earth. Our trips to Finland, Morrocco and Sicily were, in each respect, the discovery of a new world. I am so grateful to have the good health, good marriage, and good finances to do these things. I am inspired to see more of our beautiful planet and its many cultures.

This year, I gave birth to our first child - a baby boy we had been waiting for for a long, long time. The birth itself was the most significant experience of my life; the "crown of womanhood" as a dear friend put it. I have never felt stronger and more beautiful. He was presenting breech, and I developed (among other late-term symptoms) mild preeclampsia. I was fortunate enough to have a remarkable OBGYN (who also happened to be Jewish) who was comfortable with breech delivery and waiting to see how the preeclampsia developed. Despite being offered a C-section at 37 weeks, I was able to carry my child to term and gave birth naturally on the date he chose. I had a precipitous labour, and he had a beautiful, unmedicated vaginal breech birth. I was initiated into motherhood as my son was initiated into this world. I was immensely grateful to my provider, my husband, and God for allowing me to trust my body, trust nature, and partake in my first act of motherhood: trusting my child.

USA under the thumb of Trump. Support reasonable politicians

Helping a congregation have a good ending as it closed its doors as a congregation. I was challenged and gratified to create programs for honoring the last and present to be able to move forward with less angst for many. I then had to reinvent myself professionally again. It is a struggle in which I am still engaged.

Giving birth again! It was so wonderful. Pushing was pretty painful, but it was fairly quick and I'm still so thrilled that she's here and she's a girl. And she's the chillest baby! So grateful. Constantly.

Getting "past the gate" with a book publisher, at last (and wondering if I could have done it sooner). I am grateful to all who helped me bring it this far, and inspired to "push to the finish,

How to choose just one? The slow crawls of recovering from mono and weathering grief; the election results affecting the mental health & physical safety of so many loved ones; moving after 8 years into a big house with roommates; my supervisor's decline and abrupt departure? I am relieved that time has moved me past that season; disheartened and protective; excited and anticipatory about this new space; hurt, and hopeful for the transition limbo to be over soon.

I had parainfluenza03 last year. After 9 days in the hospital, I was angry but totally happy that I was able to heal myself - and grateful that it wasn't worse.

My sister came to visit from Australia. She and I are close, but we weren't always and it was so lovely to know that the work we have both done on ourselves through a lot of therapy, has meant we have compassion for each other. I cried when we met at the station, it was so nice to see her there in person.

I spent 70 days hospitalized and bedridden. Something happened to my small intestine and I had to have surgery. Once at the hospital, everything that could happen did. I caught pneumonia and had to have more surgery. I was allergic to the x-ray dye and it gave me A-fib. I am grateful that I survived.

After a sinus infection and debilitating vertigo, my anxiety hit me hard, stopping me in my tracks. Since April, I have been on a journey of deep discovery and recovery, doing my best to make peace with my anxiety and changing my relationship with it. I have been doing grief work, delving into my unprocessed sorrows, as well as feeling the weight of the collective grief of 2025.

I lost a lot of people in my life, mostly elders. It made me realize that life is not long and that it is important to savor it and the people around you, mostly. I also had a rocky start at the begining of last year with friend groups and social stuff, but after a 3rd of the year i found a good group of girls and they are cool and fun and most of them are nice. YAY!

Trump started his new presidential term and everything is confusion and falling apart. I also began perimenopause. And between trying to do self care related to those two things, I was ready to totally write off 10Q this year. But I rallied, because I think it is worth noting to the world how many people his administration's destruction affects and how. He has no care for the good of the American people or our democracy, our relationship with other countries, or anyone who's not rich and white. I've been living in a constant cycle of heartbreak, outrage, fear, depression, cynicism, hope, apathy, empathy, despair, and terror, in various combinations and orders. Today I'm furious. I'll probably be in tears by the end of the day. It's awful and scary and I want so very much for it to change for the better.

Got fired. While I was initially resentful I was eventually relieved bc it was a toxic environment for me and I was miserable. The higher pay allowed me to get to 6 months savings which I only recently blew through.

My office building had been closed for years for a total gut renovation, and we finally moved back in November 2024. I hate it. It looks like an Apple store. All glass and blonde wood. Open layout. We are a community member-driven organization, not a corporate insurance company with a design from the 1990s. The layout is terrible and not designed for what we do. I have worked there for 35 years. Sure, it was frozen in the 1980s and out of code compliance before, but now it has no soul and no logic to what we do. People aren't coming back to use it.

Getting breast cancer. It changed me in a way that I hope I never change back. Accepting and enjoying more rest. Knowing and feeling the love around me. Feeling like an integral community member. Feeling how fiercely I’ll protect my libido and how good my sluttiness is for my spirit. I am entering a new below-ground work having treated it in the short term wanting yo take my creative self more seriously, focus less on money, enjoy rest and play more, and trust in it when people say they love me.

I didn't have one specific significant experience. I had several mini adventures where I responded to adversity. Need to be better about not beating myself up over little mistakes though

I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was immensely grateful to all medical professionals first for encouraging check up, the way news was handled and all subsequent treatment. I am very proud of and grateful to my family and friends for all their support.

Finally finding out the identity of my biological father was a huge deal. He passed four years ago but after sitting down with my new cousins, the DNA results line up. As soon as I saw his picture, I knew. I felt an electric shock go through my body and I saw that we have the same eyes. It was powerful. I am sad I never got to meet him and I am angry that mom died long before I knew about any of this. My new cousins are fun women and I hope to get to know them more in the coming year. I won't tell anyone in my family until my dad passes away. They divorced for a reason but there is no good that can come of him or anyone else knowing.

The most significant experience I've had in the past year is finding a brand new medicine that has improved my overall health. I'm very grateful for this drug and look forward to continuing to get better and better.

I originally didn't put this because it seems like Trump winning the 2024 election was years and years ago, but it actually was not. The world has become a much worse place in 5785 and I find it hard to be hopeful as we look toward 5786.

I just didn't quite believe that 78 million Americans could possibly be selfish and shortsighted enough to put Republicans in a position to damage my country in all the ways they said they would. I don't yet know how the rest of my life is going to be occupied by the harm reduction I am required by my own ethics to carry out for people I don't even know, or how my child's trauma will shape the rest of her life, but I can't seem to forgive the people who did this to us because they have no regrets.

I was badly injured in a car accident last October, requiring several week in the hospital and several months recuperation. It was a wake-up call, causing me to seriously reflect on a number of things. I was very fortunate, and grateful, that I was not more seriously injured, or even killed. It was the first time in my 71 years of life that I’d ever been in an accident like that, and it was a major shock. Nothing was the same afterwards.

A significant experience from the past year was freezing my eggs. I was relieved when it was done and I feel grateful to have been able to do it as a financial privilege and not something many women get to choose to do. Also to those who went before me and normalised talking about it, who made me feel brave enough to do it. For the first time it made me confront the idea of being a mother and having a child and I had this strange realisation that my DNA would be in these eggs, very bizarre!

In July of 2025 my partner and I broke up. I am learning that this is the for the better and I feel that a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. I never felt fully happy and now I feel free and relieved that I do not need to feel so badly about myself anymore. I always felt as if I could never do anything the correct way around him.

I can’t think of something significant that happened directly to me - but the state of the world feels like a significant event. I never know how much to think about it when it’s so frustrating.

I became engaged. It made me think a lot more about the sort of man I want to be, how I interact with my own issues, and how to support and love the one girl I do love. It made me grow up.

The re-election of Donald Trump to the presidency and the ongoing, daily onslaught of attacks on the people of this country and the democratic principles this country was founded on have been devastating. It's heartbreaking to see people in leadership roles choose to lead with hate and vitriol and cause real, deep harm to the people in this country without any regard. At the same time, there are a lot of people mobilizing in opposition to current administration. It's a really scary time but we have to choose a version of hope that includes taking action to try to shift the direction towards the world we want to see.

April Ireland tour with Jack and Dean was life-changing in ways most people in my life can't understand. What it was like to play with that level of musician blew me away. And weird feelings I've never felt.

I gain security through Dan working in my life. He brought me Linden Womack to be my wetted partner. And that day I’ve never felt more secure in my role as God‘s man. It provided so much security that I am emotionally and never had before. It was basically like provided the best gift in the world that I am tasked with serving, loving caring for. It’s been like a miracle in my life and improved a lot of my relationships and motivation and my drive to do my best. Most recently the only thing next to it, that’s as significant is the death of my father. That also provided a different level of security in other ways that’s providing peace and prosperity for the future. But it also requires me to depend moron, my heavenly father and a and allows me the opportunity to throw into the man I’m supposed to be for the rest of my life

A major experience was the election of Trump. The subsequent decimation of rights, equity, humanity and basic human decency in this country has been appalling and frightening. I also feel extremely grateful to live in New York City. I am so proud of this city and the people who live here. We are resilient and we will continue to fight for all of our belonging and inclusion.

Moving from my beloved home in Orlando to Asheville NC. Although it was a difficult and stressful time, I’m so grateful that we made the move. Although I miss family and friends, especially our three little great-nieces, I feel as though I’m living life rather than coasting through it.

My dad died this summer. It was so hard and continues to be hard. I am grateful that I could be with him and make him comfortable (putting the cold cloth on his head that he said made him purr with happiness). I am grateful that he could tell me that he loved me and my brothers and was so proud of us all. I will miss him so much. Cancer sucks. The doctors tried so hard. He was a great dad and I will continue to love him and remember him.

Everything about raising a child. We made it to 1 year! Our beautiful amazing incredible baby boy just turned ONE and we had the most special intimate birthday party to commemorate his first year of life. Everything before Graham seems like it was a million years ago and i've never felt like my life had more meaning than it does now that I'm a mom. We are beyond blessed and I feel grateful every single day. He bring so much joy and love to our lives. Everything else feels trivial.

There's only one answer that comes to mind this year, and of course, it's the 2nd election of Trump. I almost didn't want to look at my answers from last year, because I didn't want to think about how much our country has changed for the worse in just one year. I think the enormity of all we've lost is too big to even process. And yet, I have to keep going on, because I have a four-year-old, and he doesn't get another childhood in less interesting times. Three was a rough year for him in many ways, for all of us (whoever invented the phrase "terrible twos" had clearly never met a three-year-old, lol) and sometimes I wondered if the stress of the world, all the worries that we adults were trying to spare him from, weren't still affecting him somehow. His teacher at the Waldorf preschool he went to last year said to me, "You have to raise your children to believe that the world is good. That's what gives them the calm confident foundation to do real good in the world when they grow up." And I'm really trying to do that. But it's hard, because, for the first time in my own life, I no longer believe this to be true.

After having surgery to address a hiatal hernia and GERD on October 30, I lost over 50 pounds. I have never been able to maintain a loss, but I also have never felt better and want to stay at this weight. I currently weigh between 125 and 127 pounds. I love how confident I feel and how much I love my life right now.

I finally was able to travel to Japan. I was so inspired.

Turning 40! The run-up to 40 felt disempowering, in the way that aging is meant to feel in our culture. But once I turned 40, it felt like sweet release. I was joining so many people I loved in their 40s. Sarah Lynn said it's like the eye of Sauron is no longer on you. No need to be young and beautiful. Allowed to be rooted and authentic and powerful. Ezra also arranged for postcards to be sent to me from folks all over our adult lives and I WEPT. 70+ postcards. I truly felt blanketed in love.

The election. It has made me very bitter. I do not like the person who I am when I think about this government. I have never in my life felt like I wanted people to be dead as much as I do when I think about these jerks. I feel like I live in two worlds one where I plan and settle into my day-to-day and the other where I'm wondering when I'm going to have to get us the hell out of Dodge. I don't understand the Supreme Court's capitulation to this orange monster. I'm really worried about the election in 2026 whether we will have a free and fair election and what is going to happen to me and my family.

My grandmother turned 100 which is amazing. But she’s unable to look after herself now and lives in a care home. The decline is very noticeable, and unavoidable, and I can’t help but feel sad that had she not fallen she may have gone on a bit longer at home. I treasure the time we still have with her as she holds the family together, and I’ll miss her dearly the day when she’s no longer around. It also pulls our own mortality and frailness into sharp relief. So much of what I have feels like it could be shattered at any day so it’s a strange state to balance that fear of loss tomorrow with the gratitude of having today.

We got a puppy. You know how they say 'I got a second dog for my dog'? That's what we did. A lot of people say: Don't do it! - But we did, and oh my, I am so glad we did - for him. Our first dog is so much calmer and happier now than he was before. Granted it was a bit of an adjustment for him - from being our number one prince to sharing love with a crazy little creature... But once he settled,.. He loves her to bits, they play continuously, he bathes her, will sleep next to her, share food and snacks... It's adorable. And at the same time I have regretted it. I forgot HOW HARD puppyhood is. Howm uch time it devours. How little time for self or goals you have, how sleep deprived you are... Things are finally starting to settle now she's almost 6 months and now the teenage years are ahead of us. So I love and hate it at the same time. But I love the little creature, even when she's quite the fusspot. And seeing both of them happy, and wiggling their little butts when we get home is worth it. They give so much love. Badger is now nearly 3 (5th of November 2022) and Weasel is about 6 months (14th of April 2025)

A significant one would be regarding my career, trying to get on a path that i felt would guarantee a mentor and give me further space to learn (id studios etc) and failing. Right now i understand i have to navigate my path myself and it actually catapults me to the goal i desire for myself. I can manage myself, i can learn, i can connect with people, i dont need a teacher or a mentor at this point.

going from unemployed to employed was quite a whirlwind! Soon I will be going on my first trip to europe, and basically solo...

The election and installation of Donald J Trump. I am stressed and depressed at the state of the American body politic.

My daughter moved from the state she was born in and lived all her live to another, more progressive and accepting state. It was difficult for me to see my baby leave all she had ever known. I was and am also proud of her for doing what she had been talking about. I am relieved she no longer lives in a state that wants to erase her identity and had been making her feel in fear for her life and well-being. I miss her greatly while hoping she is now able to focus on achieving her hopes and dreams.

A significant experience is that I was diagnosed with breast cancer after a routine mammogram in early May had a lumpectomy in July, just finished 15 sessions of rations and begin taking medicine today (for the next 5 years) that will hopefully keep me cancer free. My gratitude for modern medicine and that I escaped a much worse diagnosis is immense. I am so lucky.

I joined the usher team of att PAC center. I am grateful. It has inspired me. For a few hours I get to welcome patrons, help them find their seats, and be a part of a group that is passionate about live performances.

In the last year my daughter and granddaughter became estranged. It has caused me to look inside of myself to identify how I may have contributed to this rift between them. There are long standing hurts between them and it seems between me and my daughter. I think of it as they are beefing with each other, my daughter is kind of beefing with me, my granddaughter and I are not beefing; and I am not beefing with my daughter. It is challenging. I feel certain that they will reconcile. And I've decided to let them work it out in their own time.

Donald Trump was elected President and everything seems different. It hard to believe that half the country thinks differently than I do.

I participated in a 'Get out the vote' effort in Reno, Nevada. This experience gave me hope for the future. Just a week later, my hopes were dashed. I went from inspiration and possibility to anger, frustration and deep disappointment.

I got into DANCE! I am a dancer!!!! What??!? Can you believe that? Excuse me what?!!! The experience has absolutely transformed my life and my experience with myself. I am becoming a more confident, embodied, electric, unstoppable version of me. I am so obsessed with this journey and I am falling more and more in love with myself every day. I am exactly where I need to be.

Trump's term has been terrifying. I feel a lot of hopelessness and fear. I've been trying to lean into being an active participant instead of a passive, fearful individual. One of the most important things I've done this year is organizing a Know Your Rights seminar at my son's school. Knowing that I could make even a small difference was incredibly empowering and a huge relief. I am hopeful that I can be of assistance in organizing more. I also feel hopeful that if I'm faced with protecting immigrants myself, that I'll be strong and capable in that department as well.

I changed jobs, which was full of stress and anger and also full of great joy and hope! I am happy and hopeful for my future here.

I went to Morocco for a year (I worked so hard to get into the program), and I came back after 10 weeks. It was (is) hard. I miss my friends. I'm struggling to keep going with my life. I'm glad I'm not sick anymore if for no other reason than the Moroccan hospital and medical system have led to a recently developed doctor and needle fear. I'm trying to look on the bright side, and some days are better than others. I'm grateful for my job at the bakery. I'm trying to work on masters/scholarship apps. I'm trying view it as an opportunity to connect back with myself. I'm trying not to view it as having wasted college on a language I don't speak as well as I should. Idk. I'm bitter, but I'm trying.

I'm still looking for a new job, but might end up in the Sales group - of all the crazy things! Yuri broke off our engagement when I go home from the January spinrt, and after a couple weeks of mourning I settled back into being single. I've been happier than ever ever since. My stained glass is selling, and the kids are at such an exciting time in their lives, and - aside from job and financial stress - I could not be happier than I am right now.

My younger daughter Rachel got married. I was delighted, as I truly love her wife Arwa. It was amazing to see and feel the joy at their wedding celebration. I am grateful that Rachel has found such a loving and kind partner. I am grateful to see the happiness in their shared life. I am inspired by their loving and generous relationship.

Praise Jesus, I MARRIED THE GIRL! We got ENGAGED we bought a HOUSE we got MARRIED We went on a HONEYMOON(!) in MEXICO (!) and it's great. Our home is amazing and she cooked dinner for me tonight and we waited 2 years to do all the physical stuff and now we're married and it's been amazing. I am GRATEFUL. Lord, you are so GOOD!!

I put myself first in a substantial way with both my parents. First, with my mum, I asked to remove herself from the deed of my home. Second, with my dad, I took distance from him in support of my younger self who was abused by him. My mum put up mean resistance even though she was in the wrong and had offered previously to do so. I initially felt infuriated and then wise to her ways, and figured out how to let this play out. In the end, she did it. It was hard because a beautiful moment of accomplishment and individuation came through unnecessary strife and a sense of a permanent break. With my dad, it was a long time coming. But he called a few more times. I felt guilty and relieved that I was doing this. I hated that I had both those feelings at the same time. There have been consequences to this distance within the rest of my family. I feel the security under my feet shaking - like I am a little girl and that I am alone. I do recognize from time to time that I have Patrick, Matt, Zee, Chris, Sheryl, Tammy, Nadine, Marnie.

Going to Israel last year with Mom was a significant experience. It was inspiring, confusing, meaningful, and hopeful. I am extremely grateful that we were able to attend the trip and see first hand how the country is doing. I hadn't been there in over 20 years and it rekindled my passion for Israel and made it stronger.

Wow there are so many places my mind goes with this question. The past year as a whole has been remarkably significant as I have traversed the world of being out of college and entering/creating my full life as a young twenties person living in Portland. Overarchingly, and for most micro things also, I am incredibly grateful for the experiences I've had this past year. From learning so much working for Tivnu and all the cool/unique/fun opportunities and trips that has opened up for me to ALL my travels this summer holy moly, I have experienced a lot. I am so inspired and in awe of this massive country we live in. The road trip with Serena really opened my eyes up to so many more scenes of what these United States hold. Another significant experience, I'd say, was my experience of learning guitar. It was so good for me to have an active learning outlet as I transitioned to life outside of classrooms and made me feel so much excitement and notable progress. And in these past few months I really feel like I've been appreciating and noticing the fruits of all the hours I have spent, and continue to spend, practicing playing. It's really incredible how much can happen and change in a year.

I was laid off from cascades in June 2024 and I left my previous employer of 18 years for this job. I was very scared and stressed for myself and my family my wife support and my family’s encouragement. I actually found a better job and improved. I could do anything. I put my mind too. New job allowed me to work from home a few hours and a higher salary and no bullshit.

In December 2024, I moved from the Cape George Colony house to Amy and Greg's little house on 30th Street in the Dundee Hill neighborhood, closer to town. The big house sold in January, culminating a year and a half of clearing, sorting, selling Joe's life and preparing the house for the listing. I worked so hard towards this. Moving was a welcome change from the isolation of Cape George and I am grateful and rather amazed, really, at how it all worked out. Although the transition itself was an adjustment, overall the change just sort of flowed, as if this was meant to be, just like this.

I still have my job - going on two years now. Other than that, my life has been pretty boring, for which I’m grateful.

I fell and got a concussion. I didn't take work off when it happened. I should have. It made me aware of how precious my body is. How sensitive and finely tuned. How it deserves more attention and respect than I give it. It made me more present.

Exactly one year ago from tomorrow, on 10/02/2024, we adopted Lola. This was particularly meaningful due to the traumatic way that I lost Bazzy, just 12 months after adopting her, during a year of isolation and suffocating loneliness in the 2020 pandemic. I wasn't sure if I would ever be ready to adopt another dog, and during the last year I've had to navigate through several emotional flashbacks while caring for Lola (taking her to the vet for giarddhia and vaccine shots, seeing her play with other dogs at the park...) being reminded of Bazzy at each milestone, being reminded of how much joy Bazzy brought to my life, and the immense amount of simultaneous gratitude and grief that I feel experiencing such wonderful moments with Lola, but didn't get to have with Bazzy. I love being a dog-owner so much and can't imagine not having Lola in my life, tending to her daily needs and receiving so much love and joy in return from her. I look forward to the upcoming year of being her dog-parent and am hopeful that she'll have a clean bill of health.

Husband diagnosed with stage 4 gastric adenocarcinoma. I’m scared, worried, nervous, heart broken

El año pasado, 2024, comenzó fuerte con el evento de mi mamá. Mi vida cambió. En un sentido ha sido difícil y en otro ha sido un alivio. Yo también necesitaba ser rescatada. Pedía lograr salir de casa, la ansiedad se volvió a apoderar de mí y hasta me enfermé por varios días de las vías respiratorias. No sé que virus o bacteria fue. Mi mamá necesitaba ayuda. Ya no podía estar sola. Eso fue algo difícil de asumir. Ir al hospital, descubrir que mi mamá está perdiendo la razón… y la vida, muy despacito. Esto es una suerte de tortura para ella (o yo lo veo así). Agradecida estoy porque lo que me parecía imposible de lograr (llevar a mi mamá al médico), se logró. Y no soy sólo yo cuidando a mi mamá, eso está muy bien. Así que ahora vivo unos días en casa de mi mamá y otro días en mi casa. Intento ahorrar dinero aunque me gasto algo en gasolina. ¿Resentida? Sí, también. Pienso en la de veces que mi mamá no estuvo para mí. Me ha costado aproximarme a ella de manera amorosa. Algo, sin embargo, se ha ido ablandando en mí. 2024, una revolución. No sé si tenga un sentido futuro. Ahora que lo escribo, creo que su sentido se ha ido explicitando todo este tiempo.

This year was fairly tame in terms of big events. I think getting through more of my schooling is a big one, especially finishing up four courses in basically the span of a month on my own. It was very stressful but the relief afterwards was incredible. Another big experience was helping my fiancee get her driver's license. This was a big experience for the both of us and took a lot of mental fortitude. I think I realized that patience isn't always a virtue that I have and sometimes I can let frustration get the better of me. I even leaned on both my parents when I was angry and upset which I don't really ever do. But watching her cross the finish line in the end, in the way that she did, was so immensely gratifying that it made all those tense moments worth it in the end.

I started a GLP1 and the results are impressive! After many years of being/feeling hungry all the time… I don’t feel hungry. This is a welcomed change. I continue to be very busy with community volunteering and feel good about it. We are traveling and enjoying life. Doing things we could do not while working.

I have been getting cortisone injections in my left hip to treat trochanteric bursitis. After many of these injections I was still experiencing the same pain and so I continued to get the injections hoping that they would one day work. As they weren't working my physiatrist suggested I get my tendons debrided. I found out later when I got the report. that when the Dr used x-ray to begin the procedure, there was no need to debride the Gluteus Medius. The tendon had separated from the bone and retracted. The Gluteus Minimus had a tear yet was still attached. I don't remember what test discovered that, in the words of my family doctor, both tendons had now 'melted off' the bone. There was some 'granular material left.' I immediately barked 'cortisone!' to which he lowered his hear and quietly said, 'cortisone.' Apparently here in Alberta at least hip surgery is elective unless it is life threatening or due to injury. I must wait 12-18 months just to see a surgeon. I have no idea how long I must wait after that visit for a surgery date. And what will be left for them to work with to fix this. This is affecting my body and my life dramatically. I am especially upset, furious at first, that not one doctor, technician or any other medical professional had ever warned me about the side effect of the cortisone treatment that I am experiencing. I found out that in my province doctors are legally bound to tell patients about the good and the side effects of every medication they prescribe. I will look into what I can do legally and what I can do to publicly tell my story so others will be warned.

Life itself feels like a significant experience this year. Remission (round 2) unlocked an aliveness in me. A desperation to live and embrace each moment with fierce presence. A sharp reverberation that time is never a given. That this is it. I'm more deliberate. More grateful. More grounded. 'How are you?' People ask. 'Here and healthy, and that's all that matters', I respond. I look at my friends differently. Hold the ones who stepped up and leaned in through the hard times closer. The ones that didn't, I hold lightly, I won't bend to meet them in the ways I once would. Meanwhile, as the flame of antisemitism has raised the temperature this year, I find myself retreating inwards. Craving my people, my community. Shifting plans for T's start in school next year based on this. I'm more drawn to my bubble, the comfort of others who 'get it'. It feels safer, easier, to turn inwards. I don't have energy to go into battle, to be the spokesperson or the advocate. Perhaps this last year has made me more selfish. Or perhaps it's all just brought clarity to who I am, and who my people are.

This is the year I was laid off, and I was shocked, relieved, and resentful at the time. Now, I'm just grateful, because I wasn't going to take the risk of leaving a steady job with a great paycheck to try something different, especially the complete unknown of starting my own business. I thought about starting my own thing for so long, but STILL wasn't going to make the leap or take the risk. So it took getting laid off by a new manager that I didn't know, but knew enough to know I didn't want to work for, to allow me the opportunity to do what I've wanted to do, without looking at it as a risk. Now 10 months later, I am so incredibly grateful I losy my job, because it allowed me the freedom to chart my own professional course, and I feel more successful, accomplished, energized, and inspired than ever.

I finally learned how to crochet after 40 years and after my aunt Belle told me I never could because I didn't have the patience for it because I'm an Aries. She was an astrologer and passed away in her late 80's in the 90's. Persistance paid off but it took 40 years.

Being made redundant in June this year was pretty significant. It took me by surprise, and the fact that it did is kind of shocking. It really knocked my self-esteem, self-worth and also gave me the kick I needed to move industries and to make my professional goals clearer to me. I think I am making the right moves to a better future career wise.

I finally got disability, after over a year of having to rely on others to help me through with my day-to-day care. It impacted my health, both physical and mental. I was relieved, but I still am anxious as the government has just shut down. Being sick has become a full time job.

In the past year, the US has succumbed to fascism and Chicago is currently being targeted for intensive deportations as well as ICE militias showing force and intimidating citizens. People I know are living in fear. I am toggling between despair and detachment. The latter for my own sanity; the former, when I try to help but mainly feel helpless.

My dad died a month ago. I feel lost. My grief has swamped me and I am surprised. I thought being estranged would lessen the loss. The child in me is so sad my dad is gone. The adult in me is so mad I didn’t have a warm and loving dad even though that’s how the world saw him. I’m paralyzed by the unfairness of it all. I’m so stuck.

I don't think I can come up with anything more significant than our experience with infertility this year. Going from trying to get pregnant spontaneously, to realize that I wasn't ovulating regularly, to getting diagnosed with PCOS and trying to adapt to that. We spent months timing intercourse, I tracked my temperature every day, I lived day by day on multiple period tracking and cycle analyzing apps, I took medications to induce ovulation (which worked!) but month after month we came up short. We closed out 5785 in the midst of our first round of IVF. My egg retrieval fell on the 25th of Elul, and Rosh Hashanah was Days 5 and 6 of our embryos culturing and becoming the four blastocysts that we now have frozen. I don't know if I can say right now that I am grateful for this experience. It has definitely been trying. I have confronted some difficult medical issues and my psychological issues around them. I have also sought eating disorder treatment to manage an already broken relationship with my body that only got worse with the frustration and disappointment of infertility. I am still struggling with accepting that, Gd willing if we do become pregnant, it will have been through IVF, an entire medical culture that I find can be antithetical to a lot of my own personal values. But I am grateful to have changed jobs at the beginning of 2025 that resulted in having a health insurance plan that covers infertility diagnosis and treatment, including IVF, and this is our best shot. So we are taking it.

Muchos: El encuentro cercano con la muerte por la picadura del alacrán en Troncones. La enfermedad y muerte de Tsina. Mis retos de salus (el cuadro de espalda, vejiga, higado, pierna, prostata etc). Me enfocaré en lo ultimo: Me ha afectado mucho, me he sentido sin energia y desmotibado. No me siento como yo mismo cuando tengo los sintomas, es desesperante y desesperanzante y no quiero que mi vida sea así. me siento atorado porque ha pasado mucho tiempo, entre periodos buenos y muy malos y quiero encontrar la solución. Se que tiene que ver también con mis temas existenciales y emocionales, pero no logro moverme de lugar.

Last year at the High Holidays it was only about a month after my mom died at age 91. I had just begun to feel the deep grief from that loss when my partner was diagnosed with pancreas cancer. From November through July he had 12 rounds of chemo and one very complex surgery. I was deeply worried and concerned, and overall, this was an incredibly stressful experience that tested us both. It was physically and emotionally grueling, and we are still recovering from this. And yet, I find myself amazing grateful and inspired. Inspired by the grace in which he handled this challenge. Inspired by the healthcare professionals who fight this insidious disease day in and day out. We were both amazingly grateful that we live so close to Boston where we have the best cancer care in the country, if not the world. Hugely grateful that there is currently no evidence of disease. And I am grateful and inspired by the fact that in the wake of this cancer dx and treatment, our family, friends, co-workers, and temple community rallied around us, bringing food, gift cards, text messages, phone calls, and love. Once that experience was over, all my grief about mom hit me like a ton of bricks. I'm still working through that and miss her every day. But my mom's death and my partner's cancer experience reminded me not to take this time on earth for granted. I am inspired to make time to make art like my mom. I am inspired to dance with my adult daughter with IDD. I am inspired to live in the present every day, to shower the people I love with love, to spend time in nature, to listen to music, to find joy in the world. Surprisingly, I am happier today than I was last year.

I moved out of my family home to an apartment with my partner. I am grateful for his willingness to accept me into his home and to his parents for providing me with a car so I could start my first full-time position. I wish I could have done everything in a way that was less harmful to my family, but it was a difficult decision either way.

consistent job, friends & support in my life for me to exceed. i'm so grateful for getting through what felt like a tough time in my life.

Being away from home for 15 weeks, most being in Dearborn with our son, DIL, and 2 year old granddaughter being of service to them.

The birth of my son was easily the most significant experience of the past year, and of my life. It was transformative in so many ways, not just in that I became a mother, but also in the way that I interpret and interact with the world. While the experience had its share of traumatic elements, I am so grateful and proud to have participated in the act of creation. The world has grown darker, but his light gives me hope for a better future.

I lost my job in October of last year. While it was painful at the time and I still feel resentment over how and why it happened, it ultimately opened the door for a year of incredible growth, healing and realignment. I am resentful that my financials took a hit - I've had to take $25k from my retirement funds - and I regret that my parents have also had to support me, but I'm trying to live in the gratitude for all the support I have right now. Finances aside, I am so incredibly grateful that I am no longer working on a toxic team and in an environment that was unable/unwilling to see the full extent of my talents. I spent nearly three years trying to bring meaning to my experience at Pinterest, but it was like there was an iron door there I could not break through. And the majority of my coworkers occupied a space just beyond that door. It was disorienting, exhausting and ultimately made me an angry, stressed person and I am SO GLAD not to be that person anymore. I've been able to show up more fully for friends and family this last year; I've centered enough to see how deeply misaligned I truly was in that space; I've realized that I don't even want to play a game that I was trying desperately to win. DON'T EVEN WANT TO PLAY. I remember feeling like I was so far from myself; I remember working in therapy with Cara to reclaim myself. I can honestly say, nearly a year into unemployment, that I've reconnected with myself and I can confirm it feels really damn good.

Breaking up with my boyfriends was one of the most difficult things I had to do. I realized his version of what family meant and what I wanted family to mean wasn’t the same. After giving so much of my time, emotions and energy it is one of the most difficult things to have done. I realized his mother and his family would always come first and that was difficult to comprehend and accept. I realized that you can love a person but they might not be able to love you in a way you would like. And when it becomes a case of your needs aren’t being met you have to walk away. In someways I feel resentful and in other ways relieved I don’t have to continually put up with stone walling and not been shown off

An unexpected residence move. My former landlady decided to sell the condo I was living in. I was given sixty days. I found my new rental condo and was moving in within 30 days... Beautiful new area a bit further north in Marin but I injured myself during the move and there is so very much unpacked "stuff" that I can only fit one car in my garage. Many things to like but I feel a bit more isolated. And will be relieved when I retire next year and will have time to sort and shed stuff.

My children setting very firm boundaries with me and not calling/accepting calls from me as often. I really felt hurt and resentful at first, but I am beginning to see that they just want me to see them as adults.

Trump went after the artists— the late night hosts. Now I’m really scared. This all became very real to me.

Having heart failure, being hospitalised for it, and having a diagnosis of a life-limiting heart condition that may be genetic and affect my child. It made me realise that I don't fear dying, but I don't want to die. When I was younger, I wanted to commit suicide. Now when that choice was taken away and it was my body that was dying, I wanted nothing more than to live. I am grateful for what feels like a second chance at life. It's not worth spending energy on being resentful. It's inspired me to try and focus my career on a way I can help manage and mitigate my condition, scratching an itch I had to do something worthwhile that could last well beyond my time on earth.

I just got my first job in 2+ years with a non-profit that does work I care about. Because its a seasonal part-time job; and yes it has room for promotion, and I also just need a job for money and mental health, and its meaningful work even if its not a full-time gig, and 1 job can help me with experience/ connections for the next. But I was happier and felt more fulfilled last week when I succesfully baked the crackle/brownie pie I've been wanting to recreate from my college cafeteria and it tasted really good. And the lack of relief and joy for getting a job, something I've been trying to do unsuccesfully for 2+ years, made me strongly resentful of myself

October 2024 was a really wild ride. I went to Spain in mid-September until early October. The first few days, I was traveling solo, and then met up with a tour group to see Northern Spain. About 10 days into the trip, Hurricane Helene hit the Carolinas, and friends sent me photos of the devastation in my small SC town, which was nowhere near as bad as that in the mountains of NC, where my best friend lives. I couldn't contact her until after I got home. That cast a bit of a strain over the last week or so of my trip, but I stayed in Spain because I couldn't do anything at home anyway, with no power, internet, or cell service. Came home and services were restored in a few days, and I managed to get the giant pecan tree that fell and miss my house by about 3 inches cut up and hauled away. Then, a couple of weeks later, my daughter and I flew up to Pittsburgh for my mother's 90th birthday. I had been receiving calls at least weekly from the facility where she lives telling me that she had fallen, and then she began to demonstrate noticeable confusion and disconnection from our shared reality. By the time M and I got there, my mother was in the hospital and utterly confused. It was an ordeal. I am the only person in the family who is able to take care of things, and I was completely at a loss, never having really prepared for this kind of thing. She ended up more or less recovering, and now uses a wheelchair, so she doesn't fall anymore, but she has become increasingly untethered, and obsesses about a few things that are out of the realm of possibility, and her memory lasts about an hour, if that. She is also really pretty unpleasant most of the time, and yells at me, which is nothing new, but I am almost 68, take care of all her business, take care of my mentally ill brother from long distance, and am trying to make sure my daughter, in her 20s, has what she needs. I live alone with four cats. So, I have basically decided to distance myself from my mother as possible. I generally go up every 2-3 months, but am going to go less often. I am really hoping for the inevitable to be sooner rather than later, though women in her family tend to live well into their 90s. She did smoke for many years, and drank until well into her 80s. Old age sure as hell hasn't made her nicer. So, yeah. I guess I'm feeling a bit resentful toward my mother, though that is a lifelong feeling. I really need to learn to do what makes sense for me, and let her just do her thing in the assisted living facility. I just hope they don't decide to kick her out. I guess so long as I'm paying, it's going to be OK>

Answering this question was harder this year then any year before I struggled being honest about getting my divorce. I'm grateful my sister encouraged me to treat my depression. I was trying hard on my own and she told me I had to do tms again no matter what anyone else said. It did lift the suicidal thoughts away and with it, the fog of my life. I realized big changes needed to be made. My spouse did not want to make changes. I'm resentful and angry he chose gambling over me. I'm grateful for my family and friends. I'm inspired to make beautiful life decisions about who I'm meant to be in the future. It feels like I'm insane and angry to be dealing with it.

Gosh, everything I knew and was familiar changed about my life last year- I applied to school, started a new job, moved in with Hawk, and now I'm about to start at Cambridge. I learned a lot about myself and who I am outside of school- how to compartmentalize, how much alone time I need and the importance of community when its not right in front of me. Moving in with Hawk I think proved to be very wonderful and beautiful. We had so many shared moments and having someone to come home to was so special. We took on a lot of things together and confronted a lot of communication challenges but I think have something very sturdy to show for the work we did. Did not like living with Gabby and wouldn't do that arrangement again but would like with Hawk again.

I made the decision to make Aliya, and to live in assisted living at Protea Cfar - on the outskirts of Moshav Bnei Dror. I feel excited, grateful for the opportunity, and looking forward to being where I belong! I also look forward to seeing more of my family, who are more likely to spend time in Israel, rather than Australia.

I suppose the big thing this year - if I'm being honest - was work. Promotion has been thrilling, challenging, interesting, dull, painful, wonderful all at once. Bonkers that selling pots has become my whole personality and I that i'm writing this erev YK having not left the office before 10 all week in preparation and barely having eaten. The travel is more glamorous than I expected and the negotiating terms more painful - though I'm learning to be brutal. Would it be better if this year had been more about Me and My Friends or Being Young or whatever? Maybe but this is pretty kick-ass too.

I got married! Also death and destruction. Love through it all, love over everything.

My grandma's passing I'm relieved she's not suffering anymore. However, I'm worried about my mom's depression triggered by the event Moving to NYC, I'm a little regretful because Aly misses Texas and I hate the weather and culture.

I got a new job! Honestly it’s the best job I’ve ever had and it’s really changed how I look at my value as a person and a professional. I feel more aligned with my values because of the work that I do and there’s less of a friction in my personal life as a result. Being at peace with my work life is its own reward!

Antarctica! Heard about it and applied in short order, some time around Jan/Feb, and has occupied so much of my year. Background checks, medical tests, back and forth bureaucracy for months. And plenty of back-and-forth emotions on whether or not I was being crazy for going, for leaving such a good job and city and lifestyle. But - good news, since I'm leaving in a week - I'm excited. I don't think it's that I crave newness necessarily, but I do crave these sporadic breaks-from-normal-life to help me put my wants goals etc into perspective. Jumping through all the hoops along the way I think has helped me become better at managing life's little logistics and not getting bogged down by objectively small obstacles. I'm excited to see what it's like out there. I'm hoping to meet some really interesting people. I'm hoping to learn some new things - maybe radio, maybe carpentry, maybe quilting, maybe cross country skiing. I plan to get a lot of writing done. Spend time in a blessedly pre-internet world and think about what to do with it. Make plans for my return.

So much has happened this year. Trump re-elected. The fires that ravaged LA. E being diagnosed with leukemia. It feels like such a dark time all around. I think this year has caused me to become more resolute in my determination to dig in and support however and wherever I can. I am inspired by E and his unending positivity. I'm exhausted but also determined to dig in and make the most of every day.

We bought an apartment! This was a major milestone for us because it means we're really serious about staying in Barcelona, this was a point of no return essentially. When we moved 3 years ago the thought was to check it out and see where life took us, but being here has been great for all of us, especially Oren. The political situation of the US devolving into fascism really cemented the decision for me. I want to give Oren the best life, and that life is not in the US. I'm so grateful that we have the opportunity to live here with such a high quality of life and on only one salary. I'm grateful to my parents and Nana and Opa who saved and generously let us take a loan from them to help with the down payment. And I'm overall happy that we have built such a nice life here and now have our own home.

Divorce, Love, Pregnancy -- oh my! It's been a whirlwind year, and with life rushing past me more quickly than I can hold on to. It's been a great experience in accepting whatever is right in front of me, and of being able to let go and just be present. I want to keep that sense of being with me always.

October 7th. I always thought this would be the one year anniversary of the Israel-Gaza war. Instead, it was the day of my dad's funeral. My dad died on Rosh Hashanah last year. 7:30pm. Just as the holiday started. In Judaism, if someone dies on a high holiday, they are considered to be a tzadik. He was. I always dreaded thinking about funerals especially as my parents got older and especially after my dad's stroke. But, here we were, October 7, 2024. My dad's funeral. My emotions were all over the place on the 7th. I wasn't sure what to say during my eulogy. I wasn't sure if I'd keep it together. I wasn't sure who would come. I wasn't sure how my mom would handle everything. In general, it went better than I anticipated. It was a beautiful day. Sunny, no clouds. We picked a nice spot for the plot under a tree with shade, if a "nice spot" in a cemetery is truly a thing. There were about 90 people at the funeral. Lifelong friends, Israel community, American Jewish community, my dad's closest work friends and colleagues, and a few people who showed up who I hadn't seen in over 20 years. That was moving. Rabbi, although he didn't know any of us, other than Danny, did a very nice job. He listened to our stories about my dad and really put together a moving eulogy that captured the essence of my dad's spirit and our relationship with him. The finality of seeing the casket in front of the crowd and ultimately lowered was and is difficult. Was I really never going to see my dad again? Never going to hold his hand again? Never going bring Noa over to see him. Never going to do another drive around the city with him? Never going to have him listen to my Zooms and give me spot on critiques? Never going to hear him tell me how proud he was of me and that he loved me? That part sucks. Really, really sucks. Am I grateful? Yes, grateful that I had him as my dad. Grateful that we got 7 more years after his stroke. Grateful that I developed a different in kind relationship with him after his stroke. Grateful that he knew Ken and Noa. Grateful that he was at our wedding and loved every moment of it. Am I resentful? Yes, resentful that he had a stroke. Resentful that most people don't know how to act around people who have had life altering life events. Yes, his speech was slurred. Yes, he had facial droop and needed to be in a wheelchair. But the people who took the time to be with him post stroke knew that he was still of sound mind, very smart, great sense of humor, and still focused on only the things that mattered most to him. Am I relieved? I'm relieved that his death was peaceful. Many times you hear family members say "I'm glad he's no longer in pain" after a death. I'm relieved that although the stroke was life altering, the amount of pain that he endured after the stroke was minimal. Emotionally, he was so strong and made the decision to focus only on his abilities, not what the stroke took away. Physically, he went to the gym 4-5 times a week. He pushed himself hard. But that made him stronger and gave him the extra years. Am I inspired? Every single day. He's on my mind often. Multiple times a day. 30% of the time it's a sad feeling. 70% of the time, it's a happy memory that pops up or still in awe of what an incredible person he was. And how lucky I was to be his daughter. Oh boy (as my dad would retort, "Oh girl") - this was a long response to the first question. Last year, the new year started with a death. Yesterday, my family went to the cemetery for his unveiling. Seeing his name in the stone is a very strong feeling. Again, feels so final, yet, feels commemorative and his name deserves to be etched in a beautiful piece of black granite.

This year I finally got diagnosed with ADHD. I had to go private and put it on my credit card, but at least I am finally getting support. Which is good, because this is really my last chance at uni now. I nearly didn't get accepted for another repeat of my second year, and if I don't pass this year I won't get any more chances (or funding for that matter). I have another medication review on Wednesday so hopefully can get my meds increased at that appointment. As I'm currently on a low starting dose. I'm very grateful that I've been vindicated, and that all my struggles have a cause. But I'm so angry at the world for not seeing me. For not helping even though I was crying out for it. I tried to get help in so many ways, with so many people. And no one did anything. I'm so bitter and upset and furious that I have wasted 30 years of my life. I should have been diagnosed as a teenager. My life would be so different now. Would I be happy? Would I have friends? A partner? A home? A career? Would I be living abroad like I always wanted? They say better late than never, but there are so many opportunities I will never have now because I've aged out of them. I would have liked the opportunity to go to uni when I was young enough to make friends. Yeah I can (and am!) still here getting my degree, but I don't have flatmates. I don't have a social life. I can't do the typical student life, because I'm too old. At 18 drinking til dawn and stealing stop signs is fun. At 42 it's sad and pathetic. Ultimately I am glad I have this answer, and am now getting support. But I'm still mourning the life I could have had. The life I wanted. And I just don't know how to deal with that.

getting “dumped” by lifelong friend, hurts, has me seeing myself as less than although now that i write those words, I realize shee hadn’t walked in my shoes and doesn’t know my struggles, triumphs, lessons, blessings. I do feel we are still related and our interbring will heal eventually. If not in this life, then beyond. I love her dearly.

I'm so very grateful! First Grandkid born to my favorite (and only!) daughter. It has moved me to tears many many times to witness my baby be a fabulous mommy with her kind, understanding, and patience-filled heart be so tender to all the needs the first 100 days demands and crying. I'm so incredibly grateful and inspired by her and her husband's amazing relationship. And he's a great dad to boot! First Aliyah for the little one, named after my recently deceased father, was the first aliyah to day 1 RH. To New Beginnings for all of us. I'm inspired to be a better mom to my daughter, a better mom-in-law, a better Nana, and a better Wife. A better me who doesn't waste time on phone games (except wordle)

The election (2) of Trump has made so many people, institutions, and ideals at risk. my status as a gov employee, unionist, feminist, parent, citizen, believer of democracy. I never thought i would see this and it is overwhelming and shading all. My daughter faced some anxiety this year, something i'm no stranger to, which made me sad, the state of the world, plus growing into adulthood is hard. AND, she is so beautiful, september days have been so lovely, my meditation practice and teaching is strong. I am a good colleague, friend, wife, mother. I'm returning to reading and writing. Everything is so beautiful and I'm so sad.

We paid off our mortgage. To do so, we needed to push forward income causing a big tax liability. I am relieved at the long term impact on our cash flow but nervous figuring out how to pay our taxes.

Having my hysterectomy this year. It has allowed me to remind myself that I am allowed to advocate for myself when I feel like something isn't right, I should trust my gut and fight for what I know is right. I am super grateful for finally having the surgery because I am not in pain every day anymore. Relieved that is has finally happended resentful that it took so long for someone to believe me.

The assignation of Charlie Kirk has greatly changed my opinion of people. I'm done with evil and will not be engaging in the left and their death cult.

This year, Trump began his second term in office and has spent every day since pushing his agenda of change—whether legally or not. Faced with this onslaught, I can't track every detail without going nuts, but I don't want to tune it out—I want to be engaged. So I have been seeking the *right* level of news to stay informed and be active in my resistance, without becoming overwhelmed as he would like us to be. At the same time, I've focused on spending time doing things I love with the people I love, continuing to have a great life—because that's what makes us happy, and is a minor form of resistance in itself.

My boyfriend of over a year broke it off last fall. I had told him days before I would like to remarry and I want him to be my husband. Looking back I had concerns about the relationship. There was financial chaos on his side and I didn't realize how much a financial drain her was until much later. All in all I am glad the relationship ended but do miss the relationship.

Met someone special to me. I am very grateful about it

I received my green belt with a black stripe in karate!!!! It felt wonderful-such an acocmplishment for someone my age!!! I am very gre\ateful to my Sensei and other supportive senseis!!! Very relieved that I am continually moving up " the ladder".... 3 belts away from BLACK BELT in Shaolin Kempo Karate! I am soooo inspired- since my dance studio closed during Covid.... karate has become my new "dance". psasion!!!!!

A significant experience this year is that I got married. At 46! If someone told this to me just a few years ago, I would have laughed. This is not something I saw that could happen to me, but it did. I am definitely very grateful. I feel I am with a man with a good heart, matching mindset (ok, way more optimistic, though I'm getting there), and has great humor. It also means changing countries and continents, and the stress that comes with immigration. All in all, though, I am looking forward to a new chapter of this life.

We bought a house! More accurately, we're closing in a few days. My husband (that happened last year) is retiring, and while our income will be adequate in most places, it just doesn't cut it in our Beloved Brooklyn, so this is really many significant experiences. We've never owned, which is pretty common in NYC; if you haven't been lucky or had help from family, it's pretty hard to come up with the down payment, let alone mortgage + monthlies in a market that's mostly apartments, and renting, anywhere, seemed perilous. So, the significant things. 1. The decision to buy 2. The decision to leave Brooklyn 3. The decision to move 380 miles away, to Pittsburgh, where we have an adult offspring. Leaving Brooklyn was a hard choice, and I'm filled with longing and pre-nostalgia. The truth is that I'm ready; New York is a hard city, and it demands much just to live here, and not just cost, but Brooklyn is a big part of who I am and my identity. Hard to think of myself anywhere else. And friends! I'm so rich in my friendships, and while I know that any of my close friends would leave if finances or opportunity were issues, and some have, I'll miss my people, which is why it was important that we found a place with enough room for guests. When we started looking to buy, we researched many areas before going to look at houses in Pittsburgh, and while I'd been twice and liked it, my husband had never been at all, so it was a big leap of faith that he would like it. Not only did he love it, but the kid has prepared a soft landing, introducing us to people, and volunteering to do home repair for us. So, with some sadness and much excitement, we're off on a grand adventure!

I tried 3 jobs, and was leaving Truple Zero around this time last year. I was craving good people, and new work outside the home. Now I have been with Bloomy Days for 10 months, and have increased to 3 days. It has helped me feel less alone. Upskill in resin. Tapped into my creativity in the workplace. I am grateful for the income. Received to work alone much less, and to be moving away from working all by myself. Inspired to test cardboard layers and resun

Trump getting reelected was a major shock and very depressing. I feel that the world is moving ever closer to destruction.

My parents my moved into assisted living because my mom has advancing dementia due to Alzheimers. I spent two months living with them, sleeping on their floor just hoping and helping and accompanying them thru the transition. If absolutely felt/feels like the right thing to have done, and I long to do more,.to be more of a presence as they continue to walk into these final stages of life. To ease the fear, to increase comfort and feelings of community and satisfaction and knowing that they have lived full lives and are still full people. I am full of gratitude and a sense of longing. I live on the other side of the world and have 2 young adult children and a husband who also need my love and care. And my work. But again, no regrets. It all feels as it should. Grateful. Feeling blessed.

I had not one, but two, significant experiences happen to me last year. The first was to move house to a beautiful new village. This has completely transformed my life and I am so much happier here. The second was my daughter finally leaving her secondary SEND education. The school has had a change of management in the last three years, and the new team are vile. They have treated me appallingly, deflecting me with gaslighting and manipulation over the quality of their provision. Their behaviour has been a shock as it ran completely contrary to what they used to be like in previous years, and I have been left traumatised. I never want anything to do with them and I am glad my daughter is back home safe. She has been offered a boarding place with a reputable SEND college, and I can’t wait for her to start. This will also be life-changing as it means new opportunities for me and my younger son opening up.

Well, Donald Trump was elected. It has affected the whole world. It has inspired me to be more active - actively hoping - as Joanna Macy would say, who passed away this year. Hoping that we come through these dark days to create a better version of ourselves and our nation. We are living in strange times, with whote Christian Nationalist actuvely destroying the government, and at the same time so much day-to-day normalcy, so far, for most of us.

Got married! Still feels unreal, it was almost perfect in every way. Not sure what to do with my time now!

My brother survived a near death experience and it has completely changed how I do everything. Our family is tighter than ever and I am grateful to know them.

Changing jobs has changed so much. I have more time, less money but I'm so much happier. At times I mildly regret leaving but I know it was meant.

I met my soulmate. It challenged me to be the person I've always wanted to be. I had to learn how to live a life with someone and not just live for me. While my heart was always waiting for her, actually living life with her was a new journey for me. I'm grateful for her patience and love and am inspired by the power of our love.

I got pregnant after nearly two years of trying. It has been exciting, although scary at first. I've never been past the first trimester and I couldn't be more grateful and joyful with this journey into parenthood.

Last year we had Helene. I can see that I didn't answer any of these last year, which makes sense. At this point last year I didn't have any power or cell service. Even when we evacuated briefly to Columbia, it would have been really really low on my priority list. I wouldn't have expected Helene to affect me the way it still does. The one year anniversary stuff these last few days have been more upsetting than I expected. We were lucky. No damage to the house we were living in. Nobody lost their job. The kids were out of school for six weeks. We didn't have water, and then even longer without potable water. Six weeks for that to be restored, too. But I also went to work every day and listened to people's stories about losing everything. And I will never forget that drive through what seemed like a post apocalyptic Asheville. Friends lost their businesses. I was helping a friend clean the mud out of her pet store, and a guy came by looking for treats for his cadaver dogs. It just sticks with you, you know?

I broke my left index finger - it will never be the same, but I can still play clarinet pretty much unimpeded. Guitar - some impairment, but not that troubling as I'm not so much a guitar player any more

I moved my mom into memory care. It was and continues to be one of the worst times in my life. She was my first soul mate, and to watch her anguish (extreme fear, anxiety, confusion) while being able to do nothing about it is slowly tearing me down as a person. I'm trying not to beat my head against the wall of my stepdad (her POA) and her doctor providing insufficient care, but their disregard of her quality of life is excruciating.

My father became very ill last December, hospital acquired Covid. In January I spent 3 weeks at his bedside. He doesn't remember that time but I do, we talked every day and spent more time together than we had since I was a child. I'm grateful for that experience but also still very sad, his body got better but he now seems to have some ongoing cognitive issues and is harder to communicate with him. I've been mourning his absence for a long time.

It just squeaked in, but deciding to move to Bloomington (and then doing it) has been the highlight of the past year. In fact, I was a bit desperate for something big to happen, which is why this move was the right call. I feel relieved, grateful and soothed at a soul level.

Last year I wrote about learning how to be a parent and the "transformation" into motherhood, and this year what comes to mind is that continued transformation. When M turned one last year, I felt like such a different person compared with who I was before his birth and I felt like I had grown so much. And then when he turned two last month, I felt like such a different person still. I really did feel like I had settled further into my new identity as a parent and like I had continued to do more psychological and physical healing in that second year. I am so very grateful for getting to be a mother to M and for all of the ways I have grown through the challenges. I love motherhood even though it has been so hard for me, and I feel that I am a wiser and stronger person for it. Another significant experience this past year was getting pregnant by surprise, but then finding out it was another missed miscarriage. It was such a rollercoaster of emotions-- surprise, uncertainty about what to do and trepidation about going through another pregnancy and newborn phase, followed by the decision to keep the pregnancy and excitement-- then followed by sadness and disappointment when the pregnancy wasn't viable, and stress when it took months and months to get my period back and it wasn't even clear to my doctor what was going on. It felt like a disappointing juncture, too-- to me, it felt like it was one thing to have one miscarriage before getting pregnant with M-- miscarriages commonly happen!-- but another to have a second miscarriage. I suddenly became a person who had had not one but TWO miscarriages. My "batting average" so to speak all of a sudden was just one out of three. This is another experience that I feel like forced me to grow a lot from. We will see what the next year brings in terms of our fertility and ability to try again for another pregnancy.

My aunt Emily died at the end of July. We were all very suprised because she has always been a simbol of strength for all of us.- an anchor. It once again, reminds me that everything is changing and nothing is going to stay the same. Therefore, we must really enjoy every minute we have with our loved ones.

A new executive branch was sworn in on January 20. Things began to fall apart at work, including more rumors and far less communication. We were called back into the office after being classified as remote employees five years later. I ended up in a supply closet with no windows or vents and a very high temperature. Although I had planned to retire after 2 more years of work, I accepted a retirement offer. So happy to no longer work. My stress went away.

A significant experience in the past year that has made an impact on me would be moving in with my partner in life. Each day is a chance for us to get to know each other more and get closer with what we want in our relationship together. I feel grateful and delighted by going through this journey of life with someone I deeply care about and what nothing but the best for.

Didn't I answer this question? A positive change in the past year is that our oldest son, after 5 years of not working, has begun a job with New York State. He has been working for almost 6 months now, and is doing well so far. This is a relief for my husband and me, as we have been quite concerned about his future. Now we just have to hope he sticks with it.

I hate writing this. But, well...I lost my mom. And that, may be just about one of the most defining experiences that I will have in my life. A super shitty, heartbreaking, experience. It's wild to think that last year when I was answering this question, I thought I would still have Mom with me for another few decades. And then, Christmas Eve, everything changed. The diagnosis came...and 6 weeks later, it was the final goodbye. Heartbreaking. I have learnt a lot about the fragility of life this year. And ultimately, am pretty proud of how far I've come in these past 8 months, how mentally strong I am considering, but I sure do miss her.

Starting my own business. I feel incredibly proud, a sense of accomplishment, feeling more comfortable in my own skin, and with the confidence of knowing I do have a skill which I am very good at and with that comes a new sense of confidence.

I think visiting the national parks with Jocy, specifically Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoias, was a significant experience I had this past year. It really opened my eyes to natural wonders and strengthened my appreciation for the natural world. It reminded me that there is so much more to this world than work and politics and drama. And that going on adventures with the people I love is the most important thing in the world. And how grateful I am to have someone in my life that I can explore the world with. I did get frustrated by how tired I was, and we were disappointed not to see any bears, but overall it was such an incredible, inspiring, and invigorating experience.

Trump being reflected was the most disappointing event and horrifying in the ways that democracy are being torn down. I hope he dies soon!

A wedding speech at our “Marriage Celebration” after we had been married for 6 months. What a pivot point of pain! I asked over and over for my new husband to keep it short. And this was a key part of my meticulous (obsessive?) planning of the event. Just take note- I’m a damn good party planner. He let me know he hadn’t done things “properly,” just before. 72 hours ahead of go-time, he wrote a lengthy tribute to our love. I asked again for him to make it short in the couple of days we had. “Work with it,” I indicated. “Editing is valuable.” I was resentful when he announced to the guests that he hadn’t edited it down (the night of our party). It was still the same 1500 words that he would read off the page. I listened through a veil of shock and mixed disappointment and such- yes resentment! For whatever reason, we had not shared our public-facing speeches with each other beforehand. A strange choice when we had so enjoyed sharing our vows beforehand with 5 guests to witness it on a lovely winter’s day. Fast forward to summer - the party, we heard nothing other than how pleased each guest was with ALL aspects and their brimming happiness for us. It couldn’t have been more warm. I focused on the negative. The energy in the room was akin to my professor husband’s lecture crowd. No more party vibe. Thoughtfulness abounded in the eyes and slumped shoulders throughout the room. Many people left immediately after our 30-minute display of our love for each other. That’s 20 minutes of him commanding the stage. Then, a glorious 10 minutes of my speech and 2 sentimental dances with my dad and with our close marital embrace. So, given this picture, I was “justified” in my presentation and resentful. I has designed the evening so carefully. This didn’t prevent crises that piled up in my psyche. The tablecloths were ugly after all. And volume was way too low for the music I worked so hard on: I had the wrong adapter - so easily avoidable - so much planning down the drain!! And I couldn’t connect with my loved ones there for the full 20 minutes he took, making song and merriment that I needed not. I am still regretting that loss of socializing time now. I try to acknowledge this grief and garner maturity about opportunity costs and the unknown of what could have been. Life takes its path. It just does. Just… these slights were sticky and I dug in. The next day, I expressed myself to him in a very hurtful way. By now, I have learned to understand better. He was able to show me why it was so important to have it his way. I still have not gotten across why I wanted it “my way” so dearly. It is unclear even to me. And/or it is incredibly petty, being a control freak. Seriously, no one - least of all me - needs that. I have to accept that he wrote his words at the last moment. That’s what he does. Timing is everything. But of course I felt a barrage of difficulties, through my lens that night. I accepted a distress- separate his wordiness: I couldn’t stop him from discussing my students (whom I work with to support their needs given different disabilities). Well, what he said is understandable- he said in essence that they may be pitiable. My friend with a lifetime of physical therapy ahead of her (and behind her too) disagreed that he made this implication. My husband has a lifelong disability. And yet I did not presume the positive. I heard this part as uninformed. It sounded like he was unaware that my treasured Social Model of Disability is my guiding force. This part, included in his speech, was a culminating feature of his praise for me. He said I can be very caring. But because I view his view as a mischaracterization it felt like injury atop it all. My supplementary regret: I have mischaracterized my work to him, and it is a vital part of my life! I let him hold on to a common assumption and he shared it with the crowd. I wished I could correct the record. He didn’t know that I even took issue with that part when I hurt him with my words of “feedback” while I still stewed in negativity afterward. And I seem to have heard what wasn’t even there. Others valued that section the most. Even now, much later, we are still sorting through our feelings about the details. He finds it painful and prefers to avoid the delving “work” I’d hope to share. I wish for us to reach an agreement where, looking backward, we could have met in the middle. We might relish brainstorming about our needs and how to honor one another. We might find a setup for making wedding speeches with underlying care and without compromising what we each hold dear. But I perpetuated the message of my resentment even after the day after. He knows I was petty about the many things he chose to say and do. I unloaded on him. My sense is that I wanted him to know my experience. It was very emotional. It didn’t bring us closer when I unloaded. I hurt him irreparably. He may have the hurt in his heart that ?tugs? at his love for me. The positive spin may be that he could find deeper love to sustain us despite/wrapped up with my capacity to harm his well-being and self concept in my eyes. And oh I exercised that capacity! I have to forgive myself, learn to see the way he loves me, the way he expresses his experience. I must actively dig so I can love it all the more as this expressiveness of his reveals itself. Slowly it would seem, will I find this redeeming path. I’m seemingly not always cut out to reel in my knee-jerk reactiveness. Or, more saliently, I can be needlessly selfish when hurt is in my heart. Even when songs that are ingrained in me have clearly shown a better way: You can’t always get what you want. These gentle revelations of how to love more deeply are truly what I need. And it seems I’ll have to try sometimes to get what I need. It ain’t gonna come naturally for someone like me. To give and give again. This is a very powerful, true, essential dimension of love! May this year be a year of growth when it comes to pivotal hurts and my ways of being thrown off by so many aspects of my social sphere. May I love people more deeply, especially my own heart’s desire.

All the political aggression toward the trans community has really left me rocked. The antisemitism is more expected and doesn't always bother me the same way. The anti-trans sentiment is much harder to swallow. I'm scared for my son's future.

I will reflect on the lunch I had with my mom today (I'm 49, she's 82). I told her that I don't subscribe to her (and my dad's) theory that peoples' success in life is measured by their success in love. Or relationships with their kids, or other family members. From my perspective, one can be successful and complete without a romantic partner. She allowed that this was generational, and seemed to understand that I might feel differently. She asked whether I was lonely (now that I'm single), whether I saw myself getting into a relationship in the future, and whether I regretted my marriage, its ending, or having kids. No, I'm not lonely, I don't know about the future, and I have NO regrets about the past. I felt relieved to name this distinction between my parents' beliefs and my own. Theirs is not a universal truth, its just their belief. That's a bit of a revelation for me.

This year, love found me in the shape of LL. Before him, I had never known it - not like this. He made me feel beautiful, tender, alive. Safe in my Blackness. Safe in my Jewishness. Safe in my curves, and in myself. I was never one for affection, but with him I craved it - his arms, his quiet, his presence. I loved the loud moments as much as the still ones: when he sang to me, When he sent me words from the Torah, when his voice carried through the room, Or when his little snores broke the silence. He made me better. He also broke me. He left me less trusting, yet fuller somehow - fuller of love, fuller of ache. I am grateful I met him. I am resentful, too. If he turned the corner now, I’d run to him. I miss him. I want to let him go. I wish we were friends. I’m glad we’re not. I don’t know if I’ll ever find closure, But his presence in my life has reshaped me Both the parts that have healed and the parts that are still raw

This year has been full of so many significant experiences! I finished my PhD, transitioned into Project Management successfully, AND moved in with Gabe and Arlo! It's been nice to finally have so many things wrapped up and settled, and not be in a state of limbo for years. I feel grateful and proud of the work I did to get here, and the good choices I made along the way. It's also a huge relief to have fewer things on my plate.

This year, I tackled some very emotional decisions regarding estate planning. Since I'm single, without heirs & of a certain age, it was time. Although I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted, I was intimidated & unsure about the specifics. It has turned out to be a deeply rewarding journey that fills me with joy & serenity. The end of my life will have meaning, will benefit causes that I deeply care about & will make the world a little better. Tikun Olam.

My partner’s family got upset that he changed his will to accommodate me. They act like his money is their money and after us being there for 10 years act like I am in it for the money, even though I am wealthier. They tell him things and ask him for favours that affect me say ‘don’t tell her this’. It has been hard because I am estranged from my family for similar reasons. I know it is just them - it’s not anything I have done wrong, and I’m better off staying away from their drama, but it hurts my partner and it hurts me.

A good friend, Chris, lost her battle with cancer. I’ve only list 1 other close friend, but feel I’m of the age where this starts to happen more and more often. This was hard yo get over and I’m still working on it. not gonna lie, a little resentful as Chris was a fabulous person, great friend, true cheerleader, service hearted person.

I’ve been to this apartment one year and I’m still not completely divorced. It took me all this time to get the paperwork together. I started in earnest in June with Kathryn’s help. We have barely spoken all year, but two weeks ago we had a good conversation. I told him that I won’t get back together with him until he does. Two things: get counseling for himself and get a job. At the Church in the City 50th year union, I told Pat Whipple those things and he all of a sudden understood my side of the story. So I felt relieved. I will complete this divorce. Sheila really supported me through this.

Starting my new job was such a relief. I hadn’t realized how much not being around people was affecting me, and my entire state of mind has shifted with the work change.

i wrote about the election but then i realized that goes under a different question. so, personally. i started on wegovy last december. so it's been 9 months. i was shocked that the insurance covered it. then i was shocked that it works, and that there's no significant side effects. like i might be more constipated than usual, that's about it. i was mildly nauseous early on but that has not been the case with increasing my dosage until now i'm at the max. i've lost 20 lbs or so. i still don't weigh myself. i honestly feel like i don't super eat differently than before or have a different relationship with food. i still eat ice cream, i still feel mildly guilty about the ice cream, but now it's more like "well it doesn't matter because i'm still losing." it truly does feel effortless. so it's kind of a miracle drug. but at the same time, i was working toward body positivity, and this feels like a betrayal of that. and sometimes i see a very fat person and i think "ew like the drugs exist take them" and that is completely unworthy of me. the thing they say about how when you judge other people you are also going to judge yourself for those things, and vice versa, when someone is judging you it's because they think that about themselves or are scared of having that quality themselves. it's a real trap you can get into, of trying not to have the quality instead of learning to accept the quality. whether it's being fat, being shy, being kind of a know it all, being kind of bossy, being weird. has losing 20 lbs changed my life? no. really the only thing that has changed is my self disgust. this hasn't transformed our sex life. people don't treat me differently. i don't have more energy or stamina for exercise. i haven't noticed any of those things. really, my clothes fit better, i like how i look in a wider range of outfits, and just knowing i'm on a downward trend makes me feel ok with how my body looks today. i guess that's worth $2500 a year. ??? i mean no, i don't want to go off of it. real talk my butt didn't fit in some chairs. lots of clothes were unavailable to me. i want to get & stay under 200 lbs. but the reasons for that are mostly bullshit. but knowing that doesn't make me not want it.

My mother's death, just over a month ago. Losing a parent is profound, at any age (she was 94). I do not wish she were still alive because she would be suffering. And I miss her. And I am hard on myself, with keen awareness of what I wish I had done differently at the end of her life, most of all being with her more than I was. Can I let this go? I am certain that she has.

I have been in nursing school, accelerated, which has completely changed my perspective on life, my place in it and the realities of the world and this country that we live in. I am ever so grateful for the incredible (and often painful) peeling of the onion to see things as they are for so many people. I am grateful to turn my perspective from one of self centeredness that is so common in Americans to one of a collective connective web of people living a shared experience. It is profound, unsettling, horrifying and confirming all at the same time.

9/27/25 Trump won. How fucking disappointing. Last year at this time, I was hopeful, I truly believed that Kamala would win and we would continue to have a democracy. And then, the election. The sadness, disappointment, disbelief, anger, fear, disgust, and any other word of depression, sadness, etc. So he has been in office since January and it quickly dismantling our democracy and fucking us all over. When I see a video of ICE on the Meidas Touch Network, I feel helpless and tearful. I make calls for whatever campaign needs calls. I have been calling for Abigail Spanberger in VA (Guv) and now will move to Prop 50. I made calls for the Judge in WI who Elon Musk funded her oppenent and she won!!!! There is hope. There is pushback, the people are speaking. And Trump scares less and less people. Trump being reelected totally SUCKS. And it affects all of us. All the time.

As with answer #1 last year, the significant experience over the past year is Hurricane Helene and its aftermath. As I write this (on Day 6 of 10Q, as I'm playing catch-up!) it is exactly the one-year anniversary of the storm, so all the remembrances are in full force. I am feeling almost all the feelings listed in the question: So very GRATEFUL and RELIEVED to have come through that terrible storm largely unscathed, and to have made it through the lack of water, power and communications during the first several weeks. INSPIRED by all the helpers who showed up immediately and the many who are still here. Not just from organized relief groups, but just individuals who knew of the need, dropped everything and came. I aspire to be that aware and that ready to serve. I am still learning the lessons of Helene - I both stood in food lines and served in them; helped others and accepted help when I needed it. GRIEVING for all the trauma that our community has suffered. No one has been unscathed, even those like us who did not suffer material losses. This storm has marked us, and we are forever changed. Being part of a COMMUNITY is the overriding lesson, and one I hope I do/will carry with me. I've struggled to write or capture all my memories from the past year, but a few stand out: - I could do nothing but stand weeping, with my hand over my heart, when on Day 2 or 3 post-storm a cadre of swift-water rescue personnel with inflatable rafts pulled out of my local fire station. We were in the mountains of western NC, and these teams had come from all over (emergency vehicles from N/S/E/W were parked on site for weeks) and were heading out into the mountain streams that had become rivers to rescue people who needed them. - I burst into tears when during that first week I was in my yard and heard a message being blared from a bullhorn on a truck driving through, announcing hot breakfast at the nearby elementary school. As a dedicated communicator myself, I wept at the lengths our relief workers were going to, to get the word out to those who might not have known. - The community that has grown up in our neighborhood. I did less in the actual neighborhood during the storm, but spent my time in our little village as well as with my work team trying to reopen our program for students. But many of the neighbors came together at the farm at the top of the hill, and then broadened that community to the rest of us. We've since had several potlucks (including one planned next week) and other events since then, we know each others' names, we have a group chat -- I've said that because of the storm, strangers became neighbors, neighbors became friends, friends became family. So much so that one family from our neighborhood is now living in our main house (my husband and I have moved temporarily to our small apartment on site) while they are seeking permanent housing. When I mentioned my neighborhood to another friend, she said, "Huh, I never really thought of you as living in a neighborhood." (Ours is the first house at the entrance to the area, and somewhat removed from the ones further up the hill.) "I didn't either," I replied. "But I do now."

It’s been an eventful year for sure, more than I would like to admit to having, filled with a wide range of events that happened. War, mundane-work related woes, prioritizing self-care/professional development, moving apartments, visiting family in the States, depression, rejuvenation and uncertainty. I believe the New Jewish Year began with the attack from Iran on Tuesday October 1st, the day before erev rosh ha’shanah, where everyone in the country received an amber alert style push message to our phones around 18:30, and I was on my way home and heard what sounded like an explosion which happened to have been a Hezbollah rocket that landed in the sea. That night, Iran launched rockets to Israel, it was terrifying. I was in the public shelter near my old place on Tsrifin next to the school. But it lasted an hour and afterwards a local chef brought food and spirits to the shelter to lift the spirits of everyone, since his event was cancelled anyways. This was a moment of what it’s like to live in Israel and to be Jewish; to be faced with threat of our existence and relish in the moments with one another that we not only survive/exist but we persevere on. I’m grateful that my dad has been feeling tremendously better since the previous year when he was diagnosed with CLL. It’s not a given with today’s medicinal innovations and breakthroughs that he has been given a new lease on life. I’m grateful for the the friends I have from our machane group, that has evolved since in to the Machane Executive Branch (Aderet, Eden, Benja, Max, Orani and myself). I felt stuck last year, wanting to move to a bigger place and also get a new jop that I would earn more (I thought this would help me with my burnout).

I did move into a new place and I love it. It’s the first apartment I’ve lived in that feels like my home. I bought furniture (went to Ikea twice during the summer sale), rearranged my place and have had friends over to host for meals and for them to sleep over. I have high expectations for myself, but looking back I achieved a lot for the circumstances of the external factors for my environment (aka Israel at war).

Job loss. Accepting responsibility for my part and needing to let go others' parts. Realize need to rise up each day.

I went through a break up he hasn’t been easy. I was resentful and hateful for awhile but then I realised that there was no point on it so I just let it go. I love her. I wish the best for her. Sadly I felt relieved when we broke up because it was getting too painful and too stressful and to stand at the best of us, we didn’t have a chance to be together in person as we wanted and that’s why it hurts but I’m happy that I’m healing. I hope she’s healing and if there’s a path for us to cross together in the future, I want to be ready for it. I hope she’ll be ready for it and if there’s not, I wish her the best. I wish me the best.

Laid off for the first time ever. Stressed. Afraid. Because my husband has been out of work for over a year we’ve gone through our emergency fund, and because he’s mentally unstable, unwilling to find alternate work, newly diagnosed ADHD and autistic things are not great. January started off with husband being suicidal, my birthday, on which my sister died, the same day as his grandmothers 100th birthday Having to leave and miss the final shmoocon because husband couldn't hold his shit together for 3 days February - Gallifrey One, to find out they are winding down. All good things come to an end. March - Gave a talk at BSides Reykjavik (Iceland) with my mom and husband, and got to see Kat - very much enjoyed iceland Went to D&D in a castle, a great time, and visited Peter April - Visited Japan for star wars celebration and end of cherry blossom season, we missed most of the cherry blossoms and i would have done much more tea stuff if not having my husband with me BSides SF & RSA June Gartner conference August - Hacker Summer Camp Ran the last stand alone TDI event for at least a year, skytalks, and TDI @ DEF CON - busy but good Also had a gathering at the halloween suite at the westgate hotel Finished with the traditional cabana day Sadly one of our friends got RIF’d at the event Came home and then went on a disney cruise with mom and brandon and heath and husband which was less than magical September Laid off Prepped for an ran BSides Edmonton which went well But now i’m not being as effective or useful as I need to be.

I got out of an extremely toxic relationship this year. She had spent the last 5 months or so taking over my life and not allowing me to see my friends. I stopped going to the gym over the summer just to avoid my gymbro. It left a lot of scars on me, and I have trust issues now. Not just with relationships, but with friends. Male friends. Anybody. I regret my relationship so much, but it was also a good learning experience. I'm still emotionally recovering from it. I'm not ready for a relationship at the moment. But hopefully in a year (when my ideal girl plans to come to California), I'll be ready again.

My mother has been diagnosed with dementia. I live abroad, and in one year she has become a different person. I miss the woman with whom I spent time in the past few years when she had cancer. It is painful to hear she forgets important things, yet, I celebrate every good call we have!

I gave birth to my first daughter, Juniper. It has forever changed me. My priorities have never crystallized so clearly. My priority is her - our family. Even though it’s been a lot of work and a very steep learning curve to ensure that your child is thriving, I’ve found it incredibly fulfilling. I’m inspired to be better - developing my patience, taking care of my health so I can be strong enough to support her in all the ways whether that’s producing breastmilk or carrying her when she feels sick and wants extra cuddles.

I just experienced a severe two month sciatica flate-up. I may need surgery in the near future. For the moment, the flare-up seems to have ended. I am relieved it is over and I am taking what I learned to set up strategies, should it re-occur again in the future.

Just the total shock of it all… WTF is wrong with humanity? SMDH… I’m feeling ALL the feelings — a swirling tornado of despairs pocked with glimmers of hope and opportunity. So I persist. I strategize. I train. I learn. I adapt. And I persist.

Last minute, I decided to do a Birthright volunteer trip. Before that, my last time in Israel was before COVID. I was super anxious about it, but knew I would feel better once I was there. In the first few days, we did some volunteering and then saw the burned cars exhibit. After that, we went to the site of the Nova Festival. I didn't realize how hard it would hit me all at once- not sadness, but anger. Everything that I have been holding in and carrying since October 7th just came pouring out. It felt like such a release, but also so much resentment for how little regard certain groups of people have for Israeli civilians and hostages. Then about two days into our trip, the war with Iran again. Going in and out of bomb shelters for several days in a row and just getting a glimpse of the psychological warfare terrorists employ was a surreal experience. But seeing the resilience of Israelis in action was the thing I found most profound. We were evacuated from Israel, and coming back to my regular life in the US within two weeks felt so strange, I felt like at least a month had went by. I'm inspired by Israelis' strength once again, and ever since I have gotten back I have been heavily considering and started to plan to move to Israel, for at least a year.

Hurricane Helene came rushing through my new home of Asheville, North Carolina a year ago this week. I was without potable water for 54 days and had no electricity for 15 days. I choose to leave the area and I drove up to see my best friend from college my child and my high school best friend it was a great decision to be removed from the chaos of destruction And to clear the roads and leave services to those who were in greater need. It’s a cute experience has left me with a greater understanding of the fragility of life. They privilege to have the resources of electricity water and food. I truly live with gratefulness every day.

The beginning of the second Trump president presidency has affected me significantly. The hatred, rules, and threatened actions have left us in a pickle! First worried about his green card, and then worried about my freedom and passport. I feel like I'm no longer in control of the decisions we make and I feel angry and grief for all the people who have it worse than us.

This past year I had a terrible experience with my job. A combination of my own mistakes and coworkers targeting and deliberately misunderstanding me lead to a situation where I knew I needed to leave. There was no way it was getting better. It didn't matter what I did. When another job I'd deeply hoped for didn't pan out, I took 12 weeks of paid mental health leave. (Thank God for Paid Leave Oregon) That was arguably the longest actual break I've ever had in my life, since school breaks growing up meant going to my abusive parents' house. It took me six weeks of doing little besides sleeping and playing my mindless cozy video game before I felt like a human again. And then slowly, I did. And I came out of the haze into a new job, a new beginning, and a me that feels much more like myself. I'm still a little bitter and angry, I still want to explain myself to people who don't want to understand me. But I am grateful. Choosing to walk away let me act out breaking the pattern of having to stay in abusive situations that I grew up in. Doing it, and being okay, in fact better than okay, it rewired something inside me. It's not an experience I wanted to have, and it brought a lot of grief and pain, but at the end of the day, I am grateful for all that I learned and who I've become because of it.

The passing of my stepfather was the most significant experience in my life this year. It left me really understanding how important family is and how short our time on earth is. His passing helped me understand that my priorities are changing in life. And I really really miss him.

Surgery on my right shoulder replacement. I learned fully healing takes about a year and requires a lot of physical therapy each day. I am almost 11 months in and I have improved dramatically. Having the support of many friends has been very helpful.

I was. Invited for a national honor choir and I was truly honored even though I choose not to do it.

I'm glad to say my son is sober, my family is doing great!

I self harmed for the first time this year. I stabbed my hand with a pencil and it felt bad but also good. Like i deserved the pain. I know that isn't true now but that was all I was thinking at the time. Ive felt more reflective since then and I'm not out of the woods yet, but it made me question how many of my "What would it be like...?" questions are closer to coming true than I thought.

My son performed his one-man show at my synagogue based on his creation "Life Review: The Hospice Musical." It affected me profoundly to see him in a professional capacity, singing, answering questions, responding to the audience. I was relieved that there were lots of people in the audience; I had been worried that there would be a small audience.

Without question, it was the 2024 election. It has transformed our country and shaken me - and many other - to the core. Finding out how many people intentionally voted for a dictatorship, for that racism and xenophobia, was transformative. It made me realize America was probably never the good place we imagined, or if it was, that was just a veneer. It has made us afraid, sad, scared, brave, and combative.

There were several. The one that is apropos for today’s question is that I read a book called marry him. It talked about having your top three non-negotiables and going forward with that. I tried that in dating a man that possessed those top three, but it worked out horribly! I have now learned to follow my gut instinct.

This has been such a big year for me. Probably the two most significant experiences were traveling to New Zealand with my family and the US Presidential election. The election crushed me that so many Americans simply do not care about others and are willing to sacrifice democracy in order to maintain power or hurt others. I knew there were many people that I disagreed with but I had deeply hoped that more of them actually believed in the principals they espoused. The trip, on the other hand, was amazing. This was the first international trip with my kid and he handled it beautifully. We had an amazing time, saw old friends, and generally fell in love with the country. It did what a vacation should do. It took us out of our present and let us see the world in a different way. For all of the ways that NZ is more similar to the US than most places I've visited, it still was like traveling in a subtly different world.

I got pregnant. Wurl-wild of emotions. I’m grateful to have the blessing. I am relieved to know my boyfriend and I are both fertile. I’m not resentful about it, I know it’s going to be hard but I am ready for the challenge. I am inspired for this new chapter in my life. I know it’s going to change me for the better.

Even by my standards I am insanely late starting 10Q. I usually start quite well and then trail off, leading to a frantic catch up, but this year I just haven't found time or mental space to do it. And I think it's because I find this first question quite difficult. What is a significant experience? Does it have to be a big thing? The biggest thing that I have experienced over the past year is probably my dad's cancer coming back and it being incurable, but I find that I don't really want to write about that - not least because his most recent scan led the doctor to say he could have another 18 months. So actually, having spent much of the last year living in three month increments (three months being the interval between his scans and appointments) and assuming that he would be dead or actively dying by now and therefore coming to terms with his loss, I actually feel like it's not that big a deal. Plenty of people live with cancer and he seems happy and in reasonably good health, so rightly or wrongly it just doesn't feel like a significant experience to me now. In fact I feel bad that I spent this whole year pre-emptively grieving for him, in which time two of my friends lost parents/in law, while mine seems to be going from strength to strength. I just Googled 'significant' to see if it would help prompt some kind of answer for me, and one of the definitions is: 'having a particular meaning: indicative of something'. I have been dipping in and out of tarot this year and I had one particularly telling reading, just before we went on holiday (or was it while we were on holiday? I can't remember). My 'now' card spoke to scattered energies, not feeling like my efforts were in the right direction, which is definitely how I feel at the moment. My 'future' card was all about celebrating milestones and feeling like I was on a path towards some kind of achievement, and I would certainly welcome that kind of energy in my life. I also did a spread for my sister-in-law which was scarily accurate in so many ways. I feel really grateful to have tarot in my life. For me it's not a psychic or fortune telling tool and I feel sceptical of anyone who says that it is - I find it so frustrating when I come across tarot being portrayed in books or films as it's always so literal. For me, it just really helps when I'm feeling a bit blocked or lost in my feelings and nudges me towards a better understanding of where I am. There we go. Not a great answer but it's a start.

On October 16 last year, just few days after the High Holidays, I got in a car crash and sustained a head injury. That crash ended up putting my life on a whole new trajectory. Recovery from my concussion forced me to spend a lot of time talking on the phone in the dark and I reconnected with a friend from my past. He and I had had feelings for each other but it had never lined up. Talking to him helped me understand why I got into my bad marriage in the first place and that gave me the confidence to start my exit, regardless of how things work out with my friend. I went to visit him in the Spring and we are going to see each other again in a few months. It has been the most relevatory year of my life and oddly enough, I owe it all to a head injury (from which I did eventually heal).

I started studying printmaking and collage with two wonderful women. I am relieved and inspired.

I'm a wreck. I don't feel good about my life or my relationship. I have a partner, who shows up in big ways, but who is also prone to blaming, shaming, hypercriticism, hyper-reception (looking at me to gauge any signs of anything that might affect him so she can guess and do preemptive damage control to a thing that doesn't even exist yet--creating a problem before it happens or was likely to--that was never there but that she insists was about to be); being called "controlling" for stating a preference or comfort level with something he's doing to something that belongs to me; hyperindependence, over-the-top-hypervigilant about his boundaries, becoming angry when I start to cry from feeling dismissed, invalidated, on and on. I don't require validation, but being actively invalidated by my partner doesn't feel good. It's happened to often, I've had trouble with my resiliency over time. I feel lower about myself than I have in years. The double standards are staggering. I feel gaslit nearly daily, when she has a misperception or makes a mistake or attempts to psychoanalyze --- then refuses to hear my viewpoint or clarification, without calling it making excuses for (insert whatever thing she sees through his own lens). She needs to win at all costs. I wish I felt safer emotionally, psychologically, and mentally with her. Somehow, she points most things back at me. She can be (or seem) loving, then she can be (or seem) the opposite: defensive, accusatory, combative, pejorative, arbitrarily contrary, and so on. When she makes a mistake or gives unclear instructions, she laughs it off or blames me for not being able to follow instructions or pay attention. I feel so gaslit. And I'm sitting here, wondering if it's all me. I've asked her, and she says it is (all me). It is as if she needs to be in control of everything---including how I act and think and feel and speak. So much hyper-criticism. So much "you're just being controlling" every time I ask for something or state a preference. She turns everything around. I'm grateful for the good things she offers, but the bad things are just so crushing to me. It's gotten really bad. I don't feel that she knows how to accept someone and be okay with them where they are at, and to know they're working on getting better at the things that need work. The worst part is when she tries to psychoanalyze me, based on some of her own therapy or some articles she's read online. It feels untrue and dangerous and very presumptuous for her to do this. She attaches root causes to observe "behaviors" like when I get upset or frustrated or when I just attempt to share my point of view. She calls me codependent and says I sound desperate. I just want to be understood, and I would like to understand her. Those things are important to me, but if she has no interest in understanding, I need to learn to step away. It just hurts.

Car accident in May right in front of a hospital (!), with all 3 kids in the car. Terrifying and time went slowly and quickly all at once. My first time being in an accident where all the airbags deployed. So grateful that all the seatbelts, car seats, and other safety features protected all 4 of us exactly as they were supposed to and we all walked away with extremely minor injuries. Toyota, Nuna, Graco products saved our lives.

My grandmother moved into an assisted living facility, and it's been wonderful for her, actually. She's gone from being tired/sad/lonely to having friends, looking forward to events, eating well, chatting on the phone with all of us much more - she celebrated her 98th birthday recently and if she keeps going as she is I think she will make it to 100.

Damn, I’d say Donald trump getting elected (and next to that, zohran winning the primary). Such a rapid escalation toward deepened fascism. I’m keeping in mind what Maura reminds me — that people of color have known this shit for as long as america has been around. And im scared. And scared for people who are and will be most affected.

The inaugeration of #47 was a significant experience and the list of awful things that have happened aince that day is long. Principly attacks on free speech, rounding up undocummented people, deregulation of environmental problems, weird health care directives etc.

Well, Trump was elected president of the United States. Need I say no more? We have well surpassed a constitutional crisis, corruption is clear for all to see, they are not even trying to hide their crimes, the weaponization of the courts, the military, the legislature, the FCC, ICE, the National Guard, the list goes on. All with the approval of spineless republicans who could stop the destruction of our democracy at any minute, but who choose not! The grief of this is oppressive! I wake each day being thankful for being alive and with a home and family, food and water, and yet my heart is heavy with sadness and anger at how ignorant and delusional so many Americans are, at how helpless I feel, even as I write, call and email my representatives, sign petitions, march and protest, to defend my-our democracy-at least what little of it was left after the erosion of all the republican presidencies over the last twenty, thirty years. Think Trickle Down, and nothing more needs to be said. Think Citizens United and nothing more needs to be said. Think the overturning if Roe and nothing more needs to be said. I am more of a participant in our democracy than I have ever been before. I have learned more about the constitution and the law and how our government works, than ever before, and we have never been more challenged to think outside of the box, than we are now-well that is a bit far fetched, perhaps, as I think about the push against entering WWII, McCarthyism, the Civil Rights Movement, and what we have overcome when our country and our constitutional rights were under attack before. Today we have a Hitler and his henchmen and women in the White House. Hegseth has summoned all the military heads to Quantico. The despot in DC has declared war on the "Left", on ANTIFA, on Democrats. His DOJ is going after people he has vocally called out as his enemy and as outlaws, when they have simply been staunch critics. Free Speech is under direct attack. We the People won the last round and were able to create such pressure they put Jimmy Kimmel back on the AIR. I am hopeful this is a sign we are turning the corner. But as we do, so the forces of darkness and evil strengthen with dire threats against American Citizens who oppose the disgusting regime. May the light win the day. May decency win the day. May WOKE and what it means to be WOKE, win the day. God help us all!

I took a roadtrip with my dad. We went to several baseball games, a concert, and went hiking. We got a week together, sharing things we’d never shared before. Dad’s 75 and in good health but still life doesn’t always afford these opportunities. However, just days after we returned from our trip, he was feeling short of breath and was taken to the hospital where he found out he had almost total blockage in several arteries requiring bypass surgery on four of them. He’s recovering but still struggling with post surgery nerve issues. It was just another reminder that our time on this planet is very short and to never pass up a moment with the people we love. I love my dad so much.

In this past year, I made the Maccabiah team for weightlifting- unfortunately, the games were pushed but I have become a stronger and better version of myself while also gaining pride in being a member of Team USA

I had my first real lesbian relationship. Firstly it opened my eyes as to why I was never quite comfortable when I dated men. Secondly it demonstrated my lack of discipline with my beliefs and opinions. There were quite a few times with Kim where I disagreed or felt something that I did not verbalize. Upon reflection I realize that if the relationship is meant to be it will survive a disagreement when conducted respectfully.

Hurricane Helene's devastation of our beloved arts district was the most impactful event I think I've ever experienced. It still feels so big in our communities collective consciousness that it is hard to fathom at times. More than anything right now I am grateful for our resilience and coming together as a community. Especially given that Marquee has reopened to much fanfare and with so much JOY!

With my wife leaving her job her ongoing suffering finally came to an end. Now she is focused on healing, and i am eternally grateful for that.

I got a ring from my partner. I am grateful for the ring and what it signifies and even more grateful for the safe and comfortable relationship we have nurtured. I also got mother's day presents from my beautiful stepdaughters. They introduce me as their stepmom now. I am so proud of them and profusely proud to be their stepmom.

Listening to my gut led to breaking up in December the day after we found out mom's cancer was back with a vengeance. Cold, dark winter months of grief and uncertainty and overwhelm cracked me open – made me cry at little things, deepened my relationship to art (watched sooo many movies, music richer, art wider), forced me to ask for help and receive it from my people. I'm so grateful for the experience becuase it opened me up to feeling, much like the way falling in love with her did three years ago during Elul. I'm so fucking exhausted, worn out from grief and sadness and longing for someone who disappoints me, and overwhelmed by how much death and sickness there is in the world. Forced to reckon as well with how much I crave G-d and spiritual connection; don't feel like I got enough of this this year.

A significant experience from this past year was attending the one-year memorial of the October 7 attack in Israel. One of my co-workers reached out beforehand to ask if I was going and offered to attend with me so that I wouldn’t have to go alone. This simple gesture had a deep impact on me. It made me feel truly supported and understood during a very emotional and difficult moment. I was grateful for her thoughtfulness and compassion, and it reminded me of the importance of community and empathy, especially in times of grief and reflection.

I left two of the biggest friendships of the past recent years, people I deeply loved who treated me poorly and let me down. It was something I speculated about in the year prior, thinking it inconceivable that these people would ever not be part of my future. This drastic shift in how my day to day life went, and loss of emotional intimacy, felt scary at first, but has since, about six month following, been affirmed as a good decision over and over again with the better people and moments and treatment I have experienced since. Play, music, spirituality, and maybe even love emerging in the space left behind.

It has been over a year since my daughter died - a year of firsts in the time after. There has continued to be great sorrow, but there has also been great joy. The state of the world has me so low at times that I cannot breathe and become physically ill. Yet somehow in the midst of this hellscape we call "America," I have come to find a hand to hold - a soul that causes mine to sing on high, and through this new partnership, I have such brilliance of joy sprinkled in the darkness of my mind. I find myself ecstatic at times, though still deep in sorrow. The duality of emotion has been what has saved me in this, and for that, for this person, for our uniting, I am ever so grateful.

Switching jobs- so grateful. I have freedom to do the work I enjoy and see my son without guilt

I got asked to be a coordinator of my program until the staff member Im replacing comes back in Dec., from maternity leave. I'm very grateful for this opportunity, but a little neverous I won't succeed. I am getting a lot of support, tho.

I got married and that was a fantastic experience! It made me feel so grateful for my health, my family, and my friends. I hope to see them all in heaven someday, just like that day.

We lost our oldest daughter in a skydiving accident June 21st, 2025, at Skydive Atlanta. There is no way to describe our family's loss of this beautiful person. Response from the skydiving community has been nothing. Not one of them attended her service. She was a regular at their place. This was her 163rd dive. I have lost respect for the skydiving community through this. We will miss our daughter every day for the rest of our lives, but this is what she loved to do. It was her happy place. She was a loving, adventurous and courageous soul.

The second inauguration of the Felon-In-Chief. I am sad, angry, and deeply concerned for our democracy and the survival of our planet.

Ben is no longer having seizures and is at a school better equipped to help him feel successful.

I met one of my best friends.

My daughter had surgery. So many mixed feelings. I hope it was the right thing to do, but it caused so much financial stress. I feel like I failed as a parent.

I had an amazing class. They were a once in a blue moon group. They got me and I got them. We did so many great projects and it just worked. From the cake of the map of America to the last year of Reading Workshop, it just worked.

Myself and two daughters have taken up playing musical instruments. I am resentful when I spend hours coaxing and cajoling Esther into violin practise; nervous when I'm having my own lesson; in the zone when I'm practising myself; and proud when they have their lessons and we can see how much progress they've made. If they've made progress. Mostly, I feel like I'm gaining musical credentials, which is my long term goal.

I retired from working full time after 44 years. I am so grateful for the opportunity, I will not be bored, I already have a lot of my plate :)

I got into a relationship after 2 years and a half of being a serial-dater. It is a miror in which I understand I still have insecurities I have to deal with

My daughter graduated University and started a job in a division of her chosen field. I am wicked proud of her hard work and perseverance after changing majors and never thought of giving up!!! I am grateful that despite all the calamities going on various campuses throughout the country ... Her uni has always been a safe place, for her and other students 💜🧡💚

I traveled to Brazil for Carnival with some dear friends and my partner. It was a mixed bag of a trip; my partner and I fought a lot and it really shook up a lot of remnants of conflict and lack of safety in our relationship. In hindsight, I think we needed to dislodge some of it but I wish it hadn't happened the way it did. I might still carry some resentment about it but we are actively working through everything it brought up and for that, I'm very grateful. On the other hand, I have immense gratitude for the trip. My friend's hospitality and her family's hospitality was so warm and welcoming. I think going to carnival truly changed my relationship to my body and my gender performance - seeing so many people out in the streets with their bodies on display without shame was truly life changing. I've begun to access a sort of every-day performance that comes with presenting a certain way and it's so fun to play with.

Planned to drive to Perth with my girlfriend but only got as far as Adelaide where we parted ways. I was very upset. I then drove across the Nullarbor by myself to get to Perth to start med school. The reflection time while driving felt really useful. I decided I needed to pay more attention, and have better awareness of the needs of those around me, especially if I value them in my life. I was a mix of relived, grateful, and resentful. And inspired to be better We made up weeks later over the phone and I'm at her place now.

Trump got elected. It was devastating. unthinkable, unbelievable. so many emotions. i couldn't believe that so many people in our country voted for him after everything he has done. Biden dropped out too late for Kamala Harris to build her campaign. But just saying that doesn't even touch on the disbelief that it happened. Now, 9 months in, he has done unimaginable things that have devastated our country. It feels like we are living in a horror movie.

As of this date, our first child ( a girl) will be born any day now. I am extremely grateful. It has been a long road to get here in so many ways and I can’t believe she’s almost here. I hope I will be a good father, leaving most if not all of my pain in the past.

The re-election of Donald J Trump, which has impacted us all on micro and macro levels. The USA has fallen in every way possible on the world stage - morally, economically, politically, diplomatically; and life for literally everyone in the USA who is not a multimillionaire has been astronomical. I am demoralized but am trying to do what I can at the local level and support those doing more nationally.

A significant experience that has happened this past year was going to Israel with Birthright this summer. Truly a indescribable trip that bas changed me physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually and religiously. I am super grateful for the opportunity and it just inspired me to become a better person, better jew and to strive on becoming an influence to the jewish/israeli community and make the world a better place for us. when I read this next year I have done more towards improving my relationship with Hashem, judaism , Israel and giving back. TODA HASHEM

Grateful, relieved, inspired. Two pensions kicked in - giving me time to think about what's next at the same time taking the heat off the bills and expenses. After long consideration I have decided to do the Turps Margate mentoring course. I wondered if, as the world collapses and burns the thing to be doing lies in my studio making art for...? My non-artist sister-in-law says "art is going to save us' I hope there is some truth there.

I became the managing editor of the journal I had been freelance editing. The previous person in the role left abruptly and left chaos in their wake. I modernized many systems and with the support of everyone else there brought us into a better reality where we publish on time. I am grateful they took a chance on me, excited to see where this goes, and relieved at the relative stability. I also got a diagnosis of severe osteoporosis, which was life changing in a more alarming way. I’m frustrated that I didn’t know I had a family history but grateful that there is a medication that can help. I’m also grateful that I’ve ignored the people who pushed me to lose weight over the past decade, because apparently my weight is the one thing keeping it from being worse!

With the election of Trump, my anxiety has become almost chronic. There are times, like the Hands Off and No Kings marches where I feel part of a larger movement, but mostly I feel impotent and angry. Fearful. I don't want to be a 1941 Jew, but don't know when after 1933 it's time to leave.

My wisdom tooth broke this year. At the end of a beautiful day, full of hope and friendship. It felt like reality shattering in my mouth. I spent a sleepless week crying and stressed before it was pulled, and then I spent a month extracting myself and my family from the unsustainable living situation we found ourselves in. At the beginning of that month, I thought we were finally making things sustainable, but the world had something else in mind. The broken tooth meant we couldn’t pay rent. And after being threatened month after month with eviction, it was a breaking point—like the bite that had shattered my tooth, something eventually had to give. We are happier now. I am happier now. Life is scary and hard but we survived so we can thrive.

it happened in the past few weeks but I have completely fallen head over heels for John T. I wonder if I will remember him a year down the road. A year, I probably will. He's so avoidant and retreats after a moment of vulnerability. Our chemistry is electrifying but chemistry alone can not hold two people together, can it?

Our whole IVF experience, resulting in what has so far been a very healthy pregnancy! After an ectopic pregnancy last year, we decided to try IUI a few more times and it just didn't work. I was scared to do IVF--I knew it was difficult but I wasn't really sure what it entailed. But if it was the best chance of having a baby before I was 40 then so be it. There were lots of shots and blood tests to increase the amount of eggs I produced in a month. Then there was the egg retrieval. Then waiting for my next cycle and of course my period skipped a month. So the egg implantation process didn't actually happen until the day after my husband's birthday and I knew I was pregnant by my birthday. Oh, and then there were all the frigging estrogen pills and patches and estrogen shots to trick my body into accepting the embryo. That lasted for almost two months and definitely wasn't fun. My husband was away on a business trip for the first sonogram so I asked my mom to come with me. I cried with relief when I saw that the baby was clearly in the right place. The next week, the 5th or 6th week ultrasound, we heard the baby's heartbeat loud and strong. There are some things I felt we got a little cheated out of in the process. The excitement of the pregnancy test, for one. We found out we were pregnant when a nurse called me with the results of the blood test, then I had to call Nathan. So we couldn't be in the same room for that. Knowing the sex of the baby. We were teleconferencing with the doctor and not in the same room when we met with him to discuss the results of the embryo process. When he asked if we wanted to know the sex of the embryos, we said sure, but we thought he was generally going to say, "2 boys and 2 girls" or something, but nope, he went through every single embryo. One embryo was far and away the highest quality (we jokingly called him our straight A baby) and that was clearly the one we wanted to try and implant first. Then there's the name. My father in law is dying and it seems unlikely he'll live to see the baby being born. So we are naming the baby after him. My husband had a wonderful idea to make a nickname from the baby's initials and it's really cute, but there's a part of me that wishes we could go through the excitement of making lists. I don't think either one of us would have chosen such an outdated name for our child but it will be extremely meaningful.

I had my adult Bar Mitzvah in November, which had been a lifelong dream for me. I'm so thankful that I finally got to accomplish that, even though it had some bends to the journey.

I think that the significant experience this year is the constant being told by so many healthcare professionals that Kathryn is too fat to merit care. I hate it; I hate it; I hate it. I feel so constricted because I should be able to help or fix.

I had a seizure the night before Yom Kippur 2024, which led to neurosurgery to remove a tumor two weeks later and 10 weeks of medical leave. I'm grateful to my doctor and to my family. I'm grateful to my synagogue and congregation. I'm thankful that there have been no further complications. I'm relieved that the tumor, which I'd been watching for a few years and until that moment had been symptom free, is gone

This seems so trivial but I'm going to pick being stuck in the Dulles Washington airport overnight. It was a frustrating and humbling experience. Flights were delayed and then cancelled. I didn't get into Dulles until 11:30 pm. Todd had worked a double and could not pick me up. There were no available hotels or cars. It was frustrating not being able to solve the problem. It was humbling having to stay in the airport overnight. I was grateful I was in place that was safe and had bathrooms and a roof. It reminded me to be less judgmental of people because you don't usually actually know their story.

Kathleen had two health scares and since then I have been more focused on her health and mine. Also planning to do things that have been postponed, like retiring.

A significant experience that has happen to me this past year is After my move with my new wife to a new city, I feel like my kids have resented me and even pulled away from me as a father. It does make me feel a bit resentful, in the fact that I cant be a good grand father to my kids kids and to my youngest son. I don't have any regrets as I am living my life according to me and I have a wife that's open and loving and always ready to greet my kids when they are ready.

Dan’s decision to get divorced was a long time coming but has been so good for him and for all of us, including Ezra.

The global rise of fascism and oligarchy is disconcerting. The fact that 23% of Americans voted for it domestically, and another 63% stayed home on Election Day is serious cause for alarm. Now comes more division, dismantling, and dictatorship. With the recent martyrdom of a podcaster, those in power are now brazenly pushing us toward civil war. What’s the inevitable outcome? Do we have any control?

In January, Jason fell while mountain biking and spent the following 12 days in the hospital. We are so grateful that he has recovered, Baruch Hashem. From the phone call from Vlad, the kind stranger who found him, to my drive to get him near Skyline with Jim Burrell (who was an amazing coach and support for me) and through the cascade of events involving both hospitals and advocating for him, it was an incredibly scary time. I am so grateful that he is okay and seems even more determined to live life fully and make the most of his second chance. HaShem has a plan for the good he can do and I am thankful Jason has a more time to do good in the world and for all of us.

I moved my daughter out for university this year. She's not the first child to move out, but the transition felt different. Maybe because she's my only girl. As she completed high school, there were all these milestones we kept finding ourselves up against - her last day, prom, graduation, then her last Shabbat with us, the last time we watched Summer I Turned Pretty together. I was anxious about how she would settle in. Would she get along with her roommates? Enjoy her classes? Feel lonely? But as her room took shape, as the other girls moved in, as the phone calls I got came with smiles and not tears, I let my fears go. She was making this work. And loving it. She was where she needed to be, and therefore so was I.

My birthday retreat was so great. It felt really meaningful to connect with peers. Now in September with 2 retreats in, I'm not totally sure what it specifically moved, but it was one of the highlights of the year. Such a joy to connect and deepen those relationships. Both of them were a meaningful part of this year. Deepening that practice, and my medicine/spiritual practice in general, has been a great gift. I'm very grateful.

This past year I found out that I am pregnant. I am incredibly grateful for this.

My mom passed away this year. This has eclipsed the October war for at least half of this passing year, even before it happened. The rapid deterioration of her health , hospitals, caregivers, bureaucracy, pressure, her wildly fluctuating moods and her treatment of my dad through all of it.. I'm glad it's over. It was all terrible.

I gave birth to P. This year has been a year of the liminal. Waiting to find out if/when we are moving. All the changes with work closing. And on top of that being pregnant throughout the whole time of everything else. So just a lot of waiting and seeing, not knowing when anything will happen and how that will effect and change my life and the life of my family. Thankfully, it was a healthy pregnancy and birth. And thank God she is doing well, as is the family. The rest is still up the air, and just trying to move with it as gracefully as possible without too much worry or stress.

My liver disease was confirmed as serious, and the pain from it is becoming "a thing". It's very difficult to me to stick to the diet I need to. I've been struggling with this all year.

In December last year I was made redundant. I was so relieved as I was so bored, and they gave me a very generous payout so I felt respected and loved. It gave me the confidence (and money) to take time out and follow my personal projects. It doesn't matter right now, if it doesn't pay off immediately - I've had a brilliant year and feel re-energised and ready to jump back into a TV job. (If i can find one.)

So much happened this past year. Around this time last year I fell in love and thought I had met the person I was going to marry. However in January of 2025 my mom was diagnosed with ALS and 2 months later the guy cheated on me and blamed me for the why the relationship failed. It might sound really bad and trust me I had my dark days and moments filled with grief and sadness after my mom’s diagnosis and after my break up but it was also some of the happiest moments. I am relieved that guy and I broke up because I know that we weren’t meant to be and I am happy I saw his true colors sooner. I am also looking forward to falling in love again hopefully next time with the right person! As for my mom’s diagnosis in some ways it has gotten easier and some ways it has gotten harder. She can no longer talk but I have had some really beautiful moments with her and my family. We went on two amazing vacations together and I am constantly reminded how amazing my family is and how lucky I am to have them. In the good times and bad times we will always be a family even after my mom passes I know we will still be a family of 6.

Losing Chutley was more significant than I could have ever imagined. It was unexpected, traumatic, and came with so much guilt for me. Only just now reflecting on this have had I two realizations about grief and control. I’m not sure I’ve ever experienced true grief. I’ve lost people either when I was quite young or people on the periphery of my life. It wasn’t until losing Chutley that I experienced the true depth and pain of grief, the waves it comes in, and how it probably never leaves a person. Losing him was another example in my life that highlighted control issues. Having never boarded him before, I did all the right things to ensure success and his well being. I did everything within my control before, during, and after losing him. That still hasn’t stopped the guilt despite me knowing, logically, it was well beyond my control. That lesson should help me give up the need for control, knowing most things can’t be managed.

I traveled alone and joined with other youth to attend the European Youth Event 2025 in Strasbourg, France. First time solo travel in 6, almost 7, years. I made new friends and saw old friends. And for the first time I felt like I didn’t want to let them go because we live in different countries and I missed them before we’d even left. I loved seeing them and going out of my comfort zone, like getting a killer picture of me in power mode, openly flirting with someone and exploring new places with strangers turned friends. But also anger and resentment, that I had to visit the Cathedral with them but couldn’t go to the Synagogue, because it was dangerous and had police around the clock. Like seeing messages for H*mas and Gazawood while I couldn’t wear my Magen David openly and the hostages’ posters were defaced by useful idiots and antisemites. Like having to hide that I’m a Jew because you don’t know if you can trust the goyim around you, and you’re all alone in a foreign country. Like raising the alarm for the violent protests planned outside the room holding the Jewish panel and being stuck on the outside hoping they make it out alive.

I think the biggest event that has happened over the last year is the ending of a two year relationship with Erin. I really thought this one was going to be the one that worked. This broke my heart, flat out. I've had it broken so many times, that I'm borderline immune to the truly discomfortable feelings that typically come with a broken heart. I'm a pragmatist...mostly...so I did the best I could, picked up the pieces, and moved on. Nine months later, I'm ok. I still don't love having lost her. I know there plenty of times where she said and did things that hurt me, but it was never enough for me to write her off. I made a rather large mistake by her account and it was enough to give up, walk away, and seemingly holding on to a lot of anger for me. I've apologized as much as I'm willing; I'm not perfect and I made a mistake, so this is my consequence. I am still hopeful that there is love out there for me. Someone will see me for what I am and feel in their heart that they'll never walk away once we find each other.

I suppose the biggest experience was Trump's election and the turmoil surrounding that. However, the continued demonization of Israel and Jews feels more personal--is more personal. All of that hard to express. I live with suppressed fury. I recently started therapy to help cope with that fury--justified, but not helpful--so that I can live with some peace. On the other hand, the secular New Year was the first year to see all my family healthy and thriving. And we celebrated Dave's 70th birthday with great enjoyment--I think it was a high point for him. This year has been one of depression and rage at the world; gratitude and joy in my personal life. And the latter all the more, because I really don't take joy for granted.

We decided to move into an apartment - and purchased a condo. I am traumatized by this shift from our custom home and lawn. I am grateful and relieved to have found a place that is 85% perfect. Mostly, I am shocked at how quickly the change from homeowners to old people.

I am grateful to be divorced at last! I am relieved that I was able to buy the house and do not have to leave my neighborhood and friends. I am resentful that he continues to pester me with costly and wasteful litigation because he has nothing else going on his pathetic life. And I am inspired by this freedom and fresh start ... maybe I will live in NYC for a month or two. Maybe I'll rent out the house. So many doors are opening!

My dad died in December. Seeing the words on paper are hard to stomach. You know that your parents are going to die but you don’t expect them to, and when one of them does, it’s stupefying. When I think of my dad’s absence, I feel a sinister force close in on my heart as though this is a thing that shouldn’t have happened. My dad in particular, he was so ALIVE. How could someone like that just disappear? How could we bear to witness his suffering for 6 weeks in the ICU, well knowing that he had a comically low tolerance for discomfort? It felt like a cruelty we permitted him to endure in spite of our noble intentions: let’s see if he can pull through. Let’s see, let’s see, let’s see. When doctors confirmed that he wouldn’t have a future to look forward to, we decided to set him free. The power in this, “we DECIDED,” is unnerving to me. And yet, that’s what you do when you lose all of your faculties - you relinquish sovereignty to your loved ones and hope they make decisions based on your needs and not their own. My mom - with the support of me, my sister, and family - made the bravest, most loving decision to honor my dad’s needs. I’m annoyed with my dad for ignoring his doctors, albeit intentionally since he feared complications from a common procedure intended to prolong his life. Soon after his death, my sister had a dream about him: she told him that his 3-year grandson missed him to pieces, and our dad cracked this expression like he royally fucked up and said, “Oh shit”. Knowing that Dad probably would have chosen differently had he understood in his bones the life he risked to lose is a thought exercise that feels like hot coals on my heart - but it’s hard to resist thinking in hypotheticals. I embrace this Rosh Hashanah as an opportunity to reflect on the real: I loved my dad, I miss him very much, we had a not uncomplicated relationship, and I want to live with as much joy as I can muster - to honor my dad, yes, but also to honor myself and the beings I share the world with. Joy and wonder feel like playmates to me, and in combination they inspire a sense of care for all entities of life.

I have been studying Norwegian with increasing seriousness & this year I traveled to Norway to buy books in Norwegian (hard to find in the States), speak the language, & see friends. It was inspiring! I rarely travel alone & I enjoyed it immensely. I went despite a lot of pressure (by me) to stay home & take care of my ailing husband. But I found people to help & I knew it was important to take care of myself as well. I'm proud of myself that I did.

Not getting pregnant. I feel sad, burdened, and betrayed. My prayers were not answered this year. Noone around me has the same burdens we do, I feel alone.

My mother Una died on Good Friday. She was 102 years old. She was the only believer in our family of three boys and husband Steve. Dad died in 2009 and I had a lot to do with Mum in the following years, lunch out twice a week, taking her to medical appointments, picking her up from the floor after her many falls, having breakfasts of porridge every day up until she had one two many falls and had to go into a nursing home. She made the porridge. I am grateful for this time with her but it was only when she died that I became aware of the weight I had been carrying. What do I feel about all this? I don’t know. Maybe I will know more next year.

On a personal level, my nephew completed a successful treatment for cancer. It was deeply affecting in light of the fact that fifty years ago, my older brother, not his father, died of the same illness. I am relieved and have every reason to be optimistic about his continued health, as well as inspired to be grateful about the health of my family.

My adult daughter went to rehab 4 times for alcohol use. She lived with us for a few months. The relapses were very difficult as she lied and eroded trust with me and my husband. I was fearful and scared that she would not get through it. I am now cautiously optimistic that she is on her recovery journey.

The US election. It has destroyed me.

I have maxed out on self improvement. So this year I said enough. I’m fine the way I am. I’m much cooler than I thought I was In general, and because I’ve done the hard work that is rare for people to get through. The tough side (and sometimes resentful) is accepting that not everybody is in the place that I am, or can see me that way.

I learned to truly love myself. Upon the completion of my first year of my doctoral programme in Counselling Psychology, countless growth opportunities had nurtured my transformation, appreciation and acceptance of life and myself. I experienced the discomfort of group therapy, the exposing yet fruitful nature of individual personal therapy, the deep, gratifying wisdom my own clinical hours brought and countless hours of reflection and meditation. I was in the thick of the third saga of my life. But loving oneself is an ongoing act and one can never be too sure of progress until a challenge presents itself... This became clear when I met a man and felt like I was falling in love with him. He was and is wonderful in so many ways: kind, strong, handsome, a decisive and compassionate leader, intelligent, loving, witty and thoughtful. After a couple of months of whirlwind romance that is so typically 'me', we argued about splitting a car rental cost. The language used and fall out around discussing our feelings with regards to money propelled the argument and I felt like I was in an emotionally manipulative and immature relationship. He was hurtful and I hurt him, but mostly I felt frustrated that something so good had exploded by a lack of loving kind communication. We resolved the dispute through patience and reflection on what we each feared, desired, and avoided in relationships with another. Rejection remained a common theme for us both, though for him a fear of being taken advantage of loomed greatly as well as a desire to be a team. In some ways I feel relieved we had this conflict which in total took days to resolve. It made us stronger, but also made me stronger in my love for myself. I feel calmly assured in staying true to my values and believing in what I desire for the future. I am a lotus flower, a jewel, a ray of sunshine. I am here to be admired by many, not put away in the shadows or manipulated so that my light only shines in one particular way. I was so swept up with him in the beginning and I realised that this is a pattern of mine. Every man I have loved has declared their love for me quickly and I have had a pattern of changing parts of myself (or closing off particular parts) to become the perfect image in his eyes. It reminded me of the ending of the Julia Roberts film, 'The Runaway Bride". Her favourite style of eggs seems to always be the same as her boyfriend's at the time. But what does she really want? Who is she really? A desire to be seen and understood is so powerful and pervasive in life. One that I deeply value and have found myself becoming swept up in when it presents. The thing is, I see myself now. The act of being seen by another is beautiful, a wonder, but is not permanent because each of us brings our own perspective and experience to making meaning in life. How we understand another is shaped by how we understand the world. My value is only truly defined by how I see myself. The more I look to another for validation, the more I'll fall short of celebrating being all of me. I've spent so long working on me and who I am, that now I can't pretend I'm okay with living an ordinary suburban life, or taboos around sex and the erotic, that I'm a kind, sweet girl all the time. I'm a fucking lioness, wild wolf, a bouncing bunny kind of lady. And I love myself way too much to let anyone destroy or minimise my light. So whilst this man and I continued to stay together. I feel inspired and empowered to continue my relationship with myself, too. Only my love can truly nourish my soul.

Bonding with my nieces and watching them grow into themselves. Their personalities could not be more unique and different from one another and the joy they bring into our lives is a balm for all of the chaos going on in the world. I’m so grateful to be their auntie. Doing so alongside the rise of authoritarianism in our country makes me worried and scared for the future we are leaving for them. Women’s bodies and autonomy are being policed more and more and now our general rights to free speech are at stake. It makes me want to take action, take to the streets, and at the same time, flee.

We threw a viral halloween party. The country fell into chaos. I fell madly in love and xe loves me back. I got laid off. I went back to my old job. I have never been more terrified or more joyful, and despite it all, I am so grateful to be alive.

Learning how to be a working parent. The first month of my return to work felt awful; I was so unsure of myself (especially because I was working in a new promoted role of manager), and I was tired and fuzzy headed and felt strapped for time. I was also staffed on two very fast-moving projects with somewhat difficult teams. I took the advice to ask for help and be transparent and vulnerable, and my coworkers really stepped in to help me ground myself and set me up for success. My husband was empathetic and supportive throughout, which always helps. It took me a few months to calibrate and to realize the benefit of being a working parent: that having a baby around helps to put any work "problem" into perspective, because at the end of the day, when 4:30pm rolls around, I am speed walking up the hill to pickup my daughter from daycare and her squeal of delight at seeing me is what really matters to me. Much more so that a client or Partner's satisfaction with my work. To put a label on this experience, I am grateful for it. I was challenged, I struggled, and I saw myself through to the other side.

DJT is our president. I am so unhappy. I never thought that this was who we were as a country. I was wrong.

I've have been married for 46 years. I don't know how it happened, but my spouse and I started to ignore each other's birthdays and our anniversary. It came to a head this past year, and I vowed that I would not let this happen at least on my end. My birthday gift is Susan it's still being put together (I'm afraid I've bit off more than I can chew), and I bought her an expensive gold bracelet for our anniversary and took her to dinner. She did not even give me a card. I am hoping that we can build on what I do this year, and it will get better in years to come.

There were so many 1/ we are loosing our country. I mean we are loosing the illusion we had a country. It was such a comfortable illusion, wasn't it? I'm still in denial though 2/ I had to decide what to do after we had a layoff. And I joined another company. It feels disappointing: is this the best I can do with the rest of my life? I'm also in denial about my health: spinal surgery or not. My cousin, just six years older than me passed away. My friend just had a micro stroke, still a warning! My closest friend from the university just moved to the East Coast. Is despair the right word to describe what I feel?

I had a surgery that left me unable to speak for a few weeks, and I struggled to find my voice consistently for months afterward (I still struggle a bit). The experience was so complex – I was motivated beforehand by both fear and hope, and during and afterward I experienced panic, vulnerability, overwhelm, im/patience, frustration, anger, relief, rejection, and deep, deep gratitude, in relation to all of the many people who impacted me or who held me through that experience.

My niece got married, and when I attended the wedding, it was the first time I'd seen my extended family since before Covid. We were semi estranged due to political rifts causing tension in relationships. Glad to report that everyone behaved well, the wedding was fun, and it was a successful reconnection.

I suffered burnout and was off work sick for nearly three months between April and June. I ha dbeen on autopilot for months and did not realise how bad I had gotten. I weighed 136.4kg which was the heaviest I had ever been. I was miserable. I had no energy. I was very negative and not fun to be around. I had lost my way completely. My body forced me to take time off work. I am so grateful it did and I am blessed to have had that time off to reset and recalibrate. I learned about spirituality and believe I encountered a "dark night of the soul" experience. I reviewed what I was doing with my life and just before I turned 40, I applied and was successful in getting onto a masters degree in integrative counselling and psychotherapy, which I believe is much more in aligned with what I actually want to do in this life

I retired. The federal government reduced the funding for the contract on which I worked by 40-percent and my position was eliminated because of that. It was a relief. The job I had was important but I wasn't well suited for it. I felt relief. But it also caused stress in my relationship. Some of the stress is about money. Most of it is about how I fulfill my new role as house husband. I clean, cook, and take care of most of the household things, including maintenance. It's been a difficult transition because a lot of the things I must do aren't very interesting. I let them take a long time and I take a long time getting started on them, so it feels like I'm always working. In fact, though, I'm spending a lot of time getting psyched up to do the work and less time doing the work. I'm grateful that my family income is such that I don't need to work. I get a lot more time with the cats and I'm finding the time to read again, which I love.

My best friend from my years in Lesotho, Daniela, got married to Andrew in Kenya in July. This made for a perfect opportunity for a family holiday to Africa. And it was incredible. It was a both a privilege and a joy to share all this with Elliott. There were fun times on safari, and luxury villas with swimming pools. There were friends, old and new, from all over the world, Elliott had the opportunity to build a lovely friendship with Timmy from Malta and Anaya from Tanzania, as well as playing with kids from Kenya. There were experiences that prompted conversations about international development, inequality, race and geopolitics. I left feeling incredibly grateful for the life I have led so far, that meant that I could share all this with Elliott. But it also reaffirmed that I am in the right place right now, living in the UK, in a safe and free country and in a stable job. Whilst occasionally I feel like this is 'boring' and not the identify and lifestyle I had imagined for myself, in fact, this comfortable life we have built and the way we are choosing to bring up Elliott is actually a great choice. Spending time in a country that is unambiguously less safe, free and 'comfortable', and having had a glimpse of what my expat and development friends are now choosing too, made me, despite having a tremendous trip, very happy to come home.

My dad left our home to live in long term care at Cherrelyn. It gave me more time, but a lot to take care of. It’s been a huge relief. I think I was stunned for awhile, and it’s been hard to move forward, but I’m glad he’s (semi) thriving in his new community.

1. Had to replace the oil burner Feb 26th. Got a low-interest loan to pay for it. 2. I started Bet Mitzvah classes on May 6th and I'm loving it. There are five of us and it's a great group. Graduation will be June 13, 2026. I'm learning so much about Judaism and feeling more connected than ever before. 3. I had a fourth surgery on June 5th, reconstruction redo. Fuck cancer. I'm still feeling weak and have started going to the pool at the Y to try to get back some strength. 4. A huge tree branch fell on the Subaru on July 10 and totaled it. I've been seriously stressed dealing with that, finally got another car Sept 17th, a 2015 Nissan Murano SL with 81K miles. It's beautiful. I had to take out a loan and am stressed about that. It has been a really tough couple of years and I'm just so tired. Depression is a constant struggle. I'm 3 weeks away from 73 years old. When does it get better?

I lost my job and have been working through the burnout and taking it easy. February rolled around, making it exactly one year of that job being behind me. I had plans and hopes pinned on everything being different and feeling ready to jump into something new by then. But the month came and went. I still don't feel great about the thought of doing that kind of work again. Still wrestling with the idea of doing something completely different, and chalking all the experience, certifications, and degrees as a loss. But perhaps, I am just rushing to get better, when I need more time. Grateful that I have time and space to figure it out. Sad that I am not moving forward.

My boyfriend left the country and cheated on me repeatedly and intentionally and never made any effort to repair so I broke up with him after 12 years. It made me sad to end after so much time. I'm maybe resentful that he's out living it up and I'm left to put the pieces back together and that when I wanted to end things initially he kept acting like he sincerely was sorry trying to pull me back in while cheating again. Resentful I wasted so many years. Grateful for the good moments and that I learned I have a really big forgiving heart that wants to see the best and believe in people. I don't know that I processed it as being over to feel relieved about it, but I am inspired by knowing that something better is coming and I know its for the best

Graduating with my masters in public administration and policy was a significant experience for me in the past year. It was the culmination of two years of hard work while working full time. I am the first person in my immediate family to earn a master’s degree. I felt relieved and grateful, but it also felt surreal when it came to an end. It was amazing to meet my cohort in person after getting to know them through virtual meetings and discussion board posts. But it was also sad that it ended because while I knew those connections would remain they wouldn’t be as strong when it was over. It was all very bittersweet.

I’ve gone on some amazing trips in the last year. I went to New Zealand and Australia for my honeymoon, went to Quebec for my anniversary, and Iceland for fun. I’m so grateful to have the opportunity and means to travel so much. Travel is one of the most important things to me and my husband, and I want to travel a new place every year together.

I think the most significant event of this year, which has completely shaped the months since, was the abrupt and complete cancellation of the USAID-funded humanitarian project I was working on in the first week of the DJT administration. On the micro, personal scale, the cancellation completely interrupted my livelihood. That plunged me into a frozen depressive and anxious state for weeks - and left me with far too much time to read up on all the other evil actions the administration was initiating. I'm better, but not fully out of that state. And because of what the destruction of foreign aid writ large represented on the macro scale, it has forced me to think about working outside of my chosen field of global health for the first time in 20+ years. This feels like a major identity crisis. I have found decent part time work doing something completely different, and I do enjoy my three days per week there. I continue to look for meaningful work to fill the rest of my work time. And in the meantime, I try to use some of those open hours to continue to learn, witness, volunteer and advocate. But just as often I need to spend those hours sitting still on the couch listening to trite audiobooks in order to distract myself, hour-by-hour, from the horrors of the rise of authoritarianism in the U.S., the ongoing genocide in Gaza, violence and injustice in so many forms around the world, etc... Overall, I feel furious, sad, and scared about my own future and that of the country and the world.

In 2024 I was pretty depressed (Dinah's diagnosis, difficult job with a shitty boss, life in general just being pretty tough) but I remained hopeful that better times were ahead. And there were certainly ups and downs of this year-- but it was definitely better. My job is still hard, but I am at HealthPoint still and 0.8 is MUCH more reasonable than 1.0. I also have a much better boss. I am also so happy to say that Dinah is on an IDH inhibitor and there is no progression of her tumor which is all we could ask for. Time truly is a fickle thing, but I am happy to say I do feel like I have gotten closer to a happier version of myself. And honestly, I have grown a lot this year. All of the events of 2024 were really difficult, especially in succession but I did grow and learn from it. This year I am grateful- grateful for my health, grateful for the health of my friends and my family, and grateful to be alive. I just got back from a trip with my parents in Turkey and that was a beautiful trip that meant a lot to all of us. I am also in a serious relationship with a Peds ER doc named Ayush and I think I have grown a lot because of that relationship. Its definitely the most serious thing I have ever been in and I do not know what it will looks like in a year from now or if we will even be together in a year from now but I am thankful for it and have grown from it regardless of that the outcome is. He just got a job offer from a hospital in New Orleans and I am pretty sure that is where he will end up. I question if my future is also meant to be there-- it is definitely not where I would be expecting to go but I guess time will tell and I am going to continue to take this windy tipsy turvey path what we call live and see where I go :)

Significant events the past year. Not in any order. 1. My mother dying. Really hard to think what to say. We came back early from Mexico. Had three days where she as still coherent, 4 when she was not. First time spending a week with a dying person. Keith was only a few hours. Residual feeling: struggling with why/how she died. No medical reason. Just when she went onto Hospice Care, she started dying. Tho I know life was getting harder for her, still feel she could have lived longer. Sad, 2.Trump! No words are enough to describe the fast ruthless destruction that he has inflicted on our country. Scared. 3.left knee pain. Linda struggling this year with knee, and should, and neck pain. I developed left knee pain in past month. Also Dupuytren contracture developing in 2 fingers right hand. Fear that this is beginning of end. Old age and death. Worried. 4. Dusy Basin. Used to go in in one day, out in one day. now two in, two out 2.5 there. Still, we can do it. Consider exploring Bishop Lakes area. Find camp spot due east of where we camped last night, up on rise. Happy. 5. Dx 2 crowns. Only had one done. Every time I go in for cleaning they find I need a drown. $2000+ per crown. Find in-network dentist this year? Worried. 6. Mexico City + Oaxaca. Fantastic time. We both fell in MC, tripping on uneven surfaces. I felt pretty bruised, but recovered ok. Only second time in Oaxaca, barely remembered the first. Also went to Oaxaca coast, not sure if would do that again. Hot, humid, not a lot to do. Happy. 7. Pismo Beach. three times in 2 years. lovely. Would like to go back for a King Tide again. Happy. 8. Tree falls on Linda + Andrea's weirdness. Linda bruised and scraped, sore neck/back. Andrea laughing and social all night, then claims PTSD next day, but never talks to us about it, only other people. She's still pretty much incommunicado with us 2-3 months later. Confused, disappointed, frustrated. 9. Dead and Co. Vegas? (maybe last year) 10. Feeling distant from Kendra. She not staying in touch even tho we reached out and helped. 11. First visit ever to NYC. Just wonderful. Really would like to do it again. Hugo excellent showing us around even tho he was just out of surgery. We stayed at place near him Brooklyn. Weird place but good deal once you got used to the weirdness. 12. Cataract surgery. Went well, but no noticeable difference in vision. 13. 2nd to Tassajara to help with Me's stone. This time got last work done in one day. The Alan and Patrick decided to undue the last piece of work that I had suggested. Always great to be there. 14. Sierraville trip. Seems like a nice annual trip. A bit late for flowers this year. Happy. 15. Continued struggle with relationship with friends, tho KT is definitely the worst. I don't trust her at all. Feel all of her 'generosity' is just self serving. This was especially true of three day AND Fest, which now unfortunately falls on her B'day, so it becomes all about her. Still feel lots of friends pay no real attention to what's happening with others, just spewing out whatever's in their head. Not focused or attentive. And, today, I find out from DT that Rojo are staying at their house two or three nights, which is a mere 5 minutes from out house, yet Joanna told Linda they are too busy to visit with us and she never mentioned they were staying at DT's. Friends! Very frustrated, confused.

We went to Europe and saw these fabulous waterfalls in Croatia. I'd never seen anything like it and probably never will again. Inspired? Yes

Last year at this time, I knew I would be losing my job. I thought it would be a slog but I never imagined that nearly a year later, I would still be unemployed. I knew that I had several strikes against me: I am older and work in a niche environment. I thought I was well-prepared. I worked with several people to fine-tune my resume and cover letter. What I've discovered is that a great resume, writing samples, cover letter, and spunky interview style will get you nowhere. Employers are not simply choosy. They are inundated with applicants. AI-based systems search for keywords and promote you to a human reviewer based on obscure requirements, so often a hiring manager will never see your application. Even if you get to the first stage where you speak to a recruiter, there's frequently radio silence. You can never ask is it because I'm too old, too experienced applying for a junior position, threatening to the hiring manager to have someone both older and seasoned reporting to them. Who knows. It doesn't matter. What matters is that I'm chewing through savings and not finding work. Further, the debacle that was the six days of work at WMATA and the EEOC case for religious discrimination is something I never would have put on my 2025 scorecard. I hate that I was forced to resign from a job I wanted because of my religious observance. I hate that the employer saw my diversity as an "unreasonable burden." I hate that I was given a non-choice: do the job and violate my beliefs or resign on the spot. To finally find work, and then to be cast back into a terrible job market, wasn't anything I expected. Resentful, angry, frustrated, weary...no word or words capture the agony that seems to have no end in sight.

I have come to terms with some of my pain being chronic. It sucks. It hurts. I realize that there's a lot that I can't do anymore. That I will never get to do. But that's life I guess.

I went on my first solo trip where I didn't know anyone and had very few expectations beyond having a new adventure and discovering a new place. Everyone tried to talk me out of going but I had the most amazing freedom. I was proud of myself for meeting new people and handling every challenge that came. It was very eye opening.

I bought a new house and put our family home of almost 40 years up for sale. While I was very sad, and would move back in tomorrow if I could handle the upkeep of.the property, I think besides being sad and nostalgic, I was RELIEVED. relieved of the burden of trying to keep up such a big house and acreage, and relieved to not have every corner of the house reminding me of Ken. I needed a fresh start. Moving also made me purge allot of stuff, but also in purging, I found so many memories and treasures. My new house is decorated JUST LIKE I WANT, using mostly family furniture from my mothers side of the family. And there are NO DUCKS, BIRD DOGS OR FOOTBALL pictures or just "things" sitting around. Most of the house is elegant and neat, but I do have a home office that reflects my whimsical side. My carport also reflects my whimsical and crazy side. Everything has a place and is in its place. I'm grateful and feeling more like myself than I have.since Ken died.

Norma's death. My 70th with the kids. Both made me rethink how I understand that I am loveable, not simply loved.

Surgery removing a bone in my left wrist/thumb left me reliant on others for so many things! I'm a "I can do it myself" person, so this has been a real challenge. I appreciate the support of my husband and grown daughters as I've recovered.

Going to the Lofoten Islands was an incredible experience this year. The way the rock formations, waters, and fjords come together in a vastness that stretches out into the horizon; the "midnight sun" where there's almost the same amount of light at all hours of the day; and the fast-changing weather climates where it can be rainy, then completely sunny, or both; all contributed to an experience that made you feel like you were in a different world. The pace of life - as always is the case on vacation - was so different than the day to day today; where it felt like you had endless time; not bound to a schedule. While some of this is what vacation is for; it did make me want to channel a stronger sense of present presence; not always focusing on the next thing: the next errand, the next trip, the next meal; but rather to exist in the moment. Hayom!

I converted to Judaism via the rabbis at Central Synagogue in NYC.

Regular (like, monthly) hangs with our neighbor crew. 6 families getting together once(ish) per month to eat/drink/gather at someone's house. Has given me, my family, and I think all of us, a community that we have all been craving/needing. Getting to share in parenthood with neighbors has been so impactful for us as a couple, as individuals, and for our kids. I am realizing now that my kids are starting to retain memories. and to think in 20, 30, 40 years that can think back to their time on Gage Road and these summer nights with neighbors brings me so much joy.

A significant experience from this last year was completing the rebuild of my house following the wildfire in October 2020. I moved back to my property in November 2024. At first, despite being 'landed' again, I was still unsettled - I am still unsettled. But I continue to be grateful I was able to succeed in rebuilding, and I 'made it through' those four years of immense difficulty and pain between evacuating and returning. There is still much more to do, with the house and with my mind and with my work, but 5785 was primarily defined by being back in my own home.

Dad dying. And I feel a mixture of all those things. Resentful of horrible people who get to live when my Dad was a good person and he was taken away. Relieved he is not in pain and doesn't have to face more cancer treatment. Grateful for the years we had, that I was lucky enough to have him for a Dad. Inspired for sure, everyone who met him was inspired. Inspired by his love for meditation, knowledge, self-learning, generosity and much more!

Being diagnosed with chronic illness officially has been huge. It’s helped me feel less “crazy” to know there really is something wrong with me. That said it has turned my life upside down. I have become increasingly more thankful for the things I do have the ability to do but it’s hard not to get sucked into depression

My dog Max died. It was incredibly painful for me and remains a source of heartbreak.

As much as I try to avoid the topic, the election of Trump and what that has entailed has overshadowed the year. I am in shock at how quickly the nation has succumbed to a pre-Watergate mentality about the role of government. Every day since the election has brought yet another horrific exercise of power. I try to keep positive but it is hard to do. Add to that the decay of democracy in Israel and I am truly horrified.

I obtained US citizenship. It took a 9 years. It is a major event that changed my life significantly. It was a huge relief, I cried at the ceremony. I am not normally that emotional in public, and I didn't expect I'll cry.

The reelection of this regime in the US changed everything. Resentful doesn’t even begin to describe it. It changed relationships both personal and not. And it set us on the path of getting out of the states to live internationally, which was stressful but ultimately incredibly positive… but I fear so much for our loved ones left behind. I’m both glad and saddened that at this point in late September, it looks like others are starting to see what we saw a year ago, but I fear it is too late, and my birth country as I knew it is gone forever.

Moving our sailboat to spain, I feel a bit overwhelmed and excited by this new adventure

Dating without falling out of my own boat. Taking many "like you, but not really that way" encounters in stride, exhausting tho they were. Then ..Heidi ...who was too far away (2 states) to seriously date ... but looked so interesting, open, truthful. So we started talking and are now exploring where our shared path might go. The appearance of a deep soul with humor, the ability to show up with honesty, take risks, share her love and accept mine has been what I've dreamed of finding and nurturing and celebrating.

Our trip east this year was both enriching and physically hard. I hurt my leg three different ways and had real trouble walking, which scared me. I worry that age is really catching up with me in terms of my ability to be active. I don't want to give up too much too fast, and also don't want to be stubborn and stupid about hanging on.

Trump was reelected, and it's upended our country in a way I could only imagine. Partisan politics has bifurcated the nation, and I'm genuinely fearful for where we will go from here. I've never been more tuned in and more tuned out at the same time. I pay such close attention to the news, personally and professionally, but I feel more paralyzed and incapable than ever. So many things that I care about - from global health and international development to migrant and reproductive rights to the economy and global alliances - have been (and somehow continue to be!) undermined. Charlie Kirk's death and Trump's words at his memorial have so clearly spelled out where we are now: Republicans see themselves in a battle against the Evil Left. The Left have seen the Republicans acquiesce time and again to the Far Right. In a figurative, imagined battle of good and evil, we all lose.

My boyfriend broke up with me and it turned my life upside down. It really hurt me and it still does. Not only did my every day life change significantly but I'm also missing a lot of support regarding my work. He supported me a lot when I started freelancing and I only did it because I thought that I could count on him. I'm feeling very lonely and left behind and I'm struggling a lot with dealing with all the responsibilities that I have at work on my own. I feel like I started to fast and too soon and now my support system is gone. I slowly start to understand that it's better that we broke up but I'm still struggling a lot with bringing my life back in order.

I'm sitting here feeling challenged to select a significant experience from last year. Not that last year didn't include significant experiences. But I'm also thinking that all experiences are significant, and also thinking that sometimes we may not recognize the significance of experiences at the time, or until long after, of perhaps never really appreciate the significance. On the other hand, I are remembering some moments that likely don't pass the bar for significance that I cherished non the less. Things like sunrises and sunsets and dark dark night skies. If there is a significance, it's that there is an imbedded message of insignificance. What did I do to create those moments? Nothing. Nor could I have intervened to prevent them. No, I did bring something. I brought my presence, my willingness to stop and look and to SEE. My awareness that a sunset can't be put off until later. Continually evolving, whether I look or no, whether I see or no, the moment comes and goes. Arises and subsides, becomes and then becomes something else. And did so before I was born, and will do so after I die. How does that make me feel? It makes me feel insignificant. But insignificant in a very positive way, not in a way that says I have no part in this world, but rather in a way that says I have a part in this moment only.

The 12 days of war with Iran caught me dogsitting for a friend who got stuck in the UK for several weeks. So, I had a shelter in the building, which I don’t have at home. The dog became the shelter ambassador, always available for kids and adults to pet. I got to know the people in the building and it really made the situation less stressful.

My 50th birthday: party and trip I was proud, grateful e very very happy I realized that I was care and much more connected with my friend Eu senti que eu sou querida e que as pessoas me consideram muita próxima do que eu imaginava. Foi uma comemoração de 50 anos, de 10 anos curada do câncer, de muitos anos de casamento, de 20 anos sendo abençoada pela dádiva de ser mãe, de ter mais amigos do que eu jamais imaginaria, de ver uma Silvia iluminada, forte, madura e muito feliz

Trump as president is an ongoing train wreck. I am terrified.

My older sister came to visit with out her husband or children. She stayed for a weekend and it was surprisingly pleasant. It was nice spending time with my sister again after 20 years of her spending all the family time with the in-laws. I think the trip may have been at the prompting of her therapist, but no judgement. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to reconnect with my sister.

I travelled to Asia - specifically Japan - for the first time. I feel so grateful to have the opportunities/privilege to travel and see so much more than many people.

I finished a play! Elated. I feel capable. And excited to finally be at the crafting stage rather than the shoveling stage. Ready to do more

There have been several events this year that have been definitive. In February, we took a trip to Belize, and it was a wonderful experience, unforgettable. I’m not sure when we will be able to travel like that again. In August, I got laid off from my job, which had never happened to me before. It felt devastating as I have always identified myself with my career. In the long run, I know I’ll probably be better off, but the feelings of grief, resentment, and confusion have been significant. Just last week, my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. He is a nonsmoker and has been very careful about leading a healthy lifestyle. I am still unable to process all the feelings I have. The fact that this is happening during the High Holy Days feels particularly pointed.

This year, one of the most significant experiences I had was my encounter with Japan in the Spring. The country was something almost totally unknown for me, but I felt a deep connection the moment I landed in Tokyo. It was the beginning of the Hanami season, I felt well, good, and happy. I felt inspired and in my milieu. It was a trip with my siblings, which was already nice, but the encounter with the Japanese culture shifted something inside me. I came back a different person I think, as if by immersing in Japan's aura, there was also a change in my etheric constitution. It was observed also by people who know me well upon my coming back. I felt, and feel, more poised. I could compare and contrast it with the relationship I have with India, and how I feel when I am there. I can't wait to go back to Japan, and this time I would also like to "feel" the space in (South) Korea

Cue, a 1987, bright & airy version of, "it's the End of the World as We Know It," all characters sing along to the "and I'm ok." As images of masked ICE agents taking families from court, the plastic garbage sea with a baby whale swimming as you hear an announcement of marine protections being lifted, the video crackles and cuts on his last speech - as Colbert criticized Trump taking funds and then they annouced his show is canceled, prison doors slam shut on 14 year old children with a line of National Guard standing at attention. "It the end of the world...," the tune fades out. "As we know it," I mouth the words. She is on the way, this new world. Ancient futures. I am watching every day things become more dangerous and I am watching my memory fad. My words harder to find. My hearing more strained. More pains more pronounced. And like fascism, I am telling everyone that it is dangerous, it is coming, that I can feel "different." But no one is really listening - and if they do, they are explaining it away. We're screaming at the world to wake up, but everyone is "fine." 2025. Welcome to the first year of fascism and of our most beautiful revolutions, our wildest campaigns, our deepest trainings... It's this, at the Summer School for Women+ in Unions and Worker Organizations, during open mic night, songs of Selena and the wobble - culture and collective dnace, then Gladys and Julie, her daughter a healthcare organizer at 1199 sings a song about Guatemala and immigrants and "why does everyone come after them" and cries and the crowd gets closer and closer, till everyone is on stage hugging her. And 'fuck Trump' over the mic. And air traffic controllers refuse to land planes. Boycotts of Disney Plus bring back Jimmy Kimmel, the Gaza Flotilla sails over the open sea bravely - music plays of the Hind Song by Malemore fading into a sunset. We were made for these times. Will we show them what Eros taught us about love and revolution and the ability to transform the broken pain into possibility?

My husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer just before last year's questions came out. So he is still alive but suffering a lot and watching him has been brutal, cruel and made me question everything. We got married this year, this is the most significant thing in my life ever. I don't have any answers anymore. My closest kindest friend told me she couldnt support me while my husband is dying. I have pushed most people away, they are having babies and building familoes and homes and I'm losing mine and between them not being able to give me what I really need and me not knowing what I really need, I've lost my community, my place, my support, losing my husband and losing my mind. I'm grateful he's still alive. I'm heartbroken that he suffers and I watch. I'm broken that he will be in hospice aged 45. I feel I have nobody. Even the friends that stuck around are unreliable and for good reason too, with young children to parent. I've spent a year wondering why. Spent a year praying almost every single night. I spent the last year questioning why my closest friend would abandon me at this time and conclude I'm not a good person and all mistakes and selfish ess and guilt and shame has dripped down into ever fibre of my being that I don't know who I am anymore. I can't disclose any of it to my husband because he is dying and he needs support. When he dies I will learn to be self sufficient. No more over sharing. No more apologising. I had no idea I had been alone all along, because what are friendships worth when they are abandoned as soon as you face being widowed at 39?

Louis and I got engaged! What the heck, honestly. I'm relieved and happy and excited, and it's such a change from where I saw my life going when I first started this project in 2010.

My husband celebrated his 90th birthday in May with visiting family and local friends attending onsite and others from around the world via Zoom. It was wonderful: he’s generally in great health, still daily bicycle riding. But he also had several serious health issues over the last six months and was hospitalized three times. So, it’s been a roller coaster with me managing his health care (weekly doctor appointments, visiting nurses, physical therapists, etc.; much of it requiring me to translate French to English). At this moment, I’m grateful that he’s stabilized and keeping my fingers crossed that he remains so.

My wife nearly left me for converting to Judaism. It made me understand the importance of my relationship with Hashem.

getting MY powerchair. its still not perfect but its like the world opened up. spending time with mum recently and realising she can go nuts and i can still keep up? its been real special

My husband had a stroke. It has been difficult and taken lots of my time and patience. However, I am grateful that he survived and is expected to make a full recovery.

This year, I moved across the country. Although not my first time packing all the things I own into boxes, with their memories and all packed away as well, this was the first time doing it as an adult, and with no support from my family. I was so relieved to be leaving the place I was, but still afraid of the place I was going. Would I bee able to make new friends (again)? What if I don't like it there? How will I adjust to living with a roommate I've only met over a phone call? Although I've lived in this apartment for the better part of a year now, I still find myself missing parts of the places I used to call home, but more and more I have found myself thinking of home as here. Specifically, I find myself thinking of home as the place with the people who I can now call friends. I'm so thankful for you, and I hope that I always have more to pour into our friendship!

I broke up with my fiance, Mike. It changed my DNA. It changed everything about me. I then accepted a promotion to move across the country to a city I knew nobody and start over. It was the hardest and greatest thing I've ever done. I now feel like I can do anything because I survived that. I am no longer held back by fear and the anxiety of not being strong enough. I know I am strong enough.

We moved away from our friends and our community to buy our first house. It’s been lonely and hard. We thought for so long it was time to grow up, but now we’re just missing our friends and our home. But we threw a housewarming last weekend and all the old neighbors came and they brought a keg and stayed till the end to close it out and blast music on our speakers and dance. The house truly and finally felt warmed.

I decided to volunteer as an observer in immigration courts as part of program run by the San Francisco Bar Association. In order to try to prepare, I went to Ecuador to work on my Spanish language, thinking that it might be useful to speak Spanish when trying to assist immigrants. Coming into the courtroom I was coached to expect that ICE agents would be present to detain people after their hearings if their cases were dismissed, but it turned out that what I observed were asylum seekers who cases had not yet been reviewed by a judge being detained even if the judge did not dismiss their cases. Almost everyone was a Spanish speaker with little to no English. In the courtrooms I observed at 100 Montgomery, the judges were working to follow the usual procedures (I learned this through repeated observation) and there were no ICE agents outside, so the process was routine. In the courtrooms at 630 Sansome, ICE was present, and one of the judges, who always attended court virtually, was terrible in terms of following procedure or listening to the asylum seekers. He was either in cahoots with ICE or just dialing it in. People were regularly arrested outside his courtroom and the volunteer attorneys needed my assistance to keep the people in the courtroom until the attorney could get critical info from them. In another courtroom the judge, though strict and often harsh in his manner, was fair and operated according to procedure, but it didn't matter. ICE agents were waiting outside to detain people whether he dimissed their cases or not. In one instance there was no attorney from the Bar present, and so I was trying to get the respondent to sit with me and give me the info we needed to get her an attorney and notify her family or friends. She was panicked and wanted to leave, but I knew she was about to be arrested. I could not keep her in the room -- she tried calling her daughter even while she was on her way out of the courtroom. I walked with her and heard that her daughter was answering just as ICE detained her. She was in such a state of fear and shock. Afterwards I started having nightmares about ICE agents downstairs in my apartment and grabbing me off the street. I was scheduled to travel, so I was able to get away for a month or so, but it taught me how terrifying the present situation is for many vulnerable people. I will return to the courtroom, but I find myself very angry, to a degree that surprises and worries me.

I got full custody of my kids I am grateful and resentful of the courts that it has taken so so long Getting them away from our abuser

Probably the biggest thing is that we (the fam) got on a plane and flew to Iceland. We started planning this trip in the fall of 2024, and dominated my thoughts for months. With husband’s help, I did most of the planning on our end, although we did have a tour group (Nordika) that did the actual details. It was amazing, awesome, fun, better than I hoped - all was SO good. I am grateful! I am relieved that it’s over! I am inspired to do it again. It has re-expanded our horizons with the possibility of going someplace that requires a plane flight. We don’t NEED to fly, but we could. It also served the broader purpose of reminding me that, while this was the trip of a lifetime, I have been fortunate enough to have had several other “trips of a lifetime”, to wit: Peru, England, Denali NP, Alaska via motorcycle, Inuvik via motorcycle, four times to Europe, and more.

I've been wondering what my answer to this question will be. The obvious answer is graduating highschool, it has completely changed my life this year compared to previous years, however it doesn't feel like that significant of an experience, I'd say the actual event and graduating wasn't that significant, but the things that followed in life afterwards as a result very much were. Graduating felt right, it was needed, I was ready, school was no longer for friends and fun, it really was just to learn, and I had felt so detached from my peers at that point, I felt that I had grown so much and a lot of them had stayed in the same place, I was so very ready to be done. So I graduated, and I finished my last dance concert ever and I achieved my one year clean goal. Then I went on a little trip round Australia doing camps and assisting on empower u programs, going camping, seeing lota of friends and my siblings. That felt very significant at the time, I had a lot to do and I meant a lot to a lot of people, I was also dreaming so very big for my future ahead, which I definitely should be doing. But very quickly I fell into a pretty negative pattern, as I was 100% sure I wanted to go travelling by June, I started working a lot. And with working a lot, I fell into the habit and routine of smoking a lot, and to be fair it didn't stop me from doing the things I needed to do, but it stopped me from doing any extra, I wasn't playing music or writing or doing really anything for myself. I fell into a relationship that didn't really mean a lot and didn't make me want to grow as a person, so I felt pretty stuck and unhappy with myself. Until the other significant experience this year, going to lead on a summer camp in Canada. It was perfect timing, it got me on my feet again, doing something I love all day and everyday, working with kids, playing music, making new friends. Then working in the kitchen, learning very good cooking skills, falling in love, understanding that kitchenwork is not my calling and also makes me feel a little dull. That came was full of learning, about myself and others, about kids, about food, about Canada. I really felt alive in that first month, alive and healthy, which is something I don't think I felt all year. So all in all I think I was pretty damn relieved to graduate, and then felt quite inspired for my life close after. Then I'd say I feel a little resentful for the time that I could've used better before I came to Canada, but I'm oh so grateful for every major experience this year, its made me so sure in who I am and I wouldn't trade that for anything.

Donald Trump was reelected President. I was depressed. I've been scared, seeing all he's pushing through. I've imaged where it will rather likely continue to go. I've had hope- when judges have prevented some of the proclamations and laws from going into affect. I've felt the need to do things to speak out and try to push back. I've done some. I've felt guilty for not doing more or staying dedicated. I've been angry at all the bad impacts this is having on so many people and how he and his cronies just don't give a shit.

Feeling my son placed onto my chest when he was born is the most incredible feeling I’ve ever experienced. It’s true that you dont realized the love youre capable of until you have a child. I had lingering fears during pregnancy that something would go wrong or he would have a medical issue. I was so relieved when he was born perfectly fine. Then I was terrified and overcome with fear when he turned blue and stopped breathing. I felt like a horrible mother and my heart ached every night we had to leave him in the NICU. The relief, joy, and adoration I experienced when we finally got to take him home and I sat in the dark, holding him on my chest while he slept, was incredible.

This year I got to spend two weeks with my husband alone without the kids- something that hasn't happened since my first child was born 4 years ago. I felt so relaxed and really appreciated just spending time with him. It reminded me of why we has gotten married and why we were together- not just for the family, but because we genuinely enjoy each other.

My surgery back in June. I took two weeks off work, but more realistically my recovery was closer to two months. It was an emotional roller-coaster because I struggled with not feeling supported enough and being left alone too much. I also really struggled with slowing down enough to rest both my mind and body. Some of the things I chose to occupy myself with were not good for my mental health. But that lesson taught me the pleasure of slowing down, of enjoying simple joys. I have two more surgeries in the next year planned, and I intend to use this experience to really prioritize my own healing and wellbeing. I'm so excited, I want to make the most of it and do right by me! It's a mitzvah to eat, so surely it is one to heal, too.

I had a shocking dx that I might have cognitive issues 5-10 years down the road. I felt like someone punched me in the gut. I wallowed in it for a few weeks, went to what seemed like a million doctors and then decided I was not going to move into that headspace. If I have a good 5-10 years (and who knows thereafter and what will be available between now and then) then I'm going to enjoy them. My kids were fabulous and made plans for what everyone would do either way. I was so grateful to them for the kind daughters they are. Relieved - Very. Inspired - I am so amazed at how wonderful they turned out - as children of divorce and not very wealthy and they are amazing. What a gift and pat myself on the back to be able to really see it and appreciate them for who the are and what they do.

I was selected to run as the Director of CoreChurch Kids. It has giving me so much more purpose in expanding the Lords kingdom with little children. This position is such a blessing from heaven. I am hoping to build a team of Lords teachers.

Mama becoming psychotic in June because of med-med interaction. Feeling that grief of losing her and then the relief when she was put on different meds and got better essentially. Grateful her cognition improved and also aware that none of us know how long we have.

My husband has cancer, likely terminal. I’m so afraid. In 2 days we learn exactly what it is and how long he has. It may be only months. I hope it will be at least a year. And I hope he will not suffer. He doesn’t deserve that.

There have been a number of things. Unresolved health problems, chronic untreated pain which adversely affects everything in my life. But the thing that stands out the most is being physically assaulted by the building super in my apartment building. I was terrified, and very shaken. When I reported it to the on-site manager, they blamed me and took his side! I live in a rent controlled building run by the Jewish Federation. I was enraged by their attitude! I never filed an official complaint on the advice of my lawyer (they are suing me for the third time!!!), but didn't have a chance to mention it to the police until some months later. I had made made the mistake of telling the manager that I had not given up the idea of filing assault charges against***, and the next thing I knew, someone had ripped my mezuzah off my front door!! I do not believe it is a coincidence... I would love to move to another apartment building,but there is nowhere to go!! I no longer feel safe in my own home. No one should have to live like this!

This year, all of my reproductive organs were forcibly removed. Not because I wanted them to. In fact, I had planned on keeping them for most if not all of my life. I was so resistant to hearing that I might have cancer that I actively ignored a gynecologist who was practically stalking me. I’m not sure if I did the right thing. I mean, I did ensure that I won’t have cancer of the uterus, the cervix or the ovaries. But I had thousands of dollars of tests and a $30,000 plus surgery. I didn’t go to work for four weeks. Actually, if anything was worth it, maybe taking four weeks off of work was. I got a little glimpse of why people are so excited about retirement. Did I really need to go through all of that? Or did I allow myself to be lead along by well meaning clinicians? I’m honestly not sure. And since no longer have any lady bits, does this mean I’m gender fluid now?

There were several but the most important is I became a grandmother. My eldest daughter who was not interested in having children had a big surprise. My grandson was born late April. There are no words to describe how profound this has been. Having children was what I thought the most amazing wonderful thing in the world, then I became a grandmother. This is next level amazing. Watching my daughter and son-in-law enjoy being parents as much as I did gives me such happiness. They are amazing parents. She is a loving caring thoughtful relaxed mom. She is asking me and other family for support and help. My mind is blown. Then when her siblings were told she was pregnant one if her brothers confided they had been trying since they were married and although nothing was wrong with either, they couldn’t get pregnant. They were going through IVF! Now we have grandchild #2 due 11/1/25🥰

Oh goodness, so many to choose from. Let’s go with the events around Christmas 2024. I was getting high pretty much 24/7 and ruminating on the shame from my first marriage’s ending. I found myself in endless internal debates around what kind of person I really was. One day, I realized my thoughts were going down a dark path and that if I continued that line of thinking, I was not going to be alive by the end of the day. So, I stopped everything and played Elden Ring from about 1pm until 1 or 2am that night, stopping every now and then to write about my experience. When I decided to call it for the right, I noted the time, realized I HAD made it to the next day and cried. A few days later, on Christmas Day, I was continuing the rumination and felt something shift internally. It was so significant that I stopped everything I was doing. Turned off all the lights, crawled into bed and proceeded to have panic attacks for the next few hours. I feared losing touch with reality, due to the numerous voices in my head (I later learned of a thing called Internal Family Systems) and managed to get a friend over to my house to sit with me while I continued to have the panic attacks. A couple of hours later, they subsided and I could stand up and walk around again. I stopped taking cannabis that day and haven’t since. I’m grateful for having gone through those experiences, despite being terrified in those moments. I later realized how much rumination ruled my life and much later realized that I do it so much because I’m autistic (a new development this year as well). I’m learning ways to realize when it’s happening so I don’t let myself go down that dark path again. I might end up on a different dark path, but at least it won’t be the same mistake again and again (I hope).

I got engaged!!! It has been the most magical month since then. I feel a sense of safety and security I have not felt in a very long time.

I gave birth and became a mother!!! It was absolutely transformative. I am a different person and forever will be from who I was before - I have a deeper well of empathy for suffering, an understanding and appreciation for care work, feel more open and vulnerable to the world and also more motivated and really IN it. I'm grateful for the experience while also acknowledging it was (and is) so incredibly difficult and traumatic. I think this will inspire me to pursue more care work in my career and engage with the world more deeply.

I got engaged!!

A significant experience in the past year was the passing of my Dad and then ten days later, Marc's dad. It was tough to lose my dad on Kol Nidre last year but thankfully, I have so many memories, photos and conversations with him that I am holding on to. My dad was the biggest influence in my life and I hear him guiding me through the challenging times with my brothers., post his death. It's been difficult to mourn him with the animosity of my brothers towards me but I'm really using the Let Them theory to not try and change them but to change how I react to their criticism and animosity toward me. Malin's death was more expected but it made for a difficult period of mourning. I feel inspired by Marc and the girls and how we all navigated this very sad time in our lives, by holding on to each other and constantly thinking about the influence that these two powerful men had in our lives. I am grateful we had them around for so long and that they got to watch our girls grow into adulthood.

The election of Trump to a second term where he has no checks on his power and seems to feel no responsibility or allegiance to anything, including the US Constitution, has profoundly affected me over the past year. We have seen immigrants seized by ICE officials regardless of legal status and trans kids denied the rights to be who they are. The administration has also infiltrated my personal life. My company has had severe financial issues due to the tariffs and laid off people who we really couldn't afford to lose as a result. Moreover, I have many highly educated friends who are facing a dismal job market, the worst they have ever seen. As much as I would love to leave my current job, I face the same job market. It is uniquely difficult when the news tears at my heart and I am also seeing its profound impact on those I love.

In the past year I have overcome a writer's block which lasted for more than ten years! I am so grateful about it.

I had severe debilitating and constant back pain where I was immobilized for 3 months and in the hospital being prepared for a major spinal surgery. The night before the surgery, hearing how involved it was going to be , inserting nuts and bolts and rods into my spine, and months and months of pain and rehabilitation, I backed out of the surgery at the last minute. I felt very grateful that I said no! I felt like I dodged a bullet.

The American people chose to put a person back in the White House who does not have the morals & convictions of someone worthy of governing our country. It makes me concerned & sad for all the lives that are being negatively impacted in order to line the pockets of a few wealthy men who also share (for the most part) the same lack of human decency & compassion.

In February, I performed a new artform that I had not engaged in before. I feel that I have grown significantly as an artist and as an individual this year. I do every year, but this year has been particularly impactful as I bring together all my skillsets of networking, organising and artistic intuition.

This year, Israel has continued to commit genocide in Gaza, and large swaths of the Jewish community have continued to refuse to even acknowledge it. It's really affected my relationship to Judaism, and made me resentful of the community I always felt so inspired by. It hurts! I don't understand how the community that raised me with such a strong sense of Justice can just turn a blind eye to atrocities like this.

Right after it happened, even when I was still in the hospital, I thought, "This will be my 10Q answer this year." I had a stomach perforation in December. I almost died. Not in an exaggerated way, but in a very real way. Two different doctors told me I was fine, that my pain was just gas or constipation. By the time I finally got to the ER after the third day of my stomach contents leaking into the rest of my body, my body was shutting down. It was the most pain I've ever experienced in my life, and that I hope to ever experience. There were so many parts to this journey: those first 30 minutes in the ER, two emergency surgeries, eight days in the hospital, nine days without food. I had to learn how to walk again, how to eat, how to do everything. I felt like a baby and a postpartum mother all at once. So much trauma. So much of it not yet resolved. My body has healed physically, but the wounds are clearly still there. My heart is beating faster just thinking about it. How did it affect me? It changed my entire perspective on life. It made me want to take nothing for granted. It showed me what an incredible partner, family, and friends I have. It made me so unimaginably grateful to be alive, to get to live my life, when others who experienced something similar aren't here.

In the past year I have gotten very focused on outrigger canoeing and have pursued it without a ton of self-analysis about cultural appropriation or appropriateness. I think there are some questions to ask myself, but I have been driven by the physical intensity of it, the community of people and enthusiasm of Nan, and the ways in which it ties me to other parts of the world, particularly the Pacific ocean, again. I am trusting my body and the ways it's been easy to get up early, sacrifice other social opportunities, and put paddling ahead of so much else. It feels good. I'm going with that.

In the last year, my partner retired and I applied for a transfer home to the city I grew up in, to help my aging mother. This move was a HUGE change. I’m so grateful for the chance to be with my mom, but the stress and anxiety of trying to relearn my job in a new facility has been tremendous. There were days I wanted to quit, days when I couldn’t stop crying…I know it’s the right decision but it’s been really hard.

I have had several significant experiences this year. I will mostly discuss the one that has been the major catalyst to the growth of my sense of self and possibility. The one that in some ways prepped me for the next. This year I went completed 17 days of the Camino de Santiago. I walked between between 7-16 miles every day, and I arrived alone. I did not leave as alone though, since I made incredibly valuable, transformative, intergenerational friendships. The Camino taught me more than I may ever know. This was not my first 17 day trek, but it was my first self-driven one. The walking taught me much: how soothing and easeful it can be to move through the world as my main and only focus; that I'm capable of far more than I'd imagined; how to make my own decisions; how to make those decisions based off of my current beliefs and intentions rather than in reaction to what I've been told to do, either in alignment or rejection of it. I was reminded, or maybe learned for the first time that I'm in the driver's seat. This was both reaffirmed and undermined by immediately starting my new job within 2 days of reentering the US. I finally feel grown. I'm financially and psychologically independent. I also feel a bit more wrapped back into the system than I did before. I feel persistently urged to move at a faster pace than makes for an easeful life. I'm not totally sure how to reconcile these 2 ways of being. One being so beautifully joyful but unsustainable, and the other too frenetic. I also think it's worth noting that the kind of people on the Camino are naturally going to be very open mined people, maybe because they're european, maybe cause they're the kinds of people in a place of life and with the inclination to go on a physical pilgrimage, maybe we were all just better versions of ourselves in such a free setting. Probably a mix. Amidst the latest widespread storm of confusion and terror in the US, these sometimes joyful, always evolutive developments stump me. As proud as I am of myself for following my own strange and winding path, I'm worried it will prove a dead end, or even that the trees along this path are dangerously unmaintained. This is all to say, I am deeply grateful for these new beginnings. I am grateful for the mentality shift i've managed in this past year. I have a sense of agency I've never known. I feel capable of taking care of my mind and body to a whole new degree. I know myself and the world better. I am still seeking ways to integrate that knowledge into the suffering, confusion, and panic I'm noticing more and more around me.

I went outside swimming shirtless for the first time. I wanted to do it last year but it was too soon post-surgery. It felt like relief to make that milestone, but also not as big a deal as I had worried about. The people I was with for it were chill and affirming and supportive, which helped a lot, as I still have a bit of stuff left in my mind from before I transitioned that makes me momentarily think I can’t be shirtless in public. I imagine that will ease with practice.

at 61, I took a first-ever vacation by myself away from home. I learned to ride an e-bike, did daily meditation writings, and made a backpack. I am so grateful for the friends who lent me their place, for the experience, for my partner's understanding, for the opportunity. I learned a lot about what I like and don't like to do in my time away, and what kind of places are good alone and which are not. I am so glad I took my project. It was the highlight of my tripe. I spent the entire time alone. It was fulfilling and lacking in all the right ways.

This past year was full of ups and downs. I finally got a job, I found a hobby and found friends, real friends. Life started to make more sense and I felt more at home in Australia. But I also have felt the pressure of my biological clock and my strong desire to be a mom. This lead to quiet some big conflicts in my relationship and we've been close to breaking up a few times - not for the lack of love, but for not being aligned on our life plans. I'm in big parts grateful and proud to see that once more, I was able to rebuilt - but I am less relieved than I was last year - because that sense of "finding my person" has not been accompanied with the future I've dreamed of - at least not yet, and that's scary.

A tertiary malfeasance cleared itself. For the most part. Im not really sure of the narrative being insisted upon, or the underlying context all but being enforced, but jamais vu became deja vu. Science did underline magic. It was once used in a powerful way, but its turned an entire civilization against me. Im scared. And everyone is in-the-know about the worst kept secret. And nobody is subtle about it. Im relived ive narrowed down the active counterservaillence, but... my own greedy parents? Over the next year with my coclear eye open, Id like to actively push back, but ive gotta slowly work on identifying everyone else's blissfully ignorant habits much more clandestinely.

Maddie graduated high school in the spring. This fall is the first time in about 16 years that we have not a kid in the public school system. Feeling proud, relieved, and sense of time passing. Also significant was selling my mother's house (my childhood home) and getting her moved into a new community. Feeling mix of emotions, but mostly a big relief that that is behind me.

My mother died at 97 after a year and a half of mostly steady decline. I was a bit surprised by timing, but not her death, as the likelihood of her recovering enough strength to have a reasonable quality of life was low. I find that there is a hole of sorts in my universe. So many times that I think, "I should tell mom," or "Mom would love this," and then realize I can't share with her, at least in this world. I also felt a weird freeing sensation. My mom had high expectations, and I internalized them to a detrimental extent. I was at a retreat focusing on finding our truth and courage for "what's next" in the midst of a transition. In the almost immediate aftermath of "knowing" she had died (text from my sister that simply said, "call me"), I was able to speak my truth about what was important to me in a way I had never previously been able to do -- with confidence, conviction, and authenticity. I felt guilty about being relieved of the burden of her expectations (or my internalization of them). I now feel inspired to live more authentically and to recognize when I am subverting my truth to ensure I am meeting the needs or expectations of others. I am also inspired to ensure I have conversations with my son to help him understand the difference between my hopes and dreams for him and any expectations he may have internalized from me.

The realization that I fuck up nearly everything in which I’m involved. Related is a feeling that I cannot justify my existence.

My father died this year. I'm imagine all the ways this affected me will not be clear to me for some time, if ever in their totality. I do know I'm changed, in ways known and unknown. Some things I know are different: I feel a sense of urgency at times about experiencing everything in life. I also recognize this to sometimes be a way I take myself away from the moment that is simply here, being sad, experiencing the loss. I'm learning that my capacity to feel is vast, and yet I sometimes want to look away. I'm grateful I was with him during the process, though it was painful to see him in pain. My complicated relationship with him became very simple and healed very quickly as I sat with him, read to him, bathed him, cut his hair, his nails, witnessed his ongoing and intense pain, shared tears with him. The years of resentment I felt for a variety of little and big losses through the 53 years I knew him melted away in the last three months of his life. Six weeks after his death, I check in with myself...do I have any residue of resentment? I do not. I have sadness and joy and gratitude for the gift of being with him in the end. I hope I can feel this sense of the truth of things--even as I write this I feel what I mean but am not sure how to put it into words. As time goes on since he's died, I feel as if I have a secret that I'm in fear of forgetting. I hope I can remember the way I felt sitting quietly, him looking into my eyes looking into his eyes, the same blue, the wonder and the mystery.

We visited our grandchildren in DC since both worked in Congress for the summer. Also another one at his college. So nice to visit on their turf and have them show us their lives.

significant experience - well the most horrible fucking event of all time was the RE-election of the criminal rapist to the highest office in the land AND the voting-in of the entire corrupt Gang Of Pedophiles. It honestly has been a terrible time to be even slightly intelligent. The only thing that keeps me from absolute despair is taking care of my family and protecting them as best I can from the stupidity of evil, glorified ignorance.

A few things come to mind. I had a health issue earlier this year. It was causing me discomfort. I discussed it with Fran and checked some of my symptoms on the NHS website. After calling 111, we decided the best thing to do was to go to A&E to get it checked out. We were very lucky: not having to wait that long to be seen. I was examined and then given a course of antibiotics, which cleared up the problem in a few days. At the time, thinking about the worst-case scenario made me queasy and uncomfortable. Thinking about it now, I'm relieved and grateful that it wasn't more serious. We had a similar scare with our cat, Milly, this weekend. On Thursday evening, I accidentally kicked her in the head with my shin when she was following me around on the landing at bedtime. She has a habit of getting underfoot and in the way. I've kicked both cats accidentally quite a few times, but this one felt a bit more significant. She didn't show any immediate signs, but I noticed the next morning that her head was drooping low. She couldn't look up. I called the Oxford Cat Clinic and they recommended bringing her in. Again, we were lucky that they had an appointment straight away. I took her in for examination. They gave her an anti-inflammatory injection and some more anti-inflammatory painkillers to add to her food every morning. She rested a lot on Friday to Sunday. Her head was low and she seemed unsteady on her feet. She hid away and slept. By Monday, she seemed mostly back to normal. When I took her back to Oxford Cat Clinic this afternoon, they thought she was fine. They recommended continuing with the anti-inflammatory painkillers unti they run out. It turns out this is also the stuff they'd use for arthritis. Although she looked very sweet with a droopy head, I'm so relieved and thankful that she's recovered from it. These little scares make me very grateful for my health and the health of those I love. I've also learned in the last week or so that although my father-in-law Tom's cancer continues to grow, it isn't growing quickly. He has been "discharged" from hospital, which means they he won't be having regular scans and blood tests every three months. He also won't be having any more treatment. I'm really pleased that this should give him and Ros a better quality of life - however long is left. It is apparently "months", but this could be 18 months. I hope he doesn't suffer too much from the "So you're still here, then?" brigade. I suppose this was the best news we could hope for, and I'm thankful for his sake that he will no longer be medicalized. I've also had some lovely holidays with Fran: a short break in Paris in March to watch France vs Scotland in the Six Nations; a return to Wales in May; and a lovely holiday in Pescara and Numana on the Italian Adriatic coast. I feel like we've adjusted quite well to each other after we had a conversation about some issues during our holiday in Ireland last year. I certainly feel we've avoided some of the stresses and tensions that can build up when spending so much time together and making collective decisions. I'm really grateful that whatever adjustments we've made to each other seem to be making things easier (at least from my perspective).

I watched someone die. She was a new friend, someone I met through a hospice program as a volunteer. We became fast friends and as luck would have it, she had received a terminal diagnosis. I was lucky enough to be by her side supporting her through the last few months of her illness and to be at her bedside the moment she took her final breath. I'm still wrestling with what I took from the experience of B, but off the top - what a privilege to witness someone passing from one realm to another. What reward to be someone that person trusts enough to have there. And how lucky we are to wake up every day and go about our little lives, never knowing when our 'status quo' will be shaken. Like mindfulness meditation, I remember and forget this a hundred times a day.

It's kind of jarring to realize that for an entire year of ups and downs that one specific experience doesn't stand out as significant. Rather it's been the slow steady positive feedback that I'm getting from teaching. And it's so far beyond the ego of being told I'm good at what I do- although that is truly wonderful- it's the feeling of doing something that makes people happy, that brings them joy, and even connection with people they didn't know previously. That feels big, and I'm profoundly grateful for it.

This past year has been a time of exponential growth. From retreats to many online spiritual and coaching course as well as Kabbalah and mindfulness courses, I have deepened my own awareness and mindful presence. I feel an inner peace and glowing because of it.

I dropped contact with my parents in February. It's been a long time coming I think, I just didn't want to quit. I mafe excuses for the pain they've always caused me - it wasn't bas *enough*, it wasn't as bad as it *could* be... But they hurt me over and over, and just seeing a message from them would send me into a ball of stress and fear and dysphoria (misgendering being large part, byt by no means all, of the reasons for this). It's now September and they still haven't got the message. I don't want to cause drama by blocking them but if they keep acting like nothing is wrong, I might have to. But that's for a future time. Having said that, keeping them muted helps a lot. I can also read a message then mark it as unread. I'm less stressed at trying to figure out how to cope with their twice-yearly remembrance that they have a third kid who they like to oretend is a binary cis person (their misgendering went from she/het ti he/him after a 2yr break in contact, despite me never using either since I came out. They just want to pretend I'm not trans). Although I haven't had any "look how wonderful our expensive holiday is, child who is too poor to afford so much as a weekend in a hotel" so that's nice. Overall I feel lighter. I don't have to deal with them. I don't have to explain things theyll refuse to understand. And I still have a parent - one who showed me what a good parent actually is. My FIL. He's a wonderful man. I'm glad I came to this point. I wish they hadn't forced me to. But I'm stronger for it.

I had some difficult moments with my own family, and my husband and his family. I took care of myself, and I took tangible steps to help all of us. In all of these instances, I was the one approaching others to try and clear things up, and offer an opportunity for dialogue. I learned that most people are not ready to take responsibility for their actions and they prefer to scapegoat, or even just ignore the situation and “ghost”. I am glad that I am doing much better now, and after reading “The Let Them Theory” by Mel Robbins, I feel better equipped to let people be who they are, and feel at peace with myself because I really try my best always. And the truth is that even when people cannot meet me at the same level, they probably are doing their best as well. It hurts and I think the best strategy is to just not get too, too close to anyone. That doesn’t mean I have to change who I am. I like who I am and I will keep trying to do better, and will continue apologizing and creating forms of communication, and if the other side doesn’t respond in the same way, I can let them go be in peace. I will be at peace with myself.

I can't really think of one. James' father died just before Christmas. His mother died after the previous Christmas so both parents in one year. I wasn't really close to them but makes you think of your own mortality. My parents in law are both very infirm, one with dementia and the other with heart problems. How strange and cruel to have your life wiped out deleted like that. She doesn't remember me. I have a couple of friends with memory problems. Most with physical problems. However most of them are living a full and active life. Am I? I'm not sure. Makes me want re-evaluate my life.

I lost my position at ACS in May and it crushed me at first. I was hurt, resentful and angry at the new leadership who had little humanity and capabilities to lead yet saw to it that I was eliminated. What happened next however is a cascade of opportunities like speaking engagements, work with IRSF, joining a band, work with Dynabridge, an upcoming trio to China and the opportunity to focus on building a company for those in need of accessibility products. The future is now and I am reclaiming my power, my expertise and my time. I am now officially 100% focused on what brings me joy and purpose.

The election of Donald Trump and its aftermath. It has seriously questioned the belief in practicing the brotherhood of man, as well as Christianity’s doctrine of “love your neighbor”. I fear the future of democracy in the United States and throughout the world.

We spent several weeks in BC visiting our son. It brought some confidence that we are able to travel and also emphasized the importance of exercise and good nutrition so we can home the trails, climb the climbs

Hiking In Havasupai. I was really proud of doing it but there were so many emotions at play. I wish I had held my shit together better. A bit relieved. A bit inspired! I was really in awe of my family

I realized diabetes and cPTSD won’t cure themselves. I feel grateful and agency because there’s a lot in my sphere of control and I’m doing the work of caring for myself.

My best friend of over 40 years has cut me out of her life because of politics. I am devasted and very disappointed in her. I reached out a few times but now have accepted that she is no longer willing to be a part of my life. How painful to realize I am not worth more to her than her political beliefs which I have always tolerated. My heart is broken. I would never have done that to her.

I worked a steady job for 11 months before being outed and let go with no notice or reason given. It made me consider more seriously how I can avoid my past interfering with my ability to stay gainfully employed and grow. I resent the fact that I continue to be judged and punished for the worst thing I've ever done and that nobody is willing to consider my rehabilitation when making decisions as whether to associate with me. It's like all the work I have done to change and grow doesn't matter

I experienced extreme burnout working with at risk hardcore drug users and have been off of work for 7 months. There are so many feelings I have gone through in this experience. Not all bad. It was devastating and utterly confusing. I experienced such disconnect; from friends, myself, my joy, my belonging. I dont know if i have ever felt so diminished and frail. My mind protected itself by turning itself away from my experience. I have been spending the past few months crawling my way back to my experience. I am grateful. I do believe I have grown immensely and have a new appreciation for the vibrancy of life. Part of this gratitude is grief. I lost so much but can name and understand how important all those parts of me are. I feel better equipped to protect myself from loosing them again. In this I think I am a much more caring and understanding person. We are all struggling, loosing parts of ourselves to this chaotic stressful world, It's easy to get lost.

Looking at last year’s entry, I realise that the management of the disability and discomfort caused by my spinal fracture ( with physio, trainer, yoga, Pilates and speech therapy) has enabled me to move on in the last year and adjust reasonably successfully to the new situation …..

This has been a year of deaths. First, my brother's partner of 30 years succumbed to cancer after a long (and difficult) battle. Next, my niece's husband died suddenly, in front of his wife and baby, on an airplane returning from a trip to abroad. Then my long time mentor of fifty years, Professor Emeritus G. A. , died in his sleep at 97. That was January. A couple of months later, our great family friend, and great human being, Ron D., had a heart attack - and died a bare week later, surrounded by family. That was late February/early March. And then my husband died, in May. It was both sudden, and not unexpected. We just didn't expect it NOW.

This last year has been a year of upheaval, stress. We moved from Calgary to Halifax, soon after Evie needed emergency bladder surgery and Shawn did a consumer proposal which has set us back financially. Work has gotten busier and busier, which helps to begin paying down a mountain of debt, but I’m stretched thin. I’m tired, constantly stressed out, am probably drinking too much and dealing with hot flashes. By the time my birthday rolled around in August, I was contemplating suicide just to escape the hell I felt I was in. For the most part, I feel resentful, not just of my husband, who attributes almost half our debt to paying his son’s rent for a year in Toronto, but also angry at myself for so many ooor choices I made until I turned 59.

I met Scott on May 10th and found my bashert. I have never felt so seen and loved and cared for. I found my person and I get to know deep love and connection. It has changed me such that I am more relaxed, I have more energy, I am healthier and I feel so alive and hopeful. I learned so much through dating about divorce, myself, the heartbroken and the importance of knowing what you want and not settling. I am no longer over functioning in my relationship and making more space for myself and my future. I have found my person that doubles my joys and halves my sorrows.

I decided not to enter my songs into the Grammys this year. It feels GREAT! Freeing me of lots of unwanted energy. And I’m just loving writing, recording & Performing my songs. I’m feeling lucky.

Last fall a colleague of mine passed away and the leader of our agency left. It created a big void in our leadership and I took a bold step and said I would help. My colleague who passed away truly gave me the courage to try-- I feel like I kind of hit a lead it or leave it moment and said ok, let's give it a try. I tried like hell to lead an agency I love for 6 months. Looking back it affected alot of my life... I learend a lot about what not to do. The experience helped me learn professionally about what I saw in myself as leader but also helped me learn to hold up my own values always. I left the position and headed into a new leadership role soon and I am relieved but also thankful for the experience that brought me to this next moment.

im grateful for meeting the people ive met, and for how they've changed me.

I had breast cancer this past year. I am very grateful to be almost done with the process of getting rid of the cancer! It was a very tough journey but it taught me simultaneously how strong I am and how to rely on others.

I finally got a job after over a year and a half of searching. It has been mostly a positive, mainly having a paycheck and being able to pull my weight financially. I’m very relieved after so long with the uncertainty that comes with unemployment. So far the job has been a lot of frantic prep because I didn’t get a lot of advanced prep time (I was hired a few days before the spring semester). I’m a bit exhausted constantly coming up with new lecture material and assessments, but it’s much better to be exhausted than listless like I was before.

Another year, another death in the family. Not looking forward to the next twelve months along those lines.

We paid off our debts and it feels like a huge weight has been lifted. We see possibilities where we once saw roadblocks.

Professionally: the application process and decision made to not elevate me to the Director position. I feel gratitude to myself for maintaining my values through that process. There were too many times when I was tested and I stayed who I am and let the chips fall where they landed. I question one question in the interview process when I felt like I was pandering, but my answer was still true to my professional integrity. Passing the test, even knowing that I would loose financially (and need to change jobs) was a great achievement. Personally: making the move to Oregon is an achievement. I have never lived anywhere else outside of Arizona. I was focused and I achieved the outcome. That is amazing. Yet, I know that my speed had a negative impact. I failed a key part of change management with my partner. While it is fair to say that she was onboard and excited about the move, I moved so quickly that I didn’t allow for the proper processing of the change on her life. I bulldozed a path that may have mowed through her processing. I missed the mark as a partner and I have some mending to do.

Andrew ended our romantic relationship. It caught me off-guard, and I was gutted at the time. Since then I have done a lot of inner work, and have learned a lot about myself. I spent last year in grief, and feeling neglected, de-prioritized. I could not see past that. This year I have been on a healing journey.

I can't think of a really big milestone event from the past year. But my horseback ride with Nate on the black sand beach of Vieques surely stands out as a significant experience. It was pure joy and beauty. There was nothing to pay attention to except the horse, the sun, the wind, my son, and the incredible natural beauty all around me. That's actually a lot to pay attention to! My point is that I was in the present, aware that we were having an extraordinary experience. And it only happened because the water was too rough for snorkeling! We'll get to that on another trip.

Personally, one of the biggest things of note this past year was closing out the ghastly loan on the camper (through another loan, but still...) allowing us to sell it, clear some debt, renew the mortgage on our house (which we'd been worried about as the 5-year deadline loomed), and end up in better financial shape, overall. This solidified our sense of permanence on our island, and in our community, and provided us a much appreciated (truly, truly appreciated!) sense of security in these frighteningly insecure times.

I went to Thailand and flew back on my own and handled it without getting anxiety. I worked through lots of practice with car washes and practicing being in tight spaces and tapping and meditation and sour candy and ice and now I am better! I am relieved and proud of myself.

Having to come to a small-time University against my will to help my parents recover from financial strife (which we are out of now, making my sacrifice seem useless) and to some extent also turn over a new leaf. I have not yet taken the opportunity to accept myself for who I am. I am resentful of this because I miss the company of my friends with whom I resonated so much.

Hearing about cousin Hannah’s struggle with cancer was pretty harrowing. Reconnecting with Maria and hearing about Dan and the child molestation charges was pretty rough too. It made me think about how lucky I am to not be facing those sorts of things in my life and how scary life can be. I felt bad for Hannah and like with Roza’s death two years ago now, I wondered about how I would be remembered? I also think a lot about my parents and how much time they have left. I am grateful for our summers, winters, thanksgivings, and family reunions together. It’s also a relief that even though no one knows when their time will come, the fact that people like Hannah can make comebacks and that adversity really can make us tougher as Maria demonstrates. In this sense, I do feel inspired and confident that I can face whatever challenges are to come, even if they are scary. Adam recently wrote to Jonah and I about what we are going to do for our parents as they age and I’ll be relying heavily on my older brothers to answer some of these tough questions. Connor and Kelcie’s baby Charlotte was also super premature and it was uncertain if she’d survive. So far she seems to be holding on, and while nothing is a sure thing, again shows that you can’t assume the worse and that we are fortunate to not have faced anything like this yet.

The past year was a roller coaster. From having a flooded basement, and the almost 9 months to fix it, to my mom being in hospital for 2 months after falling, then moving to a retirement home, I am basically Tired. Grateful to have my house to myself. Frustrated with some work that seems to have to be redone over and over (i.e. asphalt). Worried about all the health issues. Hopeful about starting a new life.

Holding space for both grief and joy. The year continued to be dominated by the death of my mother as I worked through planning for her burial and memorial service, serving as executor of her estate, and selling her condo. The death of my cousin. The death of my father-in-law. The death of my dog. At the same time, it was a joyous year of getting to know S. Experiencing his generosity, his demostrations of care. His companionship. His support. His physical embrace.  Experiencing a world in chaos - Trump, Israel, Gaza - and the way we have become so polarized as families, communities and countries.  At the same time experiencing sweetness in my own life and looking for ways to bridge the distance between myself and strangers. 

In the last year I… I have had so many significant experiences that I don’t know where to begin. I feel like I’m finally awake to the experiences around me. Like I’m finally living where before I felt like I was dying. Everything in my entire life has shifted, yet I remain the same and completely made anew. I’m grateful to be here, relieved that my suicidal thoughts are quiet, resentful that it took me 34 years to get here, and inspired to keep fucking going.

Well, seeing as we just got home from Japan and my answer last year was about the travel we'd done that year, I guess I'm going to stick with that theme for this response on a personal level. The past two weeks in Japan were simply amazing. I didn't go there with preconceived expectations. I went there to experience somewhere new and to have the chance to see our son perform in a faraway place. What I got was an experience that made me feel so thankful. Thankful for the ability to do what we did, thankful for the people we met and food we ate, thankful for the experiences we had, thankful for a husband willing to do this thing and experience it the way we did. But it also left me inspired. Inspired to consider that there's so much more to the world than our little corner of it. Inspired to want to go back there and experience more of it. Inspired to want to travel more and have more experiences like that in other places. In a more global level, the results of the last election and the 9 months since January have left me feeling sad and scared for our country's future.

Brad's medical challenges The thought of losing Brad was difficult. But at the same time, it made me feel very grateful for the time we do have. I have been working very hard to "let him" be in charge of himself, and "letting me" accept his choices. That part has been hard.

At the start of the year, I decided to stop pursuing my business. Honestly, I mostly feel relieved, but my affection for the concept lingers. But that is true of so many pursuits in life, is it not? A passion for a thing may not be enough to foster sustained effort in its pursuit nor yield financial benefits. Cutting losses is a valid choice. I don't mean to make this sound morose, because I'm not saddened by the decision. Rather, my complete complacency about the end is what I find somewhat curious. I had once explored Buddhism to learn to overcome fits of emotions yet decided Buddhism's prescribed detachment seemed a waste; are you really living if you can't connect emotionally? These days, I seem to be detaching from humanity, unmoved by the horrors around me, unmotivated and complacent. And I don't know what to make of it.

I went to Guatemala and discovered a passion for mountaineering but unfortunately almost died when getting caught on top of an active volcano. The words don’t feel real as I type them.

My dad was diagnosed with a terminal illness. It has made me shift time and focus to intentionally spending time with him, more often, expressing that I love him, being sweet and playful with him. Tried to be softer with my mom as well.

The accelerated push towards fascism both here and elsewhere in the world. Resentful and scared.

Retirement. As prepared as I thought I was, I am not. I am mostly busy but not productive enough. I am working on that. I am disappointed that I was not fully on track to make this a great time in my life. I am working on getting there.

After living in three different apartments over the past two years, I found a house to rent. It fit my wish list: one level with a basement, which meant I could take things out of storage. It was the same price as my one-bedroom apartment and has a deck and a garden. I am so much happier living in a house than a flat even if it is a little more work.

Date with Destiny West Palm Beach. Six days of total life discovery that changed who I am as a human being. So much gratitude for the opportunity and the abundance in my life. Onward and upward.

An experience that impacted me deeply was a conversation that my mom and I had about my son. I was really upset with her about a comment that I heard her make, and it uncovered how I feel about her expectations and how much my children are perceived by others means to me. It left me feeling grateful that I can speak up for my children and that my mom and I can have productive conversations about hard things. I'm proud of the man/father I have become. And I love my kids.

So many things happened, but a big thing is that I went to six countries this year! Traveling and seeing other places expands my worldview and gives me a sense of adventure. I am so grateful for my ability to travel and see new things, and this year was no exception.

The election of Trump. The inauguration of Trump. The complete shutdown of refugee admissions. These three interconnected events affected me in different ways. In some ways, strengthened my resolve and my sense of purpose. In other ways, loosened my need for national/federal anything or expansion. Focused me more on preservation of what matters.

I completely lost my faith. The wound is so raw my feelings change sometimes minute to minute. Sometimes I’m sad, lots of times I am angry. Sometimes I feel completely free. I’m lost.

I hired a PI and found my first great love. We haven’t seen or spoken to each other in over 60 years! We met again in Merida, Mexico and I travelled to Cambodia to see him again. It’s a fabulous adventure!

As much as I want to write about personal things, I don’t think I can answer this question without reference to the Trump administration’s assault on everything I believe in. I knew it would be bad, but it is so much worse than I thought it would be. I thought that our democratic system would be challenged, but that our institutions would be able to withstand those challenges. I didn’t account for the utter spinelessness of Republican congresspeople. I thought their own love of power would lead them to resist some of Trump’s overreach in order to protect the legislative branch’s authority. But fear won, and we all lose. And don’t even get me started on the courts, where early resistance has been overturned by a Supreme Court that is green lighting even the worst overreaches of power without any justification through their shadow docket. I thought that my own answer to this historical moment would be to dive into local community efforts, but I find myself struggling to find the energy for that. The “flood the zone” strategy has been too effective and too demoralizing to the resistance. Or maybe it has just utterly demoralized me. But there’s also so much more to it. When I went to the No Kings rally, it just felt so performative. Our lack of ability to DO anything was all too palpable. And then when we were marching (which at first felt so good because it was not just standing around admiring each other’s signs and creating photo ops), the people around me started chanting “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and I just felt so, so sad. Because I know that effective resistance requires solidarity, but the chanters’ assumption that everyone in the march would join the chorus made me feel our differences so profoundly. At the same time, I’m not at all sure that they’re wrong about the need to recognize the dignity and humanity of all people living in the land between the river and the sea. And my views on Israel/Palestine continue to evolve as the genocidal nature of Netanyahu’s campaign becomes more and more evident.

I was fired from the job I had worked hard at for 4 years. From a position that was created because I pushed for it and demonstrated my ability to do it well. I'm pissed. I'm frustrated. I'm scared. I'm hopeful. I'm hopeful because it could be the best thing that ever happened to me if I can land a job that pays significantly more and improves my quality of life. But there's also the possibility that I won't get another job before my unemployment runs out and I'll be fucked.

This year my wife and I celebrated our 40th anniversary. Yesterday, as I hiked down to the river, Jackie came to mind. My love for her has not diminished. That we’re together reinforces my belief in the importance of second chances. I was an unlikely suitor-no prospects for gainful employment, no ambition, and no vision for a future. Everything changed after I went into the navy. Six months prior to the end of my enlistment we went on date and Jackie saw that I had changed. Still didn’t have a vision for the future, but I had a skill. It was at this point that my life forever changed. Jackie encouraged me to go to a trade school to enhance my mechanical knowledge. Trade school awakened an appreciation for learning. It’s now forty years later and I’m a retired teacher. For many, this isn’t much of a success story. For me, I’m light years away from where I might have ended up if it hadn’t been for the guidance of a good woman. Every day with my wife is a blessing.

I had my first (and hopefully only) major manic episode in January. It affected how I look at my mental health forever. I realized depression is not forever, that I am a person with highs as well as lows, and that makes coping with my depression easier. I am grateful for the self-knowledge I gained even though it caused trauma. Being inpatient for 9 days was a traumatic but strangely profound experience. Since then, I found community in my NAMI Connections group. I find resolve in the fact that I am not like everyone else. I am a person whose mental illness can be disabling, and that impacts my life and always will. I know myself and I am strong.

The experience I will be sharing is me transferring and changing my environment, both home room class and school. It opened an opportunity for me to almost reinvent myself but ended up making me realise that I don’t need to reinvent myself. I just need to find the best version of myself that was already there. I like me. I think people are lucky to be around me. I am very lucky to be around the people that are around me, I have a very fortunate life and I’m so happy I got those opportunities to meet people and find myself in them. In addition I would like to tell about the kayaking trip of this past summer that was truly an experience that is with me every single day not only because I had my first kiss but morally so because I was so myself and I felt so good and I had so much fun with nearly no people that I knew from before and after that four day kayaking trip I came back to Camp and ever since a more social more in peace more mature and self understanding person and I’m so proud of myself.

We went to Paris! Most important was doing a deep dive into Monet's work and life. I loved Monet in my youth, and I'd since downplayed the value of his work. Seeing the work again moved me - and re-learning about his influence on the art world inspired me anew. It also gave me more respect for my younger self who was curious and wise and deep - even at age 13!

Visiting Egypt. Seeing how magnificent was ancient egypt, the pyramids and the Egyptian funerary structures, of the pharaohs. Knowing that Cleopatra was a prime minister and not a pharaoh. Not all the history books tell us the right facts.

My dad fell in November, and from there spiraled downward, physically, and mentally. He now lives in a home and while he recognizes us, he can’t do much more - gone as the intellectual, witty, 1930s jingles singing man I grew up with. It all happened so fast, the decline. In the beginning, it was really rough. It still is to some extent, but I’ve gotten used to a new reality and know that it’s just a matter of time before he’s gone. Now we also celebrate the little wins: the moments we make him smile, or remember. I gave him a haircut yesterday, and he was fast asleep. He always liked going to the barber. Afterwards I took a photo to send to my mom so she wouldn’t be shocked at the transformation when she visited, and the photo really disturbed her. I know why - he looked already dead. In many ways, he is for all of us. We have always been a very close family, so losing him little by little is devastating. And yet I feel so blessed that he came into my life. When I was eight he raised me better than my own father could, walking me down the aisle twice, being there for me every single woman I needed him. It’s really hard.

I turned 60 this year and celebrated my rebirthday and my rebirth into my life in a healthy, joyful, self respecting and free way. I am so grateful to be me. I feel so happy to be unveiling myself and proud to be all that I am. I shine!

Moving my mom from assisted living to skilled nursing. I am still resentful. The lack of communication was my biggest obstacle. I was informed that I would be emailed when the 30 days 'please move your mom' deadline started. They mailed the notice to me and did not email me at all. They said they would look for skilled nursing locations and then the next week called to ask me for location names. They did confirm that the one I named (the only 1 I could remember as I was busy doing 3 things at work when they called) could take mom and were ready to move her. Before I had ever seen the place. I was able to get a list of possibles from a program through my employer, but then I spent time calling and arranging appointments. I love my mom and glad I could do this for her. But the institutions made it so much harder than it had to be.

This year I moved to Seattle, supported my moms breast cancer treatment, got promoted at work, explored my dating life, and played a lot of tennis. I’m immensely grateful for how well relocating has gone and I’m so glad I decided to move back to my home state. It’s wonderful to be surrounded by old and new friends, new opportunities, and face the joys and challenges of adulthood in my own apartment in a beautiful setting. In many ways I am relieved at how well things have gone this year especially after several years where things have just felt frustratingly terrible (family deaths, breakups, job losses, etc.). I have let go of my resentments (except politically), and I’m struggling to feel inspired in a global sense, but feel very inspired in my own small world.

I have started knitting Emotional Support Chickens. It began as something I decided to do for my adult children (33 and almost 38). Then, as I mentioned them to friends and colleagues, I discovered that... many people wanted or needed one. It's hard to describe how and why, but holding one of these (roughly) life-sized chickens in your arms is weirdly comforting. People receive them and almost immediately cuddle, smile, kiss them... it's an unexpected phenomenon. I have now made almost 21 of them, and I see no end in sight, as the people I know continue to request them, for themselves and for loved ones. And the most unexpected benefit: working with these chickens gives me joy. Relieves my stress and anxiety (I think that's a "knitting" thing anyway, but I've experienced it more profoundly through this project.). They've connected me with people's needs and anxieties in a more powerful way, and with my own.

This has been a year of significant experiences! #1 Stan and I divorced, final April 15, 2025. I did not want to be divorced and, despite his frequently unkind behavior, I still love him. #2 I have lost over 40 lbs. That dramatically impacts my self-esteem. I look and feel so much better. #3 I moved from Beulah to A2 area. Expensive, stressful, lonely, exciting... #4 Although this year has been incredibly stressful and sad, I have remained sober.

This past year, I learned to say no and I learned that I have value and deserve high quality friendships. This led me to Having a hard conversation with my ex bff, giving feedback and trying to do that in a way that I thought was kind. This resulted in her being angry that I took space, and an awkward conversation. That conversation led to us having dinner where she confronted me and invalidated the points I brought up to her and she said hurtful things to me. I was shaking and crying and ended up apologizing. I was so upset with myself after but I realized this was my body reacting to being attacked. I ended the friendship and have felt so much better since and I will never allow myself to be treated that way again.

Taking three months to be intentionally solo. The first week where I wasn't using my phone I was the happiest I had been in a long time. Eating outside delicious food I had made under the sun helped me fall back in love and gratitude with life.

I began my sabbatical! I began August 27th and I can see that my Spanish has already improved. I feel so grateful for this opportunity- to be paid to take a break. Very few people in this world get something like this. I feel relieved not to be enmeshed in the deep stress of my job. My resentment from last year has disappeared and I feel liberated. I feel inspired to see more of Ecuador.

In the past year, I got engaged. I am so grateful for the woman that I have found!

The decision to not have kids is definitely pretty huge ramifications on the rest of our life. It's changing how I think about retirement, getting older, how I spend my time. There's a lot of importance put on having kids and I'm not part of that any more, which certainly puts me in the minority. I'm already inclined to make myself an outsider, inclined towards maybe a little bitterness. So I have to guard my heart to make sure I stay open, and positive. And remain not just content but thrilled with the life I've built with my husband.

I developed macular degeneration. I was very scared to lose my sight. Now I’m still anxious but about 40% because there is a way of controlling the disease even though it’s not a cure. I am very grateful for the medication and the medical team that helps me. Globally, I have lost faith in all governments.

I got married!!!! I have been lucky to have done some pretty brave, impactful, and life changing things. I had some resentfulness towards general society about how getting married was supposed to be this “greatest thing ever”, but honestly every one is pretty spot on. Since I met him, I have never felt so free. I finally feel like I can be who I truly am. I feel happiness in little things. I have someone to share days with. I will never be lonely. He will never be lonely!

Right now I'm in this upswing of good habits: Exercise, sleep, less screen addiction, etc.! I feel like I've finally broken through this barrier I've had for the past couple years and grown up a little. I'm extremely grateful and I hope to always be able to come back to this place, and to remember that I can when my habits deteriorate. Makes me think how easily I step up to a challenge when it's demanded of me (senior year of college, going out into the world).

I turned 50 in the presence of my true love, Kelsey. And reaching that milestone with my loving partner by my side had a profound effect on me. I have lots of deciding to do with respect to what I want to achieve during my remaining decades on this planet. And having a deep relationship to myself at age 50, and a distinct and deep relationship to Kelsey are wonderful building blocks to start this exploration.

One thing that comes to mind is that my two students in my Sunday School class asked me to continue teaching, as the program was falling apart. It was the most affirming thing that has happened to me for many years. It happened months ago, but still really makes me feel just wonderful. Its amazing how rare it is for anyone to actually feel that someone appreciates what they do.

I have been pondering this question caught in the mindset of ‘most significant’. As I read the question again it just says a significant experience… so I can drop the pressure of finding the perfect experience. I am a vocal and determined anti-perfectionist and yet it still pops up almost every day. I think the experience I want to talk about moving out of burnout and toxic productivity. I still don’t know if I will be able to make ‘enough’ money, but I did it… let that shit go. It took months and months. I spent time in communities that build up rather than encourage the mask. I slowed the F down and most days stopped pushing myself to extremes. I notice now when I get triggered, I slip back into frantic doing. It has the illusion of safety, but when it is wrapped around me, I feel more smothered than safe. The me that emerged is real… in all the ways. They are not perfect … they are not a happy skipping bunny… they are the roller coaster of genuine experiences and emotions of an AuDHD, fifty year old, later life mom who still is punk and a rebel and girl who loves stuffed animals.

I think the reelection and second term of trump has to be the most significant thing that has happened - and I'm not even in the US. Watching him systematically strip away rights, especially for women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ folks has been horrifying. Watching democracy being dismantled before my eyes is genuinely traumatic and I get to do it from a safe distance. I never thought of myself as patriotic until my country was threatened. Now as I sit amid the wreckage of Charlie Kirk, Jimmy Kimmel, Palestine, Ukraine, and vaccine access, my heart breaks for my country and the people in it who don't have the luxury of living elsewhere.

We made Aliyah!. Not gonna lie, it’s hard as hell. I’m so looking forward to getting all our bureaucratic bs done, so we can really get on with creating our new lives here.

Gallstone: getting used to the idea that my health isn't perfect and I am aging after all. Still grateful for my mobility and generally good health.

Planning for a wedding isn't a single event, but the entire experience has really been eye-opening. It's been really interesting to see who is really there for me, and who I'm clearly not a priority for. It's left me in a place of feeling both so loved and supported while also feeling strangely abandoned. Friends have stepped up in ways I never could have imagined, while a lot of family has let me down.

I can't that Donald Trump became president and with him DOGE started ripping up the US government, including the EPA where I gladly and proudly worked for 20 years. Much chaos, anxiety and emotional pain ensued. But now I am pretty much at peace with it and have an exciting new job prospect. My faith saw me through.

I genuinely can't think of one. Sounds vaguely odd but it's been a boring predictable year. I love my job and my family. I think I am the luckiest person alive

I started to really love my new puppy Lexi instead of seeing her as a burden. Now I cuddle with her and don't mind her licks, I also don't mind exercising her anymore and I convinced my Mom to let her in our room (with supervision of course!!!). Lexi is the best!!!! I love you Mele ❤️

Trump was elected and it has rolled out a horror show. We are not sure if we are safe. I am extremely angry that this is America.

The Iranian war hit close to home, and shockwaves damaged all the homes in our area. It was weird, somehow unsurprising, but upsetting and annoying nonetheless. I'm relieved that the damage could have been worse and that we were physically safe.

I broke my leg, which lead to a whole bunch of new experiences. I had to stay in the hospital, argued with doctors, had to depend on my partner and family, listened to a lot of podcasts, had my friends over, learned to cook while moving around on my leg, had a voting committee visit me with a voting box, etc etc.

My step-father passed away on July 17th. He was 92 and had severe dementia. I am grateful for his life, and how he was a father to me. I am grateful that his life is over - the last years have been lonely having him be there, and not there at the same time. I grieved more while he was alive, in preparation, than in his death. Now I am relieved. What an awful thing it seems to say, to be relived at the death of someone you love. But maybe that is love - to be relieved that someone you love isn't suffering anymore. Isn't searching.

The most significant thing I did this last year was move back to the UK for a job in London after 25 years living and working in the USA. It is the most challenging thing I have done personally and professionally. I had lived in the PNW for six years and that felt like home to me. The mountains and the ocean were balm to my spirit. I wonder where "home" is now - certainly I feel connected with my husband and my children, but feeling anchored to a sense of place feels elusive. While we might come to appreciate living in London, I don't know that I will ever love it like I loved the PNW. I miss my community and my walks in the forest and the mountains. Change is loss. Loss is grief. This experience rocked me in ways I did not expect, even though I "chose" it in response to being told I had to leave my job. I am trying to embrace possibility.

Making the move to return to the UK from South Africa after 32 years was the significant experience. The move was very much physical and psychological. The biggest impact was the time to move psychologically and how I felt during the transition. I feel like for six months I was resisting the move in a subliminal manner and then some time in May i accepted that i needed to shift and accept that life going forward needs to be based on 360 degree acceptance that I am here. I am grateful that circumstances here have allowed me the space to take such a long tine to accept/transition.

In the past year I left my job which had been highly stressful for a few years. Although I was sad to leave my team, it was the right thing to do. I was not feeling well and was pretty miserable. Looking back not only am I relieved but it has created space for more creativity. I am worried about finding a new job, but remain hopeful that I will find something soon.

I attended a family wedding in France with my husband, children and their partners and my sister’s family. It brought me great joy and gave me a moment to be hopeful.

Gong outside -in the spring and seeing the growth of the plants I had put into the previously derilict garden growing beautifully. It gave me such a feeling of joy- the plants were seemingly happy and it was so good to see them. Grateful, inspired. nature garden, for the insects, minibeasts and the hedgehogs. It is a joy to see the insects flying and using the flowers and to see the hedghog food gone.

Donald Trump happened this year. It's hard to put into words just how much it has affected everything in our nation. From putting in an anti-vaxxer at HHS, disappearing people in the middle of the night, firing people at will, targeting science and our allies, it's just all too much. I go back and forth between despair, rage, hopelessness and trying to find some joy as an act of resistance.

Back in December, I bought my first car! Paid entirely with my own money! And then I basically had to re-learn how to drive! It was very scary (and sometimes still is), but I'm also extremely proud. Driving is something I was scared I'd never be able to do, due to my anxiety and executive functioning issues. Turns out I'm pretty good at it!

My father-in-law Fil has been dying since last December, from multiple brain tumors after holding off cancer for fourteen years. The process has been so much more mysterious than I could have imagined. He has almost died twice; he has surprised us again and again by recovering. We've taken to calling him Lazarus and referring to his post-July period as his epilogue. For a period, it felt like miraculous reprieve. Now, it is sad a new way. He's a shadow of himself, less and less responsive, less expressive, profoundly limited in his mobility. He's lost most of his vision. But he is still eating, still, in his own way, demanding to live. How much longer? We are with him and not with him, captured in the eddy of this uncertain time, but also closed off from the deep reality of his experience, in his body, in his mind.

My employer told me my job was being eliminated in front of everyone. Within weeks I had a new job with a new company, and I've already earned a promotion. I turned a disappointment into a joy. I actually since and dance at work because it makes me happy!

I began to take salsa dancing lessons. It affected me as I had long told myself that I couldn’t move my body. But with each step taken, that was being disproven. I can be a confident person in public.

On August 8th, our baby boy Jesse was born 3.35 kg via emergency C-section at Ichilov hospital. I am grateful that both he and my wife are healthy. It was the most emotionally raw experience of my life. I haven’t cried tears of joy like that ever. And I am grateful everyday for him

The most significant thing I can think of is being laid off from my job after putting so much of myself into success (at a place that I knew did not value me and was truly a toxic environment). It’s caused me to reevaluate my self worth, what drives me, where I want to place my time and energy, and so much more. I’m learning more about balance and boundaries, and also about taking moments for myself and seeing self care as an important element of my life, which has been something I’ve traditionally been bad at. It’s helping me to understand that I cannot always give and that not everything should demand 100% of me bit everything needs to be perfect, and as a friend said today “great enough” is an amazing boundary.

Mom was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia and it's been a sad and lonely road trying to navigate this with my siblings. It's getting really tough now that we can't agree how to get mom 24 hour care. I can read about everyone else's experiences, but it doesn't help us make very personal decisions about my mom's wellbeing.

Birth! Beyond grateful for my baby girl. Revealed a power within both of us, I feel a crazy connection with Nina because of our journey together in her birth, woo woo but genuinely feels that we did it together. Makes me believe in her strength and mine, innately and she has brought a light into our lives that brings me to my knees in the best possible way.

I served as a crew commander on my first mission as an analog astronaut. It was an incredibly rewarding experience, and I had the best crew. I have really been missing them and being stuck in a hab together. I am so grateful for them and the experience.

My mother died and my cat died within four months of each other. My mother was young, but sick and disabled for so long. I feel sad and relieved and devastated. My cat was with my for 15 years and he’s out of pain now and I know this had to happen, but the love for pets is so pure it hurts in another level. I feel gutted and overwhelmed by this past year.

My sister passed away on July 2nd. It left me numb, contemplative, and almost sad. I was relieved and grateful as well. She had suffered for years and years. Maybe it deepened my resolve to live contentedly and to pursue health and freedom.

Dad was diagnosed with, and then died of, stage IV pancreatic cancer, all within the span of 4 months and 1 week. He was only 69, and had been reporting a perfect, impeccable bill of health for years. I dropped out of my graduate program and moved back home across the country to take care of him full time until he died. I watched him waste away--become deeply sick, lose his home, his possessions, his ability to walk, his ability to eat, his enjoyment of things--everything. All on the cusp of our summer plans for his first trip to Italy--the one he'd waited all his life for. He spent those weeks of summer not filling up on gelato, pizza, and ancient beauty, but instead in debilitating pain, bouts of sepsis, and on oxygen. He went quickly, and there was never any hope. It absolutely wrecked me, devastated me, hurt me more than anything I knew could hurt, instilled in me a deep fear of living, stripped me of the ability of live a carefree life any longer, and suppressed my joy--except when I was with him. The very fact of his life became a miracle. His breathing in and out, seeing his face, seeing him still alive--all too good to be true. We lived those months--weeks, really--in a state of terror and deep, deep love. I was afraid when I woke up in the morning, afraid when I fell asleep at night--all the nights I slept next to him (my twin bed pulled up against his CA King), all those nights he was in the hospital, the ER, the skilled nursing facilities, the assisted living, and his final care home. I changed completely. I became viciously defensive of his life, suspicious of every doctor, every medicine, the light of the sun and the ways the world was cruelly trying to kill him. Those doctors, medicines, and the light of each day were also my only hope. This loss is profound. I carried his casket alongside my brother the day we buried him; he, after all, had carried us so many times before. I am relieved of nothing except the fact that he cannot die anymore. I am recommitted to a life where I do not wait until a death sentence--my own deathbed or otherwise--to begin to love generously, forgive quickly. I am now wanting for something to love, for a place for all this love, without him on earth to receive it. I am newly resolved to care deeply for myself, and to tend to my dreams rigorously--to not delay, to waste no more time. I am more willing to be kind, to choose to give the benefit of the doubt, to live a life of service. There is nothing that has ever come close to the love I had from my father. I have to walk with that weight: that at any moment, everything can be taken away. It's not a hypothetical; I lived it. All there is to say is that my dad and I became closer that we ever would have. It was, briefly, beautiful. Briefly--but as Dad himself said, one day is worth a hundred.

I have left an abusive relationship. I know my actions in the relationship were making things worse because of my co-dependancy. That was not my fault, but it was a factor. But I made it out through sheer determination and the most incredible steps of bravery I've taken in my life. Its almost 10 months since I left the relationship and I've been living independently for the first time in my life. I'm so grateful for the change I've made. Pure and immaculate happiness and safety is what I experience today.

I stepped away from being medical director of our clinic at work. Mostly don't miss it! :-)

Ended a 4 yr relationship that made me do things I never thought I’ll be doing. It’s such a rollercoaster but now I’m grateful how it has turned out and trying to reach the end of the tunnel where everything will be brighter

I went to my first music festival/rave this year. That was definitely a new experience. I'm grateful and am kind of in awe that these are things I get to do as part of my current state in life. I think in general I'm figuring out how to balance fun and not trying to make "the best" decision all the time. I've also been to a few others since, but I think the first experience was definitely something I'm glad I got to experience, and changed my perspective on things since.

The kids going to middle school. It made me feel sad knowing how fast time goes on and realizing how little time I have left in this stage of parenting. It made me scared for what they may experience and realizing I can’t shelter them from more mature experiences. I mourned the loss of their innocent stage of childhood but then got excited for who they are becoming. They are so kind and independent. It was a lot of emotions.

This year has been rough. The hostile takeover of our country by a vindictive, power hungry criminal has brought many emotions for me; horror, fear, resentment, fury, disgust. Oddly, also hope and desire for a new, more thoughtful and committed re-boot of what we all thought was ' normal'. I've surprised myself with my inner awakening to action, joining marches, going to meetings, calling Senators. All new for me, all feel impossible to ignore. Zooming out for an overview, I see the creative destruction taking place so that humankind can level up...and that is inspiring and soothing. I hope I am still alive to see it unfold.

I finished the book! It’s changed everything THE UNIVERSE FELL AT MY FEET and it’s still doing it. I completed something most people never do, and it’s GOOD. I’ve felt every emotion about it. It’s like a birth. And a rebirth. After starting it ten years ago, thinking I couldn’t do it, and having the main character in my head since 2007…. This has been huge! Especially meaningful and crazy summer with synchronicities and getting self-confidence back (in everything. All aspects of life)

doge went after my orgz and cut $3.5 mil and I put pedal to the metal and leveraged relationships that i had to bring in some funding - but this was only one of many atrocities happening on this country - ICE and illegal deportations and all the anti DEI etc and getting rid of repro rights - facism is here and it is super scary

Having my baby. I felt relieved but also pure joy and love that I’ve never felt before

My grandfather died this year. I’m sad he can’t be here to see the choices I make. I got a tattoo for him yesterday and I wish he could shake his head at me in his fake dismay. He would put his head to his chest as if asleep and think on it until minutes later when he’d pop his head up and say, seemingly out of context, how glad he was that I was finding ways to express myself in my own way. He would ask yet again if I remember Jack the friendly giant. I would tell him of course I did. I’m so grateful for the 32 years we got to share the earth. I’m inspired by him to hold my convictions but to keep my mind open to developments and new ideas. To stay young and yet true to myself. He was a great grandfather.

I was kicked out by my racist roommate/landlord. It was scary at first but I'm grateful it happened because I was able to move in with my amazing partner. We got it done before the end of the month and I don't think I've ever loved anyone as much.

I dated Aaron. We started dating in July of 2024, and I told him I loved him and I meant it in February. He told me he loved me in December. And he meant it. And then at some point it felt like he stopped trying to be my partner. It felt like when I tried to lean on him, I just got air and I fell and I hit myself harder. I could have stood on my own, but he told me to trust him to be there and then he wasn't. And I'm still angry that he wasn't there for me when I needed him to be. I'm proud that I initiated the break up, but I'm sad because when I re-read last year's answer it was so hopeful. I honestly thought this year I'd be spending the holidays with him, either with my family or his family or someone, and instead I'm back at square one. And I feel like I went in a circle and learned, but ended up in a worse place than when I started. I know I learned a lot from this experience, but I also know I took steps back. And I'm having trouble right now balancing all of that. I know I'm capable of loving someone, and letting someone love me. I know I have to constantly choose to love someone and its work. But I also know that I deserve someone who is willing to build with me, and who doesn't wait for whatever scrap I give, but will ask for what they need to. And will hear me for me. I'm trying to let myself be sad about this. I need some time to be sad.

After over 15 years of stay-at-home-mom, I went back to work a few months ago, part-time and far below my pre-motherhood pay grade. So many and mixed feelings about this: - gratitude that they were willing to look beyond the gaping chasm in my "real" work history - sadness from recognizing unequivocally that at my age and with ... everything ... my prospects for reestablishing financial independence and rebuilding a "career" are virtually nonexistent - relief at being able to spend 20-25 hours per week away from the increasingly unhappy situation at home (yes, going to work is an escape for me) - so much imposter syndrome! I opened a separate bank account to receive my paycheck, and it's a semi-secret pleasure to see the deposits arrive. Maybe this job is the first step to recovering myself.

significant events definitely the horrific gaza situation which to my mind shows no sign of abating, and now the conflict with hezbollah and iran only exacerbates the middle east crisis .. i am concerned for the plight and status of jews worldwide going forward above is my answer last year add to this event (which is no better) the election pf trump as president of the usa ... i am not sure if any of the "Are you grateful? Relieved? Resentful? Inspired?" will apply ... will have to wait and see

Constantly to-ing and fro-ing between my mums house selling and not selling. It has been incredibly stressful for all of us and we have been trying to find somewhere else to live the entire time with no luck which is also added stress because of the threat of homelessness constantly.

I think grateful that I have retired. Not sure. Unsettled a bit Also the birth of a grandson!!

בחיים לא משתמשת יותר באתר הזה. שש עשרה שנים הייתי כאן כל פעם, אבל זהו, זה נגמר בינינו טן קיו. לכו לעזאזל, באמת. זה בזיון. לא מספיק ששנה שעברה לא התייחסתם בשום פאקינג צורה לשבעה באוקטובר ולמלחמה בעזה, בשאלות עצמן או בכל טקסט אחר - אפילו לא שורה אחת קטנטנה על כך שמשהו יוצא דופן כלשהו קרה ליהודים בעולם בשנה הנוכחית - השנה אשכרה צנזרתן מהתשובות הנבחרות של שנה שעברה כל אזכור לנושא!!! איזו פחדנות. איזו צביעות. איזו אמריקאיות בזויה. בחיי, אני כל כך שונאת יהודים אמריקאים אנטי ציונים. יהודים אמריקאים בכלל, פחות מחבבת. ואמריקאים בכלל. וואו. לכו תחנקו על בייגל ומלפפון חמוץ. אשכרה, אני שמחה שחטפתם את טראמפ. הכי מגיע לכן. תתביישו לכם קולוניאליסטים חארות, תחזירו כבר את האדמה שגנבתן אתן! ועכשיו בשפתכן: I will never use this site again. I was here every time for sixteen years, but that’s it, we’re done, 10Q. Go to hell, seriously. This is a disgrace. As if it wasn’t enough that last year you didn’t address October 7 or the war in Gaza in any way - not in the questions, not in any other text, not even one tiny line saying something unusual has happened to Jews around the world - this year you literally censored every mention of the topic from last year’s selected answers!!! What cowardice. What hypocrisy. What pathetic American-ness. Honestly, I abhor anti-Zionist American Jews. Also not a fan of American Jews in general. And Americans in general. Wow. Go choke on a bagel and pickle. Honestly, I’m glad you got Trump. Serves you right. Shame on you, colonialist assholes. Give back the land YOU stole from its people!

I finally stepped back from being a congregational rabbi, after a two year transition period....and the delightful part was having the opportunity to mentor my successful. I am beyond grateful for this last career that started at age 65, for the people with whom I created deep bonds and for the trust offered to me by so many to be their spiritual leader. And to my delight, what I feel is relief. We each have our seasons.

The project “encruzilhadas” with Romulus, Diana and Peter. The experience of being in a group, working with other people, expressing myself through mainly movements, exposing, opening myself. Experiencing myself in a new medium, what I can give and where my limitations lie. There were exhaustion, elation, closeness, nerviousness and sometimes irritation. In total a very rewarding experience. I felt sad when it came to an end.

Most recently my elderly mother had a mishap and ended up being taken to the hospital, enacting our (her adult children) promise to ensure she continues to live in her home. Something about this event indicated faster decline so I flew over to provide care and do whatever needed to be done to keep her safely in her home. I didn't think about what I was giving up by going, only what I was entering into. Once I was here, it did hit me all I have given up which will set off significant changes in my life when I return. It also showed me how little concern she has for her impact on us. Whether she can't or won't, it is painful to be erased by the person who created me. Being here has given me a direct experience of Mother's cognitive decline, as well as her refusal to show any vulnerability and denial that any exists. She is a wilful, 13 year old Mean Girl and I am the adult. When I put down boundaries, she flings them back on me. She thinks she is holding her own but her feelings and motives are transparent, and I am saddened and sometimes angered by what I see and experience. These weeks as her carer have pushed me to the limits of patience yet opened up wells of compassion for her that I didn't know were still there. It has shown me that love is present even when like isn't. This may be the last time I see my mother alive, and even if I do see her again, much of her is gone or changed. I care for this almost stranger, returning love she has given to me. I know I share this experience with millions of other daughters, and draw strength from their love, because I can see this situation as a personal struggle or an opportunity for more love to be released into this world that badly needs it.

It was the best of times: Owen Caress Brown, grand boy 3, is born! He is beautiful, with a ready smile, beloved by all of his family! It was the worst of times: Harris is NOT elected, and her opponent begins the systematic attack on our constitution and consolidation of authoritarian power. Then, on January 7, Altadena caught fire. Though we were more fortunate than most in that our house wasn’t scorched, we’re just now starting to move back in! An emotional roller coaster of a year!

My father died. I am grieving.

My vestibular disorder turned 3. It was not a happy birthday. It’s gotten hard to remember what it was like before. I can’t quite remember what it’s like not to be so exhausted or to be able to see and think more clearly. There was a good chunk of time during the year when it felt like things were getting better. I remember that it happened, but it’s hard to remember what it felt like at the moment. My symptoms seem unpredictable lately. I had a particularly bad day at a theater outing as well as this weekend at the sound of music sing-along and catching up with friends the next day. I’m glad to have been able to go but feel like part of me was not me was there. I want to be able to enjoy rather than just hanging on.

I met the love of my life! He came into my world when I thought I needed him the least, but it turns out I needed him the most. He has shown me what true love really means. Every day he inspires me with his kindness, patience, and love. He is my role model

Having a baby!! As I’ve said to so many people, going from 1 to 2 is not so much existentially huge as logistically. One thing I’m finding very affecting is that I always thought I was so sure I only wanted two kids, but now I am very sad to think that I will never have this experience again - pregnancy, labor, infancy. It really feels like the end of a part of my life.

I moved into an apartment that had a hidden black mold problem and as I’m quite allergic to mold, this really fucked me up. I got very sick and missed two months of work. I’m still playing catch up with bills and trying to get back to living a normal life - but I now have a permanent chronic lung illness. Life is hard this year.

Went to Spain, the trip coincided with “la semana santa” in Sevilla, a big thing for Catholics. I’m not a catholic, but it was an impressive experience. Got my first real job, fully remote, in one of the top education/publisher industries, I am proud of myself for once.

I guess the biggest thing this year was getting to do the Balkans tour and to go to Greenland. That was significant and I guess it left me inspired. I hit my 70th country. I'll hit 5 more this winter. I'm always inspired to travel more.

I started my own business in January 2025 and in September I opened my own space. I never saw this coming, being a business owner, but I’m so pleased with how easy the universe has made this. Im relieved to be in my own office and so grateful to have enough clients of my own to work full time!

I had 3 friends die within a week over Christmastime. I learned of one death during Christmas dinner! That rattled my mortality cage as these were people in my everyday life who I blithely thought would always be there. When do I clock out and become that phone call to friends and family?

I received the Watchman surgery to stop taking blood thinners. It took me a lot longer to recover from it than expected. I was not able to get back to power walking for 2-3 months. My oxygen metabolizing took even longer, but I got to hit the gong in my cardiologist office today to celebrate the successful completion of their need to monitor me. I felt reassured and a huge relief. I took the gong mallet and really set the huge metal Chinese gong and vibrating through out the cardiac wing. I am no longer on any prescribed blood thinners. Aren't science and medical advances inspiring!?!

Having Alex come into my life. He was a rock that I needed last year with all the crazy parent situations of the 24-25 school year.

I paid off my mortgage in February of this year. I felt grateful and relieved for a few months after paying it off. Apart from that, though, It feels like I'm doing all the same things as a year ago, working at a stressful job and wishing I could just retire; wanting to get things repaired or improved in my apartment but not succeeding (paid 1/2 the cost of a new deck, but don't yet have a start date from the construction company, for example, and chickened out from having TaskRabbit guy do work in the basement storage unit and walls.) Time seems to be going much faster than a year ago. I still go to AA meetings and do feel better about not drinking, but notice that the time between the Monday meetings just zips past, so it feels like a couple of days instead of a full week has elapsed between meetings. Haven't finished step 4 yet. Still go to the Y 3-4 times a week; not doing so much aerobic stuff as weights now. Still hang on to some semblance of a relationship with J., and still feel resentful about K's mistreatment. Really, nothing new.

I went to Israel to visit my mom and my return flight was canceled. I had to scramble to get to Greece to catch the only return flight the airline would put me on. It was incredibly stressful but I was so happy to finally make it home.

Well, the most significant thing that has happened to me this year was that I was laid off from a job that was on-paper extremely ideal. Because idiots outnumber others in the US, Donald Trump was elected to a second term in November 2024, which had him inaugurated for the second time in January 2025. Because at the time he was very heavily influenced by Elon Musk who hates USAID because of its role in dismantling apartheid, my job was gone by February 14. I went through many emotions during this time, resentment, a bit of relief, uncertainty, fear, and lots of anger. However, it did allow me to move forward and begin to forge a path more-so of my own making. I am now about to start a new job in sustainability in a state government, and I am thrilled. I've talked about it in therapy a lot, but the transition away from that last job was kind of a blessing in disguise, because there were many things about it that weren't suiting me. I had no room to grow there, while I do have room to grow in the future at my new job. I'm definitely landing in a good spot, despite everything. I also have become more brazen in advocating for things that I want to do. I am currently on a cross-country road trip with Eli's little brother Max, and its a blast. I definitely would have felt more guilty prioritizing this task in the era before the layoff, but now I really do choose the things that will bring me joy, and make things like work fit into my life around them.

Being in Israel to volunteer when the war with Iran broke out was definitely a harrowing yet incredible experience. While it was difficult to understand the gravity of the situation while it was happening, I just feel so grateful to have been taken care of and safe, and to have had the opportunity to support Israel, even if it were just for a short time. Israel is such a special place and its people are so incredible. I never want to forget the pride I felt there and the resilience I witnessed all around me.

I got engaged. I feel excited for the future and think it was just a cool experience. Would recommend.

Pomegranate Grove finally officially closed and now I'm transitioning out of Guelph completely but excited because all signs and knowing point to at long last launching my message to the world!

My oldest daughter has been experiencing anxiety attacks since Covid. I have gone deep with her while she has not. I have PTSD from this experience and from 36 yrs ago my Mom had terminal cancer and passed within 6 months. I am learning and am trying to step back and not Fix, or Save her. I could not save mu Mom nor can I save or Fix my Daughter. I am grateful, resentful and Imspired on how I move forward

My uncle of 95 years old passed away. I am grateful my aunt found some peace and freedom. Relieved he went peacefully and had most of his physical facilities till the end. Resentful at how he treated her in a controlling way. Inspired to accept our ultimate end and to help myself/others find love , compassion and connection with before I do go.

I said goodbye to my cat of 18 years this summer. She was my heart cat, and gave me so much love and comfort over the years. Her passing came on the heels of having my heart broken by a guy I had a lot of feelings for. I felt guilty about the timing of her death, like I hadn't made the call soon enough, but I also felt like I gave her a really beautiful passing. My friends came over and held space for us, and the mobile vet was incredible. I'm still sad and miss her, and it's been a difficult adjustment for me and my remaining cat. She is buried in my backyard, and I go out and talk to her frequently. I can see her grave from my kitchen window.

I connected with a wonderful group of women during an impromptu Valentine’s date for dinner at Selland’s. It was a heartwarming and intimate experience that brought new people into my life. We have had several adventures together this year from a road trip to Berkeley, a Harbin Hot Springs day and two Crest theater events; Psychology of a Murderer and HUMP! There have been several other gatherings for birthdays and meetings as well. These connections have enriched my life with fun, laughter and curiosity. I feel supported and a part of a community of like minded people.

Our garbage president Trump has done so many terrible things in the past year; it's hard to catalogue all of them. It's made me furious, and determined to do what I can to stop him and his cronies. I feel a sense of purpose like never before; I suppose you might say inspired, but it's fucking horrifying and I've been angry and scared a fair amount in the last year.

Trump’s election has been nightmarish. He's a criminal buffoon, and he and his racist minions are vengeful and dangerous. Being an American has become both nerve-wracking and embarrassing. His election has inspired me to try to secure secondary citizenship to a EU affiliated country. Getting him and his sycophants out seems daunting, so I want an escape route.

I got a job a little before Rosh Hashanah last year so I have had a job a whole year now after not working for 12 years. It's been hard, I have to choose jobs that don't start in the morning because I have multiple sleep disorders and a circadian rhythm issue. I end up with jobs that don't match my skill set because I need certain hours and my job now is a doozie! Lots of phone calls, lots of "multitasking," lots of input from all directions. My desk is right next to an OT gym for children and a waiting room filled with toys. So not ideal. But I have kept my job which inspires me but I hope maybe someday I can find something more aligned with what I am actually good at? I feel resentful too, I feel my boss doesn't appreciate me and my husband lost his job so my job is all we have now. Scary! But I am grateful for my job, too. I prefer working to not working. Even though that means I desperately need to do laundry (I am literally out of clean underwear, the real, true end of the laundry road) and my son and I ate Wendy's after services because I couldn't get it together to make a meal.

I think the year has had lots of wonderful moments and times.. I have enjoyed being active and engaged! At this point I find myself sad and unsettled for a few reasons. The largest shadow comes from the fact that my sister who is dearest has developed dementia. I am so sad to see her struggling, afraid and so less able to do many things. It feels too young- 72- It feels that it is going too fast!! On a personal note I have had some significant knee issues and have been in a lot of pain for the past two months- if I can't resolve this through therapy I will have to have a knee replacement. That a cracked tooth I am waiting to have pulled have made my day to day much less easy. Finally, everyone in America is in a state of turmoil and there seems no resolution to how we can move forward and find common ground. Instead the gulf gets larger and larger.. Most recently the assassination of Charlie Kirk and what that has come to mean on both sides.

The most significant event in my life last year was that I got into graduate school and moved to Fort Collins, Colorado. I'm definitely grateful and somewhat relieved about this. I feel far more settled now that I live in the same house consistently, not with my parents, not with all my things in boxes in the garage. I can cook regularly in my own kitchen, I can make friends in the place I live, I can get to know a place in a deeper way. This is the most settled I've felt since graduating college, and I like it. The future still feels uncertain in some ways, but I'm definitely in a better place now.

Trump was reelected. It’s disgusting and sickening and horrifying. Cora started kindergarten and it’s been really hard. I feel exhausted and discouraged. But also know my hope and joy is in Jesus and not the awful ways of this world.

In the past year I got a new job. There have been ups and downs throughout the year, learning a new way of working after being at the same place for 7 years. Mostly I feel relief that I can provide value elsewhere. I’ve learned so much and realized how much more I’m capable of.

This year, I started a new job after moving to Nebraska! It’s been a bit of a whirlwind, because it wasn’t really on our radar for this past year. However, it’s been a blessing in many ways! I’m proud of the leap I took to find something that aligns more closely with my strengths and values. I’ve felt validated through the challenges that I made the right choice, and I’m excited about what’s to come. While it’s been a lot, I also feel more “settled” than I think I have in a long time.

Mom passing away. This has been one of the hardest things to manage for myself, my life and my family. I have learned a lot about myself. I am strong and capable of making it through hard things. I can be vulnerable and speak my my grief. I will show up better for others and it has really put certain things in great perspective for me.

Deciding to back down from work--it was a very researched and considered decision which will start on 11/1. I will go from full time (which I've done all of my life) to part time.

My older son died. I'm sad a lot and tired. And I've been sick a lot. I didn't say kaddish - I almost feel like I'm still in shock.

asking work people for help to get treatment for my depression - needing time off, wanting their patience - and asking people for rides to and from my treatments. i *should* have been grateful and relieved to hear them say "of course". but i still somehow didn't believe that i was worth their grace, their assistance. i kept waiting for the catch, for it all to fall apart. i never believed them when they stepped up for me.

Our van's engine wore out, which leaves us with an older, high maintenance vehicle which uses 35% more gasoline. This has seriously affected our travel and has also cost us a fortune in gasoline and repairs. We can't yet afford to put a new engine in or buy another van which leaves me feeling trapped, desperate, frightened at times, and generally cursed. I am being treated for leukemia in Houston, 600 miles away, and not having a reliable, cost-effective way to get to appointments just makes a hard situation even harder.

i’m at an in person writing event because it’s nice to leave my head and join the real world. last call, i make a joke and a tall blonde lady laughs harder than the rest. abandoned? i asked. no, adopted, she said. since, her friendship has been the catalyst for many moments i’ve manifested for years becoming reality. in the past four years of arduous work towards healing and recovery, i’ve envisioned a hummingbird. this summer at the blonde lady’s house, i become enraptured by the sight of a broad-billed hummingbird hummingbird in front of me, just for me, for what felt like glorious eternity. i’m so chosen.

I WAS ORDAINED AS A RABBI!!! That’s really the biggest headline. I also got my first real full time big girl job working at HUC. I was so thrilled and grateful to be ordained earlier this year. I felt like I accomplished something I had been working toward for so long. It was super surreal and I’m still getting used to what it feels like to be a rabbi - to tell people that I am and to introduce myself that way and answer to “rabbi.” I’m also adjusting to seeing this as a beginning, not as an end. I now have the rest of my life ahead of me (god willing), but from now on, everything I do, I do as a rabbi. I occasionally feel inspired in terms of the possibilities for my rabbinate and the great amount of choice and freedom I have at this time. I hope my life and rabbinate will be long with many different chapters, each of which I can learn something from.

Welp. 10Q is back. My favorite time of year as I return to my writing roots. The significant experience of this calendar year is the return of my bipolar disorder and its threat to ruin my life while also maintaining itself enough to ensure that I functioned during work hours. It was a reminder that everything in my life is a house of cards that can come towering down at a moment’s notice. And also that my brain can and will protect me when I need it to most, like keeping my job. The best and worst part was when mom came to visit. While she seemed nonplussed, it broke my heart to tell her on her birthday that I wished I was dead. What a heartbreaking sentence to say out loud. What a heartbreaking sentence to say out loud to a mother. My mother was truly built for me. If I had a mother like Ann, she’d be inconsolable right back but instead, my mother told me to go to sleep. I couldn’t have a mother that “fed” into my chaos. My brain is my own crazymakers and it’s for the best that no one add to it. It affected me deeply for a long time. I didn’t know how to trust what was reality and what wasn’t when it came to my feelings. Thankfully I did know reality auditory and visually wise. I’m unsure if I’m grateful but I am grateful I survived it. I’ve never been so close to ending my life. I was literally being tortured by my brain. But I survived. I’m grateful to know that I can survive. That my tattoo isn’t some mistake I made at age 18 but a true description of who I am - a survivor. I am relieved and also scared for the future. Knowing that I live in a house of cards is not a comforting feeling. This could happen anytime any place and I just have to hemorrhage money on doctor appointments, medications, flights to see my parents. For that I am grateful, that I have the money to hemorrhage even if it sets me back from where I want to be financially. At least I can afford them out of pocket if necessary. It has truly helped me realizing how rich I am, especially with the current state of political affairs. I will never want for anything. I hope that sentence remains true. That my privilege will be enough to keep me free from anything that this administration tries to take away from me. The rights they try to strip us from. I am not resentful. That is the one thing that I’ve been able to avoid. I had so much incredible anger over the years but I don’t recall being resentful for the experience. Perhaps while it was actively happening but currently, no. The resentfulness was when I had to leave North Carolina because of my bipolar episode but now I know it’s what was in my best interests. I needed to be under the guidance of my family until I could do it on my own. Inspired? Hmm maybe. I’m inspired that people with a bipolar diagnosis can do anything that anyone else can do. I’ve known that. Thankfully my diagnosis has never held me back from accomplishing anything. If anything, it’s been my superpower. I got promoted while cycling like crazy. My brain did that shit. My brain persevered. It’s crazy that my brain is my biggest asset while also my Achilles heel. Now, if I’m going to go by birth year. Hmmm the most significant experience in the past month since I turned 32 is my commitment to my writing. Even when I’m exhausted, bored, high, disinterested…I make time to write. It shows me that I believe in me. That this isn’t for show. Luis called me today and we talked briefly about his book. I was genuinely so proud of him. No jealousy. It’s his time and not close to being near mine. I’m okay with that. In the words of Cheryl Strayed, my book has a birthday, I just don’t know it yet. In the movie Lonely Planet, an elderly woman says to a younger woman who dedicated her book to her boyfriend - “you could have done it without him. A book is like a fetus inside a womb. Nothing and no one can make it come sooner than its already determined gestational process.” I’m paraphrasing but the intent is the same. My book is on its way to me but it’s a fetus growing in the womb currently. No bigger than a period but she’s on her way to me.

Donald Trump was elected President this year. It's been so much worse than could ever have been expected. I am sicken, disheartened and very depressed. So unfortunate that he has the Supreme Court, the Senate and Congress - unthinking puppets that rubber stamp his illegal cruel racist agenda. He is beyond corrupt and they are shamefully complicit. I feel we are so helpless. Just hard to comprehend the awfulness that is for the Country, and the World.

Lost job at Ft. Detrick. When contract changed hands, govt decided to close some installations and Detrick was one of them. Me, Nina, and Rachel all lost our jobs as of June 3. Kira had a going away event and composed a beautiful story about us and gave each a small stalk of a plant. As of 9/22, my plant is growing wildly. Goodwill heard about our jobs and reached out to Kira for our contact information. Chris Alley hired me and Nina, as Part-Time, and I started August 11. I am developing curriculum for 2-hr modules on job searching and we will teach it on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Pay is lot less then Detrick, but I'll still be working with AD, veterans, first responders and family members. Grateful for the opportunity.

I was maid of honor for Katherine, it was very special to be someone’s number 1 ❤️

Leaving Meta. Grateful for the time there, resentful that the company went MAGA.

So many! The first and biggest impact were surgeries. December’24, I decided to have my Gastric sleeve. The best decision I have ever made. I am now 1/2 the person I was in 2000. August’25,I had 13 hours of surgery to complete my spinal fusions ! What a set back. I am working hard to get back to the person I was pre op. The exhaustion and the work required is insane. These decisions have affected every aspect of my life and I continue to be grateful, relieved and proud! I inspired myself. Not to pat myself on the back, but I did this ! I have an amazing team and they definitely made an impact, but this was all me !

Second son gor married- and expecting my first grandchild

I had the best summer with my dad - truly, one of the greatest that I can remember. He’s been working hard to make real changes and it’s been inspiring and while it can be frustrating when he relapses - he’s never given up on trying again. It was really special having quality time with my dad with my kids. Who would have ever thought? I was and am grateful.

Had detached retina requiring emergency surgery. Grateful my vision in left eye was saved. Concerned my vision has been changed and what might happen in future

This year, I fell in real love for the first time. I felt truly, wholly seen and cherished for the first time. I experienced what it meant to love someone so deeply that I knew in my bones that when she was hurt or ill or struggling, I was meant to be by her side, either to support her or to simply go through the struggle with her. I didn’t know that I could feel those things, and it was revelatory. I lost that love, and it was devastating in the loss and in the way it made me question my reality. But I am grateful to have learned that I am capable of feeling so deeply, and to know what feeling I am looking for with someone who has capacity to show up for me in the way that love makes me want to show up for her.

On November 15th, at 2am, I went into what would turn out to be almost 4 full days of labor. I slept maybe 3 hours total across the four days. On November 18th, I was finally admitted to the hospital. The epidural was a miracle. But by 8pm that night it became clear she couldn’t get out on her own. An emergency c section was my biggest fear, and I sobbed and shook and vomited from the meds. At 10:27, they pulled her out of me and above the blue curtain, and after 90 miserable hours I felt the deepest awe I have ever felt. Awe of MYSELF, of what I did, of what I created. And oh my God, love.

I'm no longer friends with someone who was like a sister to me. I think about her all the time but she's not someone I can continue to call a friend. It makes me sad to think about it because I didn't think we'd ever end up here.

I moved to Chicago, moved into two different apartments, and Josh and I moved in together! Grateful, relieved, inspired, and learning a ton. There have been insecurities that have risen, and I’ve spent a lot of the year, not confident, but hopefully will grow into more confidence again with myself and our relationship. So far, we’ve enjoyed living together, and I’ve loved being in Chicago! I quickly found my Jewish friends and community.

My health has dominated the year. I had three successive operations to remove polyps in my stomach that were bleeding and causing debilitating anemia. I had been suffering from worsening anemia for a decade without a clear diagnosis. By the time of the first operation I was nearly too weak to stand. After each operation, more strength and stamina returned. I was feeling great, able to garden, hike, and work on thh by e house again. And then, just three weeks ago, I fell and broke my right radius and ulnar at the wrist. Very painful and unstable multiple fracture. I am now in a cast and facing a long recovery. Hoping to be able to recover fully and not to lose too much ground from my previous recovery and return to health.

The significant experience in the last year was that I have spent time with my two granddaughters. It makes me realize that there are miracles. I am beyond elated. I love spending special time with them, they are such a blessing.

I changed positions at work. I am thankful and feel a sense of relief and less stress and planning. I am also trying to stop letting others emotions bother me.

My old mentor called me and asked me if I'd like to take over her practice - this was a big deal, a big moment in my life. I will start her practice October 1st - I've had so many things that have fallen apart, and each time I was able to fix it. I feel grateful, capable - and thrillified.

My son graduated early from high school. While I was expecting this in the next year, I didn't expect it so soon. It has shifted our plans and forced me to start to look at who I am again. I think I'm actually relieved. It's been a long time since I've focused on myself. I spend so much time looking at what I can do for other people that even though I FEEL selfish when I spend time on myself - watching tv, driving, doing things for myself - I realize that it's not selfish to do the things that make me better. They make me a better mom, wife, friend. Getting that space is what I need for myself.

I went on study abroad and lived on my own in a different country for the first time. I feel so so grateful. I feel like my world has expanded so much as a result and I feel so lucky for that. It's just a chapter of my life that never could have happened at any other time in any other way and I'm so thankful it did. I made good friends, I lived life, had new experiences and new thoughts and got exposed to different things and I think that was so good for my brain. It's very precious to me.

I bought a house and moved twice. It has been stressful and I don’t enjoy it most of the time due to the amount of work that needs doing. I try to be grateful that I own somewhere but honestly I preferred renting where there was less responsibility. I don’t feel inspired, I wish I did. I definitely did before I moved in. Everything is a mess and it’s actually affecting my mental health quite a lot. It feels never ending. I wish it was painted and I had my books and pictures and curtains up. And the floors were nicer. That’s all I want.

I finally had my gender affirmation surgery after years of waiting. I have been excited, relieved, grateful, and more at peace with myself. I feel that my body truly fits me in a way it didn’t before. I felt more comfortable in my own skin, more naturally me.

As I wind down my working life at the museum and as October 7 is still an ongoing unresolved issues I questioned if my 30 Year work combating antisemitism made much difference. Jews are being demonised once again similar to Germany 80 years ago so I ask what's the difference we made

A significant experience that happened this year was taking the time to slow it down and really allow myself to hold the pain, the grief of October 7th and at the same time hold the joy of such a strong sense of Jewish community that has come from this

Michelle and I went to Oaxaca in commemoration of her 10th birthday. It was enriching for both of us and a joy for me to expose her to a different world, to participate with her making art pieces and seeing cool places like Zapotec villages where women are learning how to create businesses to support their families by making and selling their crafts, and using their skills. So grateful to have the means and opportunity to make memories like this. Thank you to Grandma Kaye for starting this tradition when I turned 10, 61 years ago!

Totally rando, brought to my knees out of the clear blue. Total surrender. Cannot (and will not) explain or justify. Holy Spirit in the room. In tha house. Complete gamechanger. Prayer changes lives. And not just yours……

Netanyahu's expansion of the war. It's pushed me to look at what's happening there and here in parts, rather than for or against the war. I know there are plenty of people who are rigid and unwilling to veer from their original stance. But here's what I do believe: 1. Israel had a right to defend itself. 2. There are always casualties. 3. Netanyahu has gone too far, both in terms of closing the aid for several months and now, with his push to take over Gaza. I definitely resent Netanyahu for the huge negative impact he's having: on the hostage release, on the Gazans, on Israel's position in the world and on antisemitism here. On the other hand, I'm inspired to have conversations not of persuasion, but of mutual respectful listening.

I became a grandparent, it made a good life better, im Grateful, inspired and treasuring these precious moments

Being part of the Olam Chesed cohort was an extraordinary experience. In only 48 hours, I became so close with the other 15 people that were there. We shared so much. The place was magic - gates leading to wonderlands leading to inviting boats and words of wisdom. It also clarified for me what I want to do with/for my chevra. It has given me a purpose and something positive to focus on amidst all the terribleness that is happening. Despite it all, we have community, we have our faith and traditions and we can do holy work.

I am not sure if I did have something significant this year. I am happy with my life, and this year there have been no special milestones. Let me add, perhaps, a phrase from my husbands daughter. "You are always welcome here". Yes, I am grateful for that.

I tutored a 13/14 year old for his bar mitzvah. In a little over 6 months, he went from knowing basically nothing about Judaism to being able to decode/vocalize Hebrew and say the prayers and chant his Torah portion, along with learning history, geography, and some role models in the faith. V'Ahavta tells us to teach our children...I got to teach someone else's child! It felt WONDERFUL! I am grateful to have learned it myself and to have the skills/talent.

I downsized my life and moved to a new city where I had only a few acquaintances. I threw myself headfirst into the dark waters of overwhelming loneliness and seem to be swimming. It was a reset button on life and has been such a rewarding change. From feeling lost to having a sense of rediscovery has been so inspiring. I’m scared most days and still feel awkward meeting new people, but I’m creating a community for myself and seeing new pathways opening in front of me, and learning to enjoy the journey in a way that previously felt out of bounds. And I feel inspired to keep pushing.

My husband and I went to Vegas together in February, and we just really had so much fun. It was nice to travel with just one another for a change, and to have a guilt-free time to doing just we wanted, how we wanted (sleeping in! Comfort foods!) It felt like we strengthened our connection with each other while exploring this weird place and feeling like cultural anthropologists.

My dad lost a leg and he was in and out of the hospital for months. I was faced with possibly losing my dad, taking care of my mom and Dad and having my life changed. Yes. My dad is healthy and it brought us closer. Yes, my dad is healthier. Kind of resentful as well. I had to make significant adjustments to my life and work schedule and the stress. I'm inspired by my dad's pushing himself and trying to make the best out of a bad situation.

We finally moved! I was hoping last year to have a crystal ball and be able to know where we had landed for this year. But, now I know! We are in Tucson and have been gone from the Bay Area for just about 2 months. It has been such a good decision for our family. I feel so grateful. It is a slower pace of life and I feel like I can exhale. There were a hundred reasons to stay in SF and a hundred reasons to leave. So, there was no clear cut path. But, I am very grateful we made the decision to try something new.

The biggest event in the past year was opening up the Japanese American Exhibit. Three years of work and seeing it displayed like that was amazing. Hearing and watching people experience it was also amazing. I felt relieved that the exhibit was so well received. I felt grateful and inspired about what I could do with people backing me up. Grateful for the help. That day was such a blur and taking a moment to remember it is really nice.

I had ablation surgery to correct my heart arrhythmias and am so grateful that it succeeded. I hope so hard that my heartbeat stays steady. So, I feel both grateful and relieved

Just one?? This past year has had a lot of significance. As I had hoped, I was able to buy a house, I closed on it 01/16/2025. Just when I thought the search was futile, the perfect place showed up. Also, as I had hoped but never believed could happen, Ken and I really got back together. We moved back in with each other 01/30/2025, he sold our home in May. We then got married again on 09/04/2025. If you had told me all of this would happen last year at High Holidays I would not have believed it, and I may have said no, I do not want some of it. It been a long, very difficult road, but overall, I am very happy with how things have progressed and the changes that have happened. I could never have imagined a way for us to figure out how to live with what we have been through and then on top of that be able to share a life together again. If Ken hadn't taken responsibility for his actions and behaviors and worked to change the dynamic between us I would have obviously never responded to him. It took a long time and a lot of pain and misery. It was the most difficult experience in my life. I wish all the bad things had never happened. We have a new relationship now and things are definitely not the same, but that is a good thing. We have the years and the good memories on our side. Sometimes there are triggering things that sends one of us off the deep end, usually me, but we have figured out how to communicate and deal with problematic issues before they get out of hand. I can honestly say, that this year, I am ready to forgive him for all the ways he has wronged me, knowingly and unknowingly. I am grateful to be where we are today. I still have healing to do and everyday isn't rainbows and sunshine but it's moving in the right direction. I am happy with so many things that I couldn't even begin to enjoy before.

I ended a two year relationship. It was the best relationship, I've ever had - but it was a long distance relationship. Neither of could or would move - so we reluctantly agreed to part. I am grateful for what 8 learned through our connection. I am relieved I don't have to travel anymore and that I can focus more on my own in my home town.

I tried to live a life outside of relationship, not native to me and I struggled for sure but I also learned how to be on my own a little bit better than I had before and I’m more thoughtful about the relationship I’m going into. I’m feeling good about where I am and hopeful about where I’m going.

Mom died. I can't bear to write the words, even now. I am unmoored. I am learning to live differently, with a different orientation to life and the world. My mom is gone. I have no mom anymore. What is a person without their mom? To me that question is doubly painful because of the non-relationship I have with my own kids, especially Clara - she used to by "my" Clara, but no longer. And she apparently has no need for her mother. I am bereft. I am in so much pain. Ironically I had no experience or warning of grief from Mom who I don't believe ever grieved anyone. Maybe Grandma Peg? But not in a wrenching, knock-you-sideways sort of way. If anything she was mostly relieved of the burden of being the caregiver - as she was for essentially 3 grandparents. I am becoming a different person - the signifiers, choices, and things of import that I used to go by, are not the same anymore - my tastes are changing. Cryssa says it's not that I'm becoming a different person, rather that new rooms and unexplored corridors in me are being discovered. I'm not sure. I am unmoored and shaken. And yet I am resilient. I am leaning in to "chosen family" and finding friends and love where/when I can. People like Joan who reached out and took me in for a wonderful, healing visit to their home in Mexico City. Tonight is erev Chag - I am going with the flow this year - just going to the services, going where people have invited me. There is no other imaginary "better" option or life - only the one I am actually presented with and living. I am so very grateful for my myriad blessings, particularly of friendship. And I am in great, deep grief over the loss of the person who tethered me to myself in so many ways. I'm having to find ways to be my own tether. It's so hard and lonely, but also right and healthy, and good and a blessing. I am emerging into a more fulsome way of being in the world. More confident, more intentional, more determined. And eventually I suspect this new way of being and these new struggles will actually lead to more joy. We'll see. I'm also learning a new sort of patience. With myself and the world. I am blessed and grateful.

I proposed to my partner in June! I was never sure if marriage was something I wanted but it definitely is something I want with then. I feel scared and ecstatic and hopeful and unsure. I’ve witnessed so few marriages in my life I thought were really functional and healthy but I have faith ours will be.

Getting fired from Rythmia and finding my way to urban air. I’m actually happy these days!

I met someone and I fell in love with him. I felt an innate sense of trust with him, and he continues to surprise and inspire me. I had a fear that I would never meet anyone who would understand and accept and excite me, that I was meant to be alone. I'm grateful to Shozab for awakening me to relationship, to growing alongside him, for letting me be imperfect and seeing the whole of me, for being the sweetest, most courageous, thoughtful and playful partner. I never expected to meet someone like him.

The most significant event in my past year was my divorce finalizing. We filed last October, and everything went through on January 1st. The most surprising part of this was that I didn't really know how stressed I was during those three months. Once Jan1 rolled around and I was able to relax and not worry about it, a lot of stress rolled off and I was able to be a lot happier. In general, I'm grateful that things went pretty smoothly and that I've been able to move on. The past 9 months have been a lot of ups and downs, but I'm so much happier about my life and future and friends and everything else that is going on for me.

We moved. We moved again. Now we're settled so we help.

More gratitude than ever I could have imagined. I met a man and we have fallen in love. My sister Vicky was diagnosed with a serious cancer in December, and going through this with her has brought home how precious every moment of life on this Earth is.

E got diagnosed with Autism this year. I'm incredibly grateful and relieved to get this news. It helps to explain why it has been so difficult with some of the things she has been experiencing. I am nervous, though, because this Trump regime seems to want to make a registry of people with Autism.

All I can think about right now is my friend. He is dying. He has been fighting his illness for a year, almost to the day. He started to have symptoms around Rosh Hashana 2024. What can one say when these things happen to wonderful people and yet the schmuckiest of schmucks still roam free, seemingly unharmed by the massive quantities of big macs and cokes consumed? And yet, I am also grateful. Every morning I wake up and make coffee and have a chance to think with gratitude about my friend. I have had the opportunity to treasure my friendships and really value the time I have with my family. And I'm still angry and sad and frustrated.

The 5th day of our trip to Israel coincided with the start of the Iran War. I would say 35% relieved, 45% grateful, 15% inspired, and 5% resentful. Relieved that we made it home safely, with minimal delay, and no "plan c". Relieved that the conflict was less bloody on all sides than many others. Grateful that Melton retooled the trip and the two-day journey home was pleasant. Grateful to see Israelis in better spirits. Grateful for the inspiring speakers (even the right wing ones). Grateful to have this as a subject of conversation at gatherings as I tend to blend into the background otherwise. Inspired by the speakers and our tour leader. Inspired by my encounters in the Shelters. Not going to rehash the resentment.

i wrote a solo (ish) show. i put it on for the first time in front of people. i am grateful. i learned a lot about writing. i am tired. spiritually and physically. i have had moments of resentment but overall no.

I had foot surgery. I was very very nervous about it and had all the typical worries about going under. It turned out so well. I was able to walk and function perfectly only 1 month after the surgery. Before the surgery walking hurt. I had a cyst that was pushing on a nerve. In retrospect, I did not need to worry. I didn't even need to think about it as much as I did and lose sleep over it. It's giving me confidence to take more chances and not live from a place of fear. I'm so grateful for modern medicine.

After 12 very long and worrying months, Rod finally got work. We were down to our last dollar, so on the verge of losing everything we had worked so hard for. Not only one job but 2 that dovetailed together beautifully. I felt so incredibly grateful and very relieved. It renewed my hope in a higher power, one that is there for me. I definitely get inspired.

Huge. Huge year. Bought a house. Sold a house. Moved to a new city. Had surgery. I am grateful, inspired, and looking forwards rather than inwards. I am relieved to be free of what what holding me back and making me small.

A significant experience that happened in the past year was quitting smoking. I miss it but I'm relieved that it happened because it was becoming a problem.

I recovered from a massive depression and anxiety episode. It was caused by Vraylar, and was the worst experience of my life. I had no will left to live for a long time. I had to use all of my fmla time off of work. I needed therapy and psychiatry visits multiple times a week and had to completely redo all of my meds. Marina supported me and stood by me through all of it. I would not be alive today without her. I 100% would have given up and killed myself and that would have been the end of it. I am relieved to be on this side of it, and extremely grateful for Marina and my healthcare team, but I am endlessly resentful of the year plus that mental illness stole from me and my family. I will never get that time back. I feel like I have to now work to make it up to Marina and my sons. I'm forever in their debt for loving me unconditionally and staying with me through the lowest point of my life.

I went with a group of fellow Lutherans to the Texas border to meet with the Border Servant Corps. Hearing the experiences of refugees, migrants, "undocumented" immigrants. Hearing their struggles and hardships. The experience moved me, hit me hard, and made an everlasting impression. I'm grateful to have had the experience and plan on returning to see what I can do, and am inspired to see what I can bring back to others in my church community.

I sold my house in Washington DC and moved to be closer to my parents. I bought a new house and started a new job. I'm both sad to move away from a city and people I love, and relieved that this move has gone fairly smoothly and I'm enjoying the experience of seeing family more. I also like the new job. This was all decided after Trump won the election and was something that had to be rushed through without a lot of time to think or plan. I can't deny that there was some luck to all of this and supportive family members made a lot of it possible.

I met the love of my life and got engaged to him. I am grateful beyond belief (because even though I believed, I didn’t realise how beyond my imagination God can bless me). In hindsight, God grew me and transformed me how he needed to in my singleness and sped things up real quick in a flash. All the tears, heartache, rejection, loneliness, it was all worth it in the end and I wouldn’t take anything back. I never knew life could be so full and beautiful with the right person.

I went to visit family in Israel and experience Tel Aviv Pride for the first time. I got one full day in before the twelve day war with Iran broke out, completely altering all plans and resulting in experiencing first hand wha its like to live in an active war zone. I was scared and mad and confused and nervous and sure; yet simultaneously i felt safe and secure and grateful for the extra unplanned time with family too.

My Dad passed away at the end of February. He had been diagnosed with stage IV terminal lung cancer in July of last year. His illness was hard and he declined quickly after new years. I have so many unanswered questions. So many things we had yet to talk about. His illness & death also brought up alot of past trauma that I had carefully tucked away, and now its strewn all over the place like a teenagers bedroom. My false sense of peace was ruptured and I cannot put this all back into the box. I don't know where to go from here. I'm 11 years old again hoping for a sign from him that will never come.

A significant moment actually came at the end of last year and spilled over into the first part of this year, overshadowing much of the year. I was falsely, maliciously accused of things 2 other coworkers were actually doing themselves; almost causing me to lose my job. Another coworker attempted to manipulate a situation with the owner in her favor causing the owner to involve me; which in turn caused me to be faced with a choice between being honest and following through on their request or lying for the coworker and potentially losing my job if discovered. I have watched the 2 accusers both be fired. The first for demonstrating the same behaviors she, herself, had previously accused me of. The other for openly, falsely, maliciously accusing me again and being told that her accusations were baseless by the owner herself. It initially caused me to doubt myself, distrust my bosses, resent my coworkers for their lies and really take stock of my worth, what I was willing to put up with and whether or not they deserved my presence and the skills I brought to the table. It caused me to have a lot of conversations with God and be grateful for the place he had brought me. I grew deeper in my relationship with Christ and my faith in Him to walk me through the struggles.

I got a cat and she fills me with joy

Mac proposed to Rachel. So grateful

I have a houseguest who was supposed to be here for a few months, looking to find a place here because of parental issues. Then it was he's going back to his state to get his own place. Now he's moving in with friends in Missouri. Supposed to leave August. It's almost October, taking about leaving in November. I'm pissed, stressed, all the dwarves.

Donal Trump was elected president again, which is going to set the tone for the next 4 years, if he makes it that far. It enrages me that our country is being held captive by this hateful president.

Trump was reelected. I am constantly seesawing between grief and rage. Lately it’s anxiety as I watch our Constitution being gutted. The democracy, flawed as it’s always been, is now crumbling as Congress abdicates its responsibility to the constituents who put them in office, the constitution, and any semblance of human decency. I am fearful about what I’ll be writing next year.

I met the love of my life. I am grateful and hopeful for my future and the love we have for each other.

My mom died on Sept 10. My emotions are still raw and tangled. I am grateful that I was able to come to terms with my resentment of my mother’s inability to be the mom I needed as a child. It allowed me to connect with her on a different level over the last couple of years of her life. I am grateful that her death was fairly quick and hopeful painless. I am grateful that my sisters and I were able to be with her during her last days. I am inspired by her commitment to family and Judaism. It makes me want to be more involved and committed myself (outside of professionally). I still can’t believe that she is gone and that I will need to get through this holiday period with my dad alone.

Unemployment for over a year. I work in the entertainment industry as a digital artist, based in Los Angeles. I've always been brought up to be a "worker-bee" and have been busy with work starting in college when I took on 2 jobs and kept a full load of classes. I got used to working long long hours, sometimes weekends, etc. But this year... nothing! I did get one freelance gig in February but that's it! Thankfully, my husband has been working. We recently had to re-adjust our budget to reflect a one-person income, until I can get back working again. It's been hard for me to not be able to contribute. I do hold up some hope that more movies/TV production will come back to California but I've also looked elsewhere for work. All I can find that's entry level are unpaid internships, or minimum wage factory type jobs. In the meantime, I've been busting my butt taking online classes, pretty much all year, to advance and broaden my skills. What's kind of cool about all this is that I have had more time for creative projects and learning new skills. Maybe my answer is to start my own business, but not sure what yet.

There were 3 significant experiences for me during this past year - 1) My wife and I took our first real vacation in 6 years! We spent a week in Seattle - it was great. I then spent 4 days with my old college buddies in San Diego, CA - It too was great. We had pure fun kayaking in La Jolla bay and e-Biking around the La Jolla beaches. 2) I and my crew finished all hardware and software for our NEEM-2 project. Finally it is ready to sell 3) My prostate cancer came back and I had to start another round of radiation and drug therapy to treat this deadly disease. My oncologist is optimistic however, I don't think he or anyone else knows whether I have two years, 10 years, or 20 years left before this disease kills me. Maybe better treatments will be discovered during this time. For all 3 experiences I am grateful, inspired and in a way relieved.

The significant experience happened today. I was diagnosed with shingles. For several days I have had a pain on the right side of my head. It made me think about what is important and what my wishes are. I am grateful that I got in touch about what I think, not what I am suppose to think. I feel relieved to know what it is I am dealing with and it has a name. And yes I do feel some resentment toward my family not accepting me as I am not has they want to see me. I feel inspired to do better.

I got stuck in Paris on vacation with my family and the airline went on strike and we couldn't get home. It was very expensive. I felt stressed, frustrated and worried about the financial impact. I also felt grateful to be with friends and grateful to acknowledge that despite the challenge, I always have a huge safety net to catch me. My parents, my sister and a million friends who are there to support me with whatever I need.

I lost my best friend Hallie. The sadness and the grief was overwhelming. I still miss her everyday. Our country also has a great loss - Charlie Kirk ! I was angry, resentful, sad. But I find comfort in knowing that HaShem is in charge.

Three things rush to mind: the birth of Avonlea, the birth of Willow and Steve & I retiring!! It is a WONDERFUL time to be alive and get to know our precious grandchildren and spend time with our beautiful daughters and their husbands!

I'm trying to learn to let myself speak first in my head, let my Self be the primary character. I had a sort of mini-nervous breakdown in March and had to do the thing that is the most difficult for me - ask for help. That led me to Richard Schwartz's IFS/Internal Family Systems work. It left me reeling, but it left me able to figure out how to approach this decade of my 60s. I need to get rid of everything that's hiding my Self. I need to heal my parts and get on with the final phase of my life.

Jesus fuck. Every year is a new hellscape of shit. Bryan fucking LEFT ME in the matter of a month and a half, all starting over a stupid cup of coffee, with no explanation other than "I am repulsed by the idea of commitment" and "I can only focus on myself right now." GHOSTED ME for the second time. Then, Shortcake died. My fucking dog died. And we knew this was her last year. HE KNEW. She was literally on her last legs when he left. She required so much special care this past year ow two, and he LEFT ME ALONE TO TAKE CARE OF HER. I can never forgive him. What a pussy, avoidant little man bitch. 10 years, marriage, family, for what? How has it affected me? My heart is hardened against all men. My dad who left me with an addicted abuser when I was 8. My first partner who is now in prison for arson and domestic assault. My brother who will not speak to me because I tried to nudge him into rehab and is using his kids as a weapon. Now Bryan. I am trying to choose to believe in the good in people, to believe that love can exists again, but it is hard. Shortcake was my soulmate, my everything. I loved her more than life itself. I just wish I was with her. I don't want to live without her.

Two experiences: one personal, one national and international. On a personal level, I pushed myself to apply for jobs, to audition, and ultimately, we moved her to Green Bay where tonight I will lead my first High Holy Day service at Cnesses Israel. My feelings are shifting constantly, but mostly, I am glad we made the change, grateful and excite to do my job for a lovely group of people, and glad also to be experiencing a beautiful and different part of the country. On a national level, Donald Trump was reelected President. We are looking at encroaching fascism. I wonder very much where things will be next year, and if they will continue to get worse. It's a scary time.

We have had a sweet little angel of a cat appear on our doorstep. It was the night we watched Garfield (2024), which I admittedly didn't like. We joked we should find a sweet, fat orange cat and maybe they'd break the ice on Cheddar and Ma'am's constant beef. And like a bell ringing, a darling orange cat came to our doorstep. Admittedly, under sad circumstances. His owners took him and left him on the stoop of the church. I had no idea so when we tried to go out and find him, he hid in fear (to which I thought he ran away entirely). The next morning I asked two crows who I am known to talk to for help. I asked if they would find him and what he looked like. They cawed and flew away. A day after, one of the crows cawed at me constantly for several minutes in a tree beside the bus stop above a large rhododendron bush. I couldn't see any animal there, but I knew I wasn't seeing him correctly. That night, I was up late meal prepping the food I put off for days. It set my week back so I was awake until 2AM. Because the house was so hot, I stepped outside into the cold night to cool off. I heard rustling through the bushes that was definitely larger than a squirrel or rat. A voice in my head said, "Go, that's him." When I walked up the steps to my porch and down the ramp, I saw him. There he was, perfectly perched on the cathedral steps with his sweet bushy tail swinging softly. He was still wearing his harness, just without his leash. I slowly walked over to him, greeting him sweetly so as not to scare him. He immediately unfurled and walked over to me, yamming up a storm. I picked him up and hugged him to my chest tightly, just like I used to with my baby sister. He didn't fight the hold. I texted my partner and brought him inside. The first meal he had his head swung back and forth, meowing in a long gargle from days without food. He sang through his first bites, immediately purring with each touch. Since he came home, Pudding/"Pookie", named affectionately for his plump sweetness, has adjusted perfectly. He is playful and sweet, extremely affectionate and cuddly, and very playful. He is gentle and patience, unlike Cheddar, which has helped Ma'am return to her full kitten-like self. Cheddar has also mellowed out a bit not for love of the cat but at least for the appreciation for his own space in the living room. He's lest overtly hostile but it's still been a challenge. The hardest part was when Pudding started developing liver failure suddenly. At the time, we had no idea what had caused it because we have no medical information on the cat. We were worried it was unpreventable and also incurable. Fortunately, he recovered but doesn't purr as much anymore. Then, two months later, the symptoms came back. We rushed him to the vet ER, another $1,100 on a wish, and discovered it may likely be dietary. In immaculate fortune, my boss whose cat passed last year had the exact food type and brand at home. Four cases of pure compassion and generosity. Colleen's kindness knows no bounds. I am eternally grateful for her love and patience as a boss. Overall, Pudding has helped me emotionally greatly and was a wealth of psychological comfort when Ren's grandmother Billie passed. He has been such a loving, gentle soul that reminds me of my first cat Sammy. I joke that he came back to me because he knew I needed his comfort and for others to know his sweetness too. I hope to look ahead with hope and joy, even in the faces of abject American fascism. I'm admittedly terrified. I have no one I can admit this to. My weakness makes me feel so small, but when I hold Pudding in my arms I feel okay. I feel grounded not just by his heft but his soft warmth. I hope we have many years together in the future.

I had my first experience of having to let a direct report go from my team. It was a test of my patience and my fortitude. It really shook me to my core, having to be the ultimate decision maker, albeit, with a team of folks who completely supported my decision. I feel so sad and at the same time, like a ginormous weight was lifted off my shoulders. I hope they find joy, success, and their path as they figure out what is next. I hope I never have to do this again, and likely, I may have to at some point in my career. I'm grateful my first experience of this went as well as it could have gone. Added bonus - I can add this to my resume - ha, oof!

I got laid off from the place where I had my working identity for over 20 years. And while they were incredibly generous with their severance package, the thought of looking for a new job after so long was daunting. However, I put my head down, worked on my resume and interviewing skills, had fantastic references, and I did find another job 8 weeks later. I'm unsure if this job is "the one", but I felt I needed some security to right my ship before going on the next adventure.

The war with Gaza has been on my mind most of the time. I am sad that anti-Semitism is so much a part of Christian culture, even for secular Christians. I am a Christian myself with Jewish grandchildren. I knew there was always some anti-Semitism but I was still surprised how quickly it surfaced after Oct 10 and how it has continued in spite of Hamas' obvious terrorism.

Watching my kids carve their own path in life, choosing activities that suit them, millie in tap, felicia in a musical again, both of them in a new school they are thriving at. It warms my heart and makes me feel like im not always failing as a mom

My eyes were opened to the entrenched racism, sexism, ageism and ableism in the United States. I have been blind to reality and saw this country for what it purported to be and not what it really is. When you allow blind spots or wear rose-colored glasses all the time to color your reality, it skews you judgement and you often think ill or poorly of certain segments of the population because you feel that they aren't making their best efforts and this is why they are doing poorly compared to you. As a black woman who grew up in the south in the 1960s and 70s, I was sometimes embarassed by other black people who weren't doing as well as my family and didn't have the same ambitions as me. Now I have to acknowledge, I just lucked out or had the benefit of others looking out for me. The current climate of politics and the beliefs of the majority of Americans that dictate our current policies, causes me severe emotional pain and sadness, but I am grateful that my eyes have been opened. I now know that either I was deceiving myself in thinking that I understood what our constitution established as the rule of law and we all agreed on these terms and were striving towards that. Now I have to acknowledge, that the majority of Americans are fine with the status quo and actually preferred when there was less possibility for the marginalized segments of our society to prosper. They see perpetuating our imperfect union as benefitting them. My sister Arlene always told me I was not acknowledging reality and it divided us. Maybe now I can understand her perspective better and the perspective of others who have disagreed with my appraisal of our body politic. I also now know that you need to work with people of faith and moral ideals who will work for those ideals even if those ideals may dictate that they be less materially prosperous, because of the spiritual prosperity it brings them. I realize that none of us has a total "true" picture of what would be best for all of us and that listening and asking questions is my best hope of helping to create a better country and a better world. This retrenchment of progressive policies also made me realize what courage it has taken for may of my mentors and friends to stand with me. There are a lot of Americans who resented my prosperity and growth and thought I was underserving of it. Those who saw potential in me and gave of themselves did so at their peril and now unfortunately they are suffering for it. This causes me the most emotional pain and sadness. I love these people of principle and generosity.

In the Spring I got into a significant conflict with my downstairs neighbor that has escalated so much and gotten so bad that my partner and I are moving to get away from them. It had been brewing for a little while before then, but it took a turn for the worse in May and we are still dealing with it. It has been truly awful. They don't like the noise we make, and even though we have put down carpets and are VERY careful, they will bang on the ceiling anytime after 8pm when we drop something or the floor creaks. This causes my partner to have panic attacks, and they refuse to stop even though they know that. I am very resentful and enraged - because of the repercussions of their actions, we have gone in such an accommodating and deescalating direction (when my inclination is scorched earth). But it's not working, and we can't live like this any longer. It's hyperbolic, but they are ruining our lives. It also causes conflict between me and my partner because of how differently we want to respond. I also feel really frustrated with and disappointed in myself for not nipping this in the bud, and for not finding a way to address the conflict productively before it got so out of hand. I just couldn't take them seriously - if I had known at all there was a possibility of them reacting like this I would have figured out a way to deal with them differently. It has also made me much more aware of my hanger and "fight" response, and how that is not always the best or most strategic strategy for getting what I actually want.

One of the most profound experiences in my life has been witnessing God’s transformative work in my wife, Jessica, as she overcame the crippling anxiety and physical limitations caused by a life-threatening virus in 2021.. (I think that’s what it was). The virus, which attacked her inner ear and disrupted her balance, hospitalized her for a few days and marked the beginning of a grueling four-year journey. Unable to drive long distances or perform many household tasks, Jessica battled not only physical weakness but also deep-seated anxiety that confined her spirit. Through this long haul, we leaned on God, trusting His strength to carry us through. This year, by God’s grace, Jessica’s faith and courage have shone brightly. Embracing the mantra “do it scared,” she surrendered her fears to God and began reclaiming her independence, step by step. I always told her when she could drive on the interstate or to and from her hair appointment by herself (which was over 40 minutes away) I would consider her “healed” With prayer and determination, she returned to driving, conquering the anxiety that once overwhelmed her. In a remarkable act of faith, she planned a family vacation to Baltimore, Maryland—a trip requiring a plane flight, which she deeply feared, and navigation of the bustling highways around Washington, D.C. on the outset of planning, I was extremely skeptical of her willingness to plan this trip. I offered my encouragement and never deterred her from pursuing this trip. By the time the vacation was ready to begin. I remained a bit scalp skeptical about how she could pull this off what I failed to recognize is that it wasn’t her. It was God working through her. Showing her the path and providing her with the confidence to move forward. This triumph, after years of struggle, was a testament to her trust in God’s provision and her resilient spirit. Watching Jessica emerge from this prolonged trial has deepened my faith and filled me with awe at God’s faithfulness. Her healing, forged through four years of patient endurance and trust in His timing, has been a living miracle for our family. Her renewed confidence has eased the demands on my daily schedule, bringing peace, joy, and rest into my life. Above all, this experience has strengthened my belief that God works through our longest trials to reveal His glory, reminding me that together, with faith, we can embrace the wondrous life He has given us.

A very good friend of mine passed away right before Rosh Hashana last year, and it had a huge impact in my life in many ways. It was profoundly sad, incomprehensible, painful, but also made me acutely aware of how fleeting life is, and of how much I treasure the people, friends and family in my life, and much more conscious of how important it is to be present with these people, and never cease to express how much I love them and be there for them, and be in our lives. I am grateful for this lesson, but I miss my friend very much and regret all the things I didn't get to say to her before she passed away.

I turned 70 in March of 2025. A new decade. A decade that my deceased husband only got 6 months to live in. I look at this decade as one to enjoy those morsels of life that can be treasured. To make the time to live your best life. Travel, political action, cherishing family, enhancing old and making new friends. I am grateful to be 70. I am proud of myself for entering this decade healthy and finding joy in as much of the world as I can.

Moving to Atlanta! It's been great, and also uncertain. It made me feel confident that I was right about the things making me really unhappy, but also it's a totally different stage in my career... not forward or backward but into a whole new zone entirely, a whole new set of skills and a whole different pace. I feel good about where I've landed, and this amazing city. I feel good about being knocked into this learning phase all over again. I feel uncertain about the future of Georgia and this amazing city. I feel uncertain about being knocked into this learning phase all over again.

Ik heb voor het eerst (samen met anderen) het koper gepoetst in sjoel. Ik vond het een mitswe, voelde me dankbaar en blij dat ik dit mocht doen voor Hashem, in zijn huis.

I had a traumatic bike accident that caused me to be in rehab for 6 months. It also caused me to really re-evaluate what is important in my life and led me to end my engagement, make my physical, mental and emotional health a priority, file a police charge against a friend for sexually assault, move across the country, and basically start over again. I had been thinking about starting over for years and this accident finally made me do it. So, although it was extremely difficult and a challenging recovery and caused a lot of pain and grief and shedding of my old self and my old life, I am grateful that I am no longer in that old timeline because I think I would be sicker and more unhappy, where now, even in my darkest days, I feel hope.

Greg died. It's the worst time I've ever been through. It was sudden, right at the end of Spring semester, a few weeks before we were to head to Germany and Switzerland. I found him in the garage and my oldest son and I did compressions until the medics got there. They did transport him to the hospital, where they tried to get a pulse back but couldn't, and he was pronounced dead. My sons lost their father. I am a single parent. My partner, my biggest support, my cheerleader, my financial partner, my love, is gone. It's been just over 4 months. It's the worst pain I've ever felt. But I am learning that I am indomitable. I am throwing everything I have at this grief to accept it, to process it, to come out the other side with hope. It won't kill me, although to be honest sometimes it feels like it will. I'm a part of several grief groups, both paid and free, both online and in person. I'm reading, I'm checking out widow coaches to see who fits me. I've got an expressive art therapist. I've got a bodyworker. I've got my own therapist. I'm reading books, I've got guided journals. This isn't going to break me, but it's the closest I've felt to broken. To look at me, you'd think I was OK and yet, I miss him constantly, my heart aches for him every minute of every day. I constantly feel his loss. And, I have to learn to live my life around that.

My daddy died this year. It was crushing, but it also showed me how loved I am by my friends and colleagues. It's been ten months and it still smacks me in the face some days and reduces me to sobs. The kids just reach out and ask if I need a hug. They've been good about it and it has made them treasure their time with Grandma more.

Three events: First, The Epic Convergence: 4 of my short plays in four days, and the party was epic and beautiful. I'm grateful to the collaborators, and to Helen, and to all the guests who joined in the fun. I'm inspired to keep rallying my people for art. Next, The Trees spring concerts truly took so much energy from me and from a whole community of artists and donors. It took some space from my life, and I do sometimes resent how much. Is this the play of my lifetime? I have learned a lot from it about making art and theater specifically, and I have become a more significant writer through the experience. Putting on the concerts was truly a triumph. And I'm so proud of the queer, environmentalist, feminist story, I've told. Finally, celebrating 25 years married to Helen is truly a significant benchmark. Our relationship is so mature and beautiful, so changed and so the same. Our party was truly lovely, surrounded with loved ones in a bar we love with an inspired party game.

Trump's election and coming back to office has been immensely significant in the most negative of ways. I feel fear for my family and for this country. I have worked hard to find joy and have found significant community, especially through camp indigo.

An old friend is back in my life. We live maybe two miles away from each other, if that, but we hadn't been in contact for a few years, and didn't attend the same activities although we have many mutual friends, mostly through dance and music. We ran into each other and hugged in a grocery store and she told me right then that her husband was very ill. I was very shocked. A healthy, active, outdoor guy otherwise. She was very emotional. Also we were laughing while we were crying because we were crying in the canned goods aisle, not privately. We have since then danced at events and visited. She can count on me to be a support. Her husband since has died. She has said she is very grateful to have me back in her life. I feel the same.

I worked a 6th step while my partner was also. It was the most emotionally intense and challenging experiences of the year, and one that lasted 6 or 7 months. I feel grateful to have made it through to the 7th step. I feel relieved that I now have a much stronger relationship with my partner, and with the higher powers of the world. I am deeply inspired by the intensity of emotion I can handle now without using drugs, without giving up on my responsibilities, without letting fear control my actions.

I got married! In some ways, it didn't change anything. She's the same person I fell in love with and that I've lived with for the last 5 years. In other ways, there's an important bond that was built. I held her hands under the chuppah and we told everyone around us how we felt. We dedicated ourselves to each other, to our community, to the world. I'm so inspired by her every day and so glad to get to be a Jewish lesbian. I'm so blessed, every day, by her presence.

I left my job of 43 years. It took a long time for me to make the decision to stop Seeing clients. I made it through the pandemic and through Zoom, but, at 76, I wanted some time to do my other work as an oral historian/memoirist. Almost a year later, I feel relieved and guilty. It is such a tough time in the world that I feel I should be helping people more directly. Yet, I need time to rest and enjoy nature and friends. I’m also disappointed in myself that I haven’t done more with the year. When I am being kind, I think that the slow progress shows me just how tired I was. But I am not always kind.

First week of June I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer. I am 86 years old and therefore fall into a very small group. In 2010 I had robotic surgery for lung cancer in my right upper lobe. Annual Chest CT is still performed. I wondered about why breast cancer now rather than lung. Lung nodes had always been clear. Turns out that axillary nodes don’t always show evidence that a cancer cell has been there and “left no fingerprint”! Chemo IS available and cytology revealed that I have a genetic mutation—additional DNA copies of my parents. Old time treatments are still SOP. I have a great team at University of Chicago. Chemo brain is a REAL thing and i can’t ferret out exactly what I wanted to say.

The loss of my country after nearly 250 years. Last year's answer was so full of life and hopeful, but looking back over this time period has been bleak and enervating and I cannot think of anything positive or meaningful I've been able to add to my life during this time period. Why try, when we no longer have the rule of law? When our Constitution is toilet paper for the billionaires and their lackeys? When human and civil rights are only for a very small minority? Ironically, even if we do manage to survive past this, we will not be able to "make America great again" in anything less than a generation or two. If that. More likely never again.

I won the housing lottery and found a cat within about an hour of receiving my keys. I am a bit stressed about it and kinda worried that my inclination is to flee. I don't think I realized just how much this will affect my life and my future. But my roommates were so excited for me, and they immediately turned my room into an office. I just have to figure out my situation now. I am completely grateful, and money keeps finding me, so it's been easier than expected. But at the same time, what am I doing? I have moved into the place that will likely be my final apartment in NYC, and that is a relief as well as a bit of a bummer. I want to make it special and my own, and I'm trying to get organized enough to let everything I own have a home, but it is so hard. And I get overwhelmed. But maybe it's all okay. And it will all be OK.

I got my drivers' license, was hit a car as a pedestrian, bought a car, and then crashed my car, all in the span of 4 months. I'm proud that took the leap and finally learned to drive, ashamed that I acted foolishly and ended up crashing the car so soon after buying it, and–above all–insanely grateful that I managed to come out of both car accidents without a scratch. Two car accidents in such a short period of time might seem like very bad luck, but I am counting my blessings that I am still alive and completely without injury. The second accident was just last week.

Becoming ordained in the church. I am still trying to figure out where I am going with this. Where is my call leading me? It has been a learning experience, and it has been a joyful experience. I feel grateful for this gift from God and want to use it to serve all people on this earth, but my immediate focus is specifically on my communities. This has been transforming in many ways; it has increased my faith and patience with others.

I retired in May this year. Obviously a huge life change. I did not expect how peaceful this transition would be but I was apparently more ready than I realized. I'm now excited for this next chapter of life!

Mom moved into a nursing home. I was relieved of much stress in one way, but her adjustment was ridiculously difficult, requiring sometimes ten phone calls a day. We went on an incredible cruise. The first since Covid. The Baltic, Iceland, Greenland and Scotland. Fir the first time in firever, I powered down, thinking no further than the next few hours. I read, slept, talked to people. It qas all pretty special.

Retirement! Just over 1 week ago I said goodbye to my nearly 50 year career in the nonprofit world. I am not certain how I feel. I haven't been able to sleep in - It is true, I am not certain what day it is, and I have yet to be bored. I was tired, and ready to retire. There is some fear of how will I support myself - I am fine, after all - I can always get a job at Petco. Mostly relieved.

I achieved my long time goal of becoming an Assistant Professor - it is tenure track and not only that but back in my home state of New York. Really quite amazing that after nearly two decades I have been able to realize this dream. I am grateful, relieved, inspired... it makes me now think of other goals that I have sidelined in order to achieve this one and how I will go forward from here to see those complete as well :)

I directed a one-act play that I wrote. I was grateful for the experience and relieved that I still held a talent, but also resentful of the time it took and the lack of impact.

I lost my job two weeks ago. I'm got fired from Shout Out Studio. I have no savings, a mountain of debt and a mortgage and two kids. I have felt terrified, panicked, relieved, hopeful, hopeless, and determined.

I was turned down for a job that I really wanted. At the time, I was so upset, but after the person who took the job was laid off, I was relieved but also sad.

Our Little dog was diagnosed with lymphoma and we spend most of the year taking her to chemo and dealing with her health and trying to keep her comfortable and happy. She lost the battle on Sept 12, 2025. Her death leaves me very sad with a hole in my heart and yet relieved that she and we are no Longer suffering.

I retired from Corporate America and started my own business. I am inspired, excited and a little nervous. I have been in what I call the “travel candy shop” and as much as I am enjoying that, I am also looking forward to settling into my new rhythm.

Every day our government does absolutely horrifying things. Millions of us can't stand it and yet somehow still can't figure out what to do about it. The world is literally falling apart and we are going back in time 50+ years in civil rights and the number of people hurt and killed already is in the thousands. Millions if you include emotional harm. I brought my children into this world. I don't want them to be left with a pile of bullshit. I'm afraid to even imagine what things might be like next year.

The last 8 months have been dominated by this new administration. Work was so sad, scary and uncertain for several m the. Now things have settled down for work, and I’m feeling personally secure in my job. But I am not at all feeling secure in the lasting changes which will be emerging after this administration. Even over the weekend, hearing about channels with the FCC… my God, we’re headed toward a new and dangerous time. I keep trying to take some solace in other terrible periods - robber barons, KKK, McCarthyism… somehow we’ve bounced back. I pray we do again.

Our former apartment flooding was one of the most intense experiences of the year. It resulted in a waterfall of emotions: Relief that we had insurance, frustration with the way the property mismanaged the situation, horror at the ceiling coming down around us, and culminating in a sense of calm that Cam and I can handle anything if we are together. Trial by water? Check. It also made me question if we are ready for other emergency situations, which we are working on!

I turned 50, and I marked 10 years of marriage. Andrea Gibson died. They were born in Maine, just two days before I was born a bit further south in Maine. I first heard them when I was about 30, maybe, and I met them at the Michigan Womyn's Music Fest either the 1st or 2nd time I went. I took a poetry workshop in the ferns from them. When they died, one of their quotes was shared a lot: "I fucking loved my life." It hit me hard that I wanted very much to feel that way, and I very much did not feel that way at the moment. I was about a month away from turning 50. I started trying to love my life a little more. I scheduled more plans with friends. I read more. I swam almost every day for several weeks. I talked to neighbors. I celebrated my birthday. I said yes to offers to get together. I walked the dog. I said no to things that seemed like a drag. I love my life more now than I did a few months ago. I like this direction.

Joined a writing group. Became inspired to write again.

The man that I worked for 20 years passed away about 6 weeks ago. I was so very sad to hear of his death. This was a man that I had many resentments towards for several years for many reasons. When I was in Texas in June I made a point to visit him. I knew that he had battled some form of cancer for a few years, and I assumed that he was doing better. I was able to sit on his back patio and chat with him and his wife for about an hour. It was a lovely visit and I left with a good feeling about him. And a genuine affection also for both him and his wife. So I was surprised to hear from his wife that he had taken a turn for the worse and was in hospice care at home. When I read his obituary I was disappointed that it was so sparse. He had his own company for 40 plus years and had helped many companies and government agencies with their accounting and IT needs. It seemed like none of that was mentioned in his obituary. He really was generally a good man, and was good to me many times when I needed to have some extended time off to help with family issues - sick siblings and after the death of my sister. I found that I had forgiven him for the things that he didn’t do so well. Anyway, I’m sad that he is gone, and I’m so very grateful that I got to spend that time with him in June.

Unfortunately there have been many in my family that have passed, specifically my grandmother. I’m so glad she made it to her 90th birthday and that I was able to see her and speak with her the week before her passing. I am glad she is no longer suffering and uncomfortable. We talk about her still when we see things that remind us of her.

I completed the conversion process and became an official member of the Tribe. I came to Judaism out of anger and frustration, and it has become my place of peace. Walking into Shabbat services and shutting out the noise of the external world while connecting to HaShem and community is my anchor in an unstable world. I feel relief but also great responsibility to honor the tradition I've taken as my own.

I took my first ever cruise by myself on the Great Rivers of Europe and even though there were some drawbacks, I really loved what I saw and eperienced. so yes, grateful, and appreciative of the $$$ I have to permit this and the good health to manage it all.

I had a fall earlier in September that resulted in what's called a pathological fracture, which revealed a benign tumor in my arm. This experience was very stressful because for a period of time we thought that it might be a cancerous tumor, which was very scary for us. Since then I've learned that it was benign and I'm very grateful for that. It has led to my partner and I being closer in some ways and more distant in others, because I'm still having a lot of pain as the fracture heels. It's also made me take another look at my health and make sure that I'm not ignoring things that I need to be taking care of, and that I am looking out for my health in the future. Sometimes I feel resentful because, again, I'm in a lot of pain but mostly I'm relieved and grateful that it's not more serious and it's really made me appreciate my life the way it is.

My dad died. I felt sad but also relieved.

I had two miscarriages. I am sad, resentful, grateful that I can get pregnant, but bitter. I want to be hopeful for the future, but I am scared.

Mom required extra support due to declining dementia this year. My time is no no longer my own however I am not resentful. She took care of me, and family comes first. But I am spent, exhausted and depressed. Having to deal with my siblings and all that encompasses is waring on my emotionally and physically is tremendous. I travel over an hour twice daily. My body is taking a toll and as stated, I am depressed. I treasure my time with my mom, and do realize the gift I have been given, but I recently retired, and my mothers' dementia is my total focus. hard, hard, hard

I went on a trip with my 26 year old son for my 60th birthday. It was over the top magic. Climbed Machu Picchu and went to Galápagos Islands. Grateful. Happy. Inspired. The memories for my son make me feel full. Like I did something for him- even tho the trip was my celebration.

So many positive wonderful experiences this year. I am so grateful for so many..is that a mindset shift? A real shift and awakening to strive to realize what I want and go for it.

My family and I were attending the Bat Mitzvah of girl in my son's class, Mira, and things were going well. A slow song came on and I wanted to slow dance with her as a way of connecting and enjoying her company. However, she rejected me and used the excuse that no one was on the dance floor. The next song was Journey's Don't Stop Believing and a family friend said lets go dance (still no one on the floor) and my wife had no problem suddenly going up and dancing it. It felt like another rejection on her part. I felt cold and very angry. I almost considered hiring an Uber right then and going home. I just removed myself from the situation and stayed to myself the rest of the night. THe next day or so she got sick at an event and part of me was helpful and another part of me was thinking that God punished her.

I am an IRONMAN! I trained from September 2024 until race day in Ottawa on my birthday, August 3, 2025 and had the BEST time, sporting a goofy grin on my face all day and even jumping over the finisher's mat. It affected me in so many ways: it taught me that with consistency and the right coaching, I can achieve anything I set my mind (and body) to; it taught me the value of having friends and family who show up for me in ways that are meaningful (and, in contrast--those who didn't or weren't capable of showing up for me--and THAT was hurtful); it taught me to value my own experiences and abilities. I'm not fast but I'm strong and I have stamina. I did great in the swim, not wearing a wetsuit in choppy, aggressive/combative water and making my time goal. My bike was not without its challenges but I managed to roll with the punches, deal with mechanical issues on course and get the 180 km done. My guts gave up on the marathon before my legs did, so while I should have been able to finish in under 14 hours, I managed to run through the finisher's chute at 15:58. I could beat myself up over my finish time, but ultimately, I did what I came to do: finish before the time cutoff, finish without injury, and finish without pooping my pants (that was touch and go for awhile, admittedly!). I still can't believe I did it and had such a great experience while doing it.

I studied for a year and converted to Judaism on my 60th birthday. It has changed little about how I feel, as I had been practicing and attending services for 17 years. But it also changes everything to be able to say “I am Jewish.” I am grateful to have joined the tribe of my spouse and children, and to stand with them as a Jew in this era of growing anti-semitism. I am inspired by the year of learning to continue studying Torah, Jewish practices and values.

We welcomed our second daughter to the world this year after an eight year gap from our first child. The difference between the two as babies is stark. As I write this we are almost 8 weeks into the magnificent life of baby Dove. Now aged 40 I’d say the sleep being sacrificed is a lot harder than being in my early 30’s. Having a bit of experience with the first child I feel we gave each other space and time when needed. Sleep is one hell of a drug and when you don’t have it things aren’t as clear as they normally would be had you had your decent 7 hours. I am beyond grateful for life in general but more so for my wife. My respect for my wife and my wife’s body couldn’t be any greater and I’m in awe of what she has done for us all as a family and giving birth to life is an incredible feat that I have total admiration for. I am relieved after a complicated labour that in the end everything was ok. Ok being fine for me to say right now however my wife still not fully recovered may not say the same. I’m almost resentful that I didn’t do this sooner. I have aging parents and as you get older, time starts be limited like it never has been before now. I am inspired to work hard for my family, to enjoy work as much as possible. I’m lucky in that I enjoy what I do for work and running a business although can have various pressures, overall is a fun experience that I still like getting up for 10 years on

In December, I celebrated a 10th wedding anniversary, something I could have never fathomed when I lost my soulmate 4 years earlier. I had thought that I would live out my life as a widow. I am deeply grateful that my husband and I found each other late in life. Kismet!

I got married! For the first time, at age 62. I reveled in sweetness for days! That feeling has been renewed every time I tell someone who then shares their happiness with mine. I am grateful. I am relieved. And there remain questions around, "Now what?"

I had a miscarriage. At 16 weeks my Ida Rose died because of an interuterine infection. Her amniotic sac ruptured and she had to be delivered too early to live. I ended up with a septic infection that was treated with days of intravenous antibiotics; she died, but I lived, and my three young children still have a mother. It altered the course of our family's lives in ways we could not have guessed; I took a new job and we are moving to a different state way across the country. This would not have happened if my pregnancy continued and we had an infant. I'm grateful to be alive, and for the new opportunities and that God opened other doors, but I do not think this was part of a divine plan. God is my father, he loves me, and a parent never wants their child to feel this kind of pain. I miss her every day and can't imagine a future where I don't.

We stopped going to marriage therapy after almost 2 years. I feel relieved because it was time to acknowledge that while there is no such thing as "perfect" and some strong feelings remain on both sides, we are committed to making the relationship work. I (and I think we both) recognize and can appreciate and name the challenges and rewards in staying together.

Last Rosh Hashanah I knew that the project I was working on was expiring; however, I completely believed that my company would find another project for me. Instead, I was laid off, and although worked a part-time 1099 assignment (until 47 blew up the government), I have been unable to find full-time work for a year. I am immensely grateful to have a supportive and understanding husband. Nonetheless, I have been extremely frustrated with my/our situation. I have not been out of work since 2011 and I did not anticipate it taking this long to find a new job. I often feel like I want to go back to school and obtain new skills to be able to broaden my search, but I am wary of enrolling in a program only to find employment in my current field and then be overextended. Am I unable to find a job because I am meant to be making Aliyah? Or is this meant to teach me patience and perseverance? I hope to have more answers next year.

I was in a car accident a day before Halloween. It was my first major accident in about 30 years of driving. It wasn’t my fault, but it did total my car. I was mad, and still am a bit almost a year later. I have become even more aware of drivers around me and vocalize at them while driving. I know they can’t hear me, but I find it’s a way to express my apprehensions. Physically, I am more achy and hate it.

Death of a family member. Horrified at the circumstances, concerned for the survivors, gratified at the care and support from the medical staff.

I am ever so grateful for the small things, it has been such a bad year in the world, I am ever grateful for my mobility, my ability to save money, and my mind . Being a smart progressive black woman is under attack and I am still surviving. I am living.

In the past year my best friend died of oral cancer. It was a messy and painful demise. I helped care for him until the end, which was a blessing to both of us and exhausting too as it was very emotional. The whole situation affected me in many ways: it was drive home that life is short and can change in the blink of an eye; reassured me it’s ok to have close male friends as a married woman. I am incredibly grateful to have been afforded this life experience , to have seen him back to G-d, and to know he trusted me to do so. I am relieved it is over, he’s not uncomfortable anymore and I have life back to focus on my husband. I am perhaps a little resentful that he wasn’t clearer on his needs. I believe all things happen for a reason. I’ve grown as a result of this experience and am a better, however sad, person as a result.

I went to Antarctica. The experience was inspiring, enjoyable, and exciting.

I can’t think of anything significant that has happened this year and that makes me so sad.

My son graduated from college in May. Beyond the typical feelings of nostalgia and anticipation, I feel very good that we spent the money to create a virtual experience for my wife’s parents. They were too frail to travel to the event, so we rented a movie theater and projected the ceremony on a big screen. Further, we catered a lavish breakfast for them, the family, and their friends in the area. It elevated the experience, and it relieved just a little bit of the wistfulness they had in not being able to travel. Even though these were my wife’s parents, not mine, I still had to convince her to spend the money. I would do it 100 times, and I am so glad that it worked out well in this case. Oh, by the way, my son actually graduated from college, and as I write this, he is starting a new job and a new life. There are all kinds of feelings associated with that, including that none of his friends will be trampling through my house late into the evening after I have gone to sleep. While I will always miss my son, I will never miss strangers or relative strangers in my house late at night. Never.

May 15, 2025, I underwent a total reverse shoulder replacement on my left shoulder. Recovery has been a journey; and Ryan has been so supportive - we haven’t slept in his house since then. And my class members have all been amazing. If the class gets any more popular, the Rams Room won't hold us all. I'm grateful and humbled.

There have been so many. I feel like a lot of them have happened since 2025 began; fall 2024 was actually kind of good for me, and I was happily in my first relationship. In January, I had nose surgery, which was life changing in a good way, and then I was broken up with right before two of the busiest (at the time) weeks of work that could have existed. and then I came back from those two weeks and decided to move. Then I moved, got my wallet stolen, and lost Zazu all in the same week. And work has been nonstop since about June, with no down time except the few days off I've taken here and there. The antisemitism seems so intrusive, especially in DC. There's just no recognition that things are getting worse, and the only ones who are, are bad people! I am exhausted. I feel like I've bounced back time and time again, and I keep getting knocked down anyways. Given that, plus the state of the world right now... I'm tired and resentful and I would say I'm angry but I'm almost too tired to be angry. Other than that, things are great!

I created a film and it got shown in film festivlas While I had run festivlas for many years, it was inspiring to be a filmmaker at one. I am veyr greatfull Espeically since I am wrtiting a book on fezstivlas

Coming back to a new version of myself after pregnancy and birth of my first child. The first year was survival, and that's all I could hope for. But I knew I needed to make changes if I wanted to be the present, joyful, forgiving, patient, and grateful parent my kid deserves. It's been a lot of small moments of remembering "Oh I used to love this" and chasing those feelings. But it's also been a lot of big moments of remembering "Oh I have always hated this and have been pretending it's fine to keep the peace" and digging deeper to understand why. I am grateful for showing up for my kid as my authentic, but better, self. I am relieved to prioritize myself, even if it means some uncomfortable conversations or realizations. I'm resentful that so much of my life has been dedicated to meeting the expectations or interests of everybody but myself. I am resentful that I am the only one of his parents that have had to take this journey and that this journey has felt so lonely even though I'm never alone.

So many. Jay's prostate cancer surgery, started Total Life Transformation. I am grateful that Jay's surgery went well and he's cancer free. It was really hard picking up the slack when he was tired. TLT has been great. I think I've grown a lot and made some positive changes. But part of me is glad it is coming to an end in December. It's been a lot.

My bestie and sweetheart sister passed away, bless her soul, last October. It was a very sad day for many who love her. While it was sad, it was inspiring to see so many friends and family remember her at her funeral. It took me six months to write a poem about her called “Annegel Wings”. This poem helped my family and me with grieving and coming to terms with our loss.

This year, I decided to step away from a job that I loved. The leadership at this business had priorities that just didn’t align with my beliefs. In the past, I would have just accepted these differences. This time, with support from my husband, I opted to stay firm in my beliefs and walk away. I didn’t need to change them, I didn’t need to judge their priorities-but I did need to stay strong with my beliefs. My thoughts matter just as much as everyone else’s-even if I’m in the minority.

After Thirteen relationship with David Harkness things ended last month. I was not excepting this to happen we were going to get married. It has broken me to pieces and first time since 2012 that I'm single. I have been talking to other men but this event made me realize it would have been worse If we got married. I'm inspired to continue move forward and find someone better.

I am resentful at a certain person who will not help me.

It was the second year of our theater arts program at the elementary school, and it was a success. 82 kids out of ~200 were in the production, and they all brought a lot of energy and excitement to each of the rehearsals and performances. It was great to see the community come together in so many different ways to bring the show to life, and it was an extremely proud moment for me.

CHF and AFIB caused an Aortic Discection. While having two stents inserted I experienced what's called a stroke waterfall, a few strokes shotgun blasting my brain. The rehab and recovery looked impossible to my doctors and therapy team. They were wrong and happy that they were. Now, 7 months later, we living in a new town and looking forward to next 30 years

We traveled to Vietnam and Cambodia this year. It left me with a new understanding of the world order. These people should hate us, instead they are kind and soft and wonderfully accepting. The country and its people have found a way to forgive, live and love. Important lessons.

The political rancor and hatred in our country has reached a level where my husband and his father aren’t speaking. My husband is devastated and I am devastated for him. His father has become someone neither one of us recognizes.

I lost my job with wealth enhancement and I haven’t learned to say I am relieved. Having to go to that office where it was so toxic and feeling sick everyday was not a way to live. They lied and were cheating their clients and that Michelle is so far up Kevin’s ass I couldn’t match up to her.

My work life was going great, I was finally at a company that I could picture myself working at...well as long as they'd let or until I could retire. I finally found a job where my boss made me feel motivated. Our leader supported (and still does) the team, welcomed ideas and valued our feedback. We respect her and she moved things forward and brought enhancements to what we do. I felt myself growing, thriving and being engaged with work. In April, we had change in our team, our top person decided we needed to change our structure. I had been through this before but our wonderful leader would still be driving the ship so while not ideal I still felt like things would change for the better...they didn't. They brought on a new leader, who I have tried to find things I align with her leadership style and I don't. It's been almost five months and now, I am going through the motions at work. I don't have the passion I had last year when it comes to my job. This move forward only mentality, the shoving of resources and trainings on things I learned in high school are insulting. But despite this new shitshow at work, I have found inspiration, I have gone back to school to get my masters in management and leadership because I learned from and continue to learn from the best and if more good leaders are out there, maybe it will help deafen the bad ones.

I escaped an abusive relationship by surprise buying a house that and I was hoping to build a life with someone else with, and that all ended up being untrue. But somehow I still had a house and while it was not necessarily the best investment for what were my original goals of greater financial Security, it seems like maybe it'll be good enough actually? I'm happy enough in the day today, even if life is still pretty unsettled, and it feels like it was a forced choice. Maybe the better one for having a happier life when I'm 80. To me determined.

My opening at the Notabaert nature museum. Amazing love of fans more than 50 showed for the opening . Work looks remarkable hanging in a professionally lit space and an exhibit designed so thoughtfully . A real sense of pride.

My breakup at this time last year was a big part of my year. The pain and sadness I went through had to happen in order for me to do such important growth. I found myself. I cared about myself. Put myself first. Had so much fun dating and just being me! Learned that someone is going to be so lucky to call me their forever one day.

I got rehired back at the Disneyland Resort and, in turn, added to my circle of friends of fellow Disney cast members. I was very happy and excited to get the job, even if it came faster than expected and caused a lot of stress.

My wife's new diagnosis of a far more aggressive cancer. Everything is now uncertain, and I am terribly frightened even as I also place my hope and faith in the expert medical team taking her under their care.

I had to clean out the house that my parents (and I) had lived in for many decades. Well, I hired a company to do it... It was stressful, frustrating, and deeply emotional. All of a sudden, a lifetime seemed to have been extinct. Nothing left, only bare walls and floors. At the same time, it was liberating, and if felt like a huge weight and burden was lifted off my shoulders.

Going to Israel and becoming active in the local Jewish Federation. I feel absolutely awakened to show up for the Jewish community, help myself and my young children live Jewish lives, and defend our right to life and fair treatment from others.

I almost died. I had a really rough summer because I needed to have emergency surgery to address a perforated bowel. I went through a lot of emotions. Grief, guilt, anxiety, gratefulness, anticipation. I am obviously grateful to be alive. Grateful to have such a strong support system in Ethan, my parents, my siblings, and friends. But it really sucked, and i dont want to do it again. Like last year, I feel resilient. I took a really awful situation and tried to have a positive outlook. I want to turn this experience into something more for myself. Use it to fuel a better version of Philip.

Losing my job is definitely the experience that first comes to mind. It had a fairly profound impact on my mental health, especially since it happened so suddenly. It caused a lot of sadness, anger, frustration, and especially self-doubt. I'm still resentful and sad and angry that it happened. It made me feel powerless, and it still does sometimes. I'm not quite sure I'm grateful per se, but I am hoping to come out "on the other end" as they say, and to find a workplace that's healthier and more supportive for me.

A short story that I wrote came fourth place in a writing competition, just missing being in the top three. After hearing the winning stories in the competition, my friend told me I had been robbed. I realised that not only was I fortunate to be a finalist, I am grateful to have such fiercely supportive and caring friends.

My partner Arch died in May. Last year I was just getting used to my new life of having him in a hospital or nursing home -- he only made it home once for three days -- and this year that became my new normal. I miss him. I miss the life we shared. It may not have been the healthiest, but I had as many times when he made me laugh and marvel at his intellect as when I was annoyed with his self-oriented and self-destructive behavior. And that was worth it. Of course there's more to say but given that I have to leave this apartment, right now I am feeling very freaked out about everything I have to do. And yes, I have noticed that having my book published probably should have gone first as my "significant experience" but at the moment everything about it and the publicity I owe it feels like a distraction.

Having my heart broken. It has made me crawl into a hole at times, not empty life as much and make me wonder what could have been and why it happened. I’m doing my best to let go and also to learn from this so it doesn’t affect me so much moving forward, especially if it were to happen again. I just find myself wanting to understand as I never saw it coming and feel myself taking a while to recover from this.

I was in Israel for the first time. It has been one of my biggest dreams since i turned 15. Going there to volunteer with Taglit has been one of the best experiences. Meeting new people has been so much fun. Going there I was met with criticism from classmates who followed my socials but I quickly realized that it's a good thing they left because that means I can share my culture and my soul journey with people who actually care about me and or connections. Now, I am still in contact with some of the people I met there and I think about going back to Israel every day. Hopefully I will do Birthright next summer...

Thanks to Trump, this year has been unexpectedly stressful. I spent January - May convinced I would be laid off any moment and felt, for the first time that I can remember since maybe college - stressed. That has been really surprising. Also, I feel like the effects of my stress have been physical just as much as being intellectual or emotional burdens. Other than that big thing, everything has been good. I have remained employed and am enjoying not having to worry about every last cent. I am getting ready to address the mystery leak in the shower and Ray and I have been able to get away on some nice weekend trips. Last Thanksgiving we all went away to Mexico City and I am thinking we should do it again next year. One downside of working from home is the blending of work and home so it's really hard to shut off either thing completely, hence getting out of the house has become more appealing and maybe more important. A weirdly significant experience has been getting an Apple watch. I am a lot more aware of how much I move or don't move than I used to be.

I had cataract surgery towards the end of winter, it went well. Being able to see s well, that I almost don't need glasses is incredible. My gratitude to the team that gave me this joy is boundless.

I had a miscarriage. It sucked. It was definitely my worst day at work: sobbing in the toilets at a service station off the M6 in Birmingham, stuck there because there had been an accident on the sliproad back onto the motorway, so no-one could leave until that was cleared. There's a certain black humour to the entire situation. When I got back to my car, it started raining buckets and I actually burst out laughing because everything had gone so wrong. I try to not be resentful about it. I would have been nearly 5 months pregnant by now. I'm terrified of it happening again.

I had my prostatectomy in December. I've been dealing with the consequences of that operation ever since.

My brother died of cancer in February and my world changed completely. There is no one to do the ‘man’ things about the house or help me look after Mum and it just feels so empty. He left us money, which has meant I can give up work to look after Mum for the time being, but I would swap every penny of it to have him back. I was so angry and resentful because he always followed the rules and did everything properly and honestly and his reward for living his life like that was to be killed by that horrible disease. But it was a relief that he didn’t have to suffer anymore.

This year we decided to grow our family and become parents. This choice and the process to becoming parents has been the defining feature of 5785. We planned an incredible trip this winter knowing that in future years, such a journey would be so much more challenging. We visited family, volunteered, made plans and lived this year with the knowledge that 5785 would very possibly be the peak of our spontaneity. In addition to changing how I thought about our plans this year, the process was one where we had limited control. Unfortunately, that limited control did not mean that there wasn't tension while trying. One of the things I am so grateful for about this process is that even when there was tension, it was very quickly discussed in a loving way, often accompanied by laughter and we were able to move forward together. 5785 has shown that we are ready to be parents and while the BIG thing hasn't happened yet the prelude was also a wonderful experience.

This year the most significant event that happened was finding out my husband of 20 years has not only been unfaithful to me with upward of 75 other women, but also that he is a sex addict. This has completely blown up my world. I kicked him out of the house, my kids ran away when they found out we are separating, and now my husband and I have been living separately for almost a year. I have been diagnosed with complex PTSD and am living with triggers, anxiety and nightmares. I am beside myself with anger, grief, self doubt and resentment. I loved him completely, with my whole heart. My heart has been broken and stomped on. I had no idea that love could hurt so bad, that it could bring you to your knees and and take you to the deepest darkest places imaginable. Last Rosh Hashanah I felt something was off with him, with us. I prayed at temple to be a better wife. Maybe if I could just be a better wife he would be happier with me, with our family, happier in general. But then I found out what was really going on, all the prostitutes, sex workers, etc. And right then I knew it was him, not me. I realize now that the past 20 years we were married I did not know the true reality of what my life was. I am trying to understand what was really going on in my relationship in contrast to what I believed at the time, trying to make sense of all of this, and wonder how this could happen to me without my knowing for so long. I have lost faith in my husband, I no longer respect or trust in him. He has lied, cheated, gas lighted, and manipulated me. He has deprived me of love and sex for years. He has been living a double life, living part of his life in the shadows of some sort of dark deviant sexual world I don't want any part of. I have lost faith in myself, I didn't see this coming and no longer trust myself. I feel completely humiliated, duped, disrespected and used. I no longer feel beautiful, I struggle with feeling desirable or worthy of love and affection. I have lost my self esteem. My physical health has taken a big hit too. I can't eat or sleep. My hair has fallen out in handfuls and the stress has brought out autoimmune diseases I never knew were lying dormant in me. At times I have lost faith in my higher power. What did I do to deserve this? What is my purpose here on this earth? What did I do wrong? I used to feel so happy, content, kind and positive. I believed in the goodness of the world and in humanity. Now I am anxious, depressed, I lack trust in others, I am bitter, and there are times all of this comes out in me and I don't even recognize myself. I am doing a lot of work on myself, trying to keep my head above water, trying to find the will to keep living. I am working to find a path forward where I can accept what has happened and move on in my life. I am hoping to find a way to make sense of what has happened and perhaps even use it as a catalyst to make positive change within myself and the world at large.

I don't think that there is any significant experience that stands out in particular. I still feel that we are living in a world of political and rhetorical detritus. People have forgotten how to think and speak to one another and I'm alarmed. The war is still raging in Israel and the hostages are still not home. I feel like I'm treading water in mud and it's exhausting. On a personal level, my friends have been dealing with so many difficulties vis a vis their partners. This has made me feel so much more resentful towards men in general and hopeless about the prospects of finding someone to share my life with. It just goes to show that you never really know someone and that taking this leap is always a risk.

I did NOT lose my 86-year-old husband this year. Neither of us is as vigorous and unwrinkled as we used to be, but as the song goes, we’re still here. I’m grateful for 365 cups of good morning coffee, remembered moments of joy, a precious companion for medical appointments, and a steady date for Saturday nights.

My Husband, Chris, was diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer. It affected many aspects of my life. Anxiety and fear of losing my Husband. My day to day life significantly changed as I had to manage more . Some days I was overworked and stressed.Confronted with his morality, I turned more into my faith.

I fell in love for the first time. It has been so wonderful and magical with a dose of healing. I am beyond grateful.

Resentful once again I foolishly let this woman have another second chance, chances she had run out of decades ago. I foolishly gave her another chance at being kind, respect, generous, I could go on for days. I waisted more time on this person than anyone deserves.I willNOT make that mistake ever again. As for Joseph so continue to miss him everyday. I am alone and believe that maybe my destiny. I am trying to change that possible outcome, with no success as yet.

Значимое - это однозначно что-то, что сделало внутри меня перемену. Сразу пришло сложное событие - убийство Чарли Кирка 10 сентября, вот 12 дней назад. Это горестное событие, но оно уже произвело много плодов в жизнях многих. Я лично смотрю кусочки из его дебатов, или ролики их отношений с супругой Эрикой, смотрю на него как на особенного Божьего человека - и во мне это производит радость и веру! Веру, что такие есть особенные дети Бога, и какой особенный их вклад. Пересматриваю свои желания относительно будущего мужа, себя пристальней оцениваю как будущую жену. Наверно я бы ещё написала пару событий. Из них: это мое честное признание перед Богом, что я хочу замуж и мои молитвы Отцу об этом. Молитва меняет внутри меня. Это крещение моего отца и бабули в декабре 2024. Это чудесные две поездки на Кипр в январе и мае 2025. И моя история с братом из собрания, которая так же многое и до сих пор внутри меня меняет. И вновь возвращение к учению апостола Кэтрин Крик и внутри меня возгорает вновь огонь от Бога. Я хочу возвращаться к Его огню. Я хочу быть горящим верующим и Его воином. И знаешь, что самое удивительное? В каждом из всех перечисленных событий, а их ещё много и других, - это все Иисус о Тебе! Благодаря Тебе я живу. Спасибо!!!

I was diagnosed with breast cancer after what I thought was a routine mammogram and sonogram. I was shocked and as a relatively healthy person, all of a sudden I had all these medical appointments and procedures. I’m on the other side of it now and feel grateful for all the support I received from friends and family.

1. Describe a significant experience that has happened in the past year. How did it affect you? Are you grateful? Relieved? Resentful? Inspired?

Both of my twin daughters ahev started college. It makes me very proud and a little jealous.

I never thought I wanted to own my own business but an opportunity came up that required me to set up an LLC. I listened to the universe. It forced me to figure out what I really want to focus on and I'm actually having a lot of fun doing it. What I learned most? Be open. Listen to my gut.

I found out that I’m going to be an aunt to Howie and Tefa’s baby!! This was very exciting. With this, I started going through my kids’ baby things that they no longer need. Tammy told me she knew she was done having kids when she felt excited to pass that stuff on, and that’s how I feel, too. I’m ready for it to have a new home with someone who needs it. David and I never formally said we are done with kids, though we have talked about it, but I feel like in my heart I know I am done. I don’t think I will regret this choice: while each kid is so amazing and unique and I’d love to see all the little beings we could make, two kids is so much more challenging/trying/requires so many more resources and further strains the help we get. Physically it’s a huge toll (plus my thyroid situation is probably not optimal for having another healthy pregnancy and baby again). So I feel good about this realization even though my family is different from what I thought it would be. It’s perfect how it is. I am happy.

In the last year my partner and I split up. My son and I have been living with my mom. It's been challenging in a lot of ways but I feel hopeful about the future. It's hard to be 43 and living in your mothers basement. But I'm too busy to be feeling down about it. It's interesting that we split up just a month or so after I wrote my response below last year. I'm sad of course, but this is really about choosing me, maybe for the first time in my life. And making a stand for myself about what it is that I actually want the rest of my life to look like, whether that's in partnership or not. Because for sure what it was looking like this time last year is not what I want. I don't know why that makes me so sad, but it does, I guess it's that I was willing to accept less than I deserved for so long.

I read often Torah for my congregation in PA from April-December. This year, I read Torah for my FL congregation for the first time, and for 5 times from Dec-April. I felt a great deal of accomplishment that at an older age, I was able to learn to read the tropes (and listen to my cantor sing them when I'm stuck) and go from a page with vowels and tropes to the Torah page, no vowels, no punctuation, no tropes. One of the rabbis in FL presented me a certificate of Ba'al Koreh and a kippah. This gave me confidence to continue to learn new parshas, both in PA & FL.

My consulting job ended abruptly after 6 years with very little notice. I’m actually relieved as it’s the push that I need to pursue a job in a different industry and get away from entertainment. Hopefully, when I get this question next year, I will also be grateful and have a new job.

I filed for divorce. It was so incredibly hard, but I felt as if my life with my ex was so narrow and just getting smaller as she cut out our friends and community. Things are still hard. The kids have struggled so much with moving house to house and the lack of attention at each house. But my house finally is peaceful, and I finally have hope again.

Reading my answer last year, it's almost funny to reflect on the similar levels of anxiety I experienced losing my dad last year and getting married and buying a house this year. I felt so much pressure leading up to the wedding and closing on our home that I felt like I would explode. For the first time in my life I felt suicidal thoughts. Every part of me resisted the commitments I was making. I was so uncomfortable with the idea of permanency I was embracing, which probably had something to do with my Dad transitioning to the permanent realm of death. The bright spot is that I feel like I'm learning, and through these experiences I'm feeling pain that I won't have to feel as harshly the next time.

I went to a family funeral and found that my older sister has profound dementia. I was shocked to my core. It frightened me. It made me even more focused on my own health and made me think differently about my life. She is 9.5 years older than I am but still, she is not yet 80. So I am thinking of all the things I hope to do in my life and investing even more in my health and cherishing it. In fact, I am gathering information about living abroad for a time because it is something I've always wanted to do, I am healthy and fit, and have my mental faculties.

My wife was found to have a significant blockage in her main cariac arteries. She didn't have a heart attack. The problem was fixed because the surgeon, who she knew came in on his vacation to do her surgery. She has engaged full force with herr 2nd chance. She is an inspiration for me to do the same. It's rare that you get such major second chances. I am grateful that I didn't lose her. Neither of us knew she was skating on such thin ice.

I just reread last years answer and it made me realize how far we have come with my daughter. Her eating disorder is greatly improved, she is weight stabilized and talks of self-harm and suicide are greatly reduced. I feel optimistic about the upcoming year and I think things will get better!

I guess moving to Germany has probably been the most overarching, significant experience. It's affected me in a lot of ways. I feel all of these things, I think. I'm grateful my husband and I had the opportunity to move. I feel relieved that we're not longer living with some of the fears we had/have about the US. I feel a little resentful toward the US because our friends and family are still there, but it wasn't a place that was sustainable for us. I'm inspired by the drastic change and new opportunities this poses for me. When I was younger, I never imagined I'd even have the opportunity to travel to other countries. Now I love in another country. I'm learning a new language, meeting new people, doing another master's program, and living a very different way of life. It's been the hardest and most rewarding thing I've ever done. It's really shown me that life doesn't have to take this typical, linear trajectory that entails you progressing in just one thing, or just one career, or just one path. It's proven to me that my life seems to be about living as many lives as possible. That I'm really doing what I can to make the most out of the time I have. And I'm forever grateful for my husband in all of this and thankful we get to share this together.

A great grandson was born. A beautiful little boy. We were able to go to Geneva to see him.

My best friend's mother died, suddenly and unexpectedly. It brought up a lot of the sadness of my own losses and it was terrible to watch her lose the person who was the rock in her life. I'm grateful for her friendship and the found family we have together. I'm glad my own experiences could help support her in this time of intense change. I'm inspired by the power of our enduring friendship.

The accident in April. I had the accident in Sept but this was worse because I had my license taken away from me. I should have had it taken away in Sept. As a human I hate it but as an adult I totally agree. Has made me relook at so much and make me realize I need to slow down, take things in smaller portions and learn to tell people the word NO. Totally against who I am because I always want to extend my hand but as per people I do that way to much. Totally seeing things as its really mentally and physically in my head.

I graduated from my program in chaplaincy. I feel tired and a little bad about myself. I don’t feel like I gave it my all. I think I looked like an idiot during class participation. I just didn’t have the capacity to give it the attention it deserved. I wish I could go back and re do it

The obvious choice is the initiation of my divorce. At first it was devastating. The dissolution of a 20 year relationship was almost impossible to imagine. How could I recover when I was losing my best friend and side kick? Then, over time, I became relieved. The relationship had turned for the worse. It was toxic. And I had lost myself. In the past month I have felt a shift in me. The ability to say Yes to things that were denied me in the past. The ability to say Yes to myself. And so now I am grateful I made the decision I did.

The realization that my life is never going to chance unless I make it happen. The people are not going to change the way that they treat me. If I want to learn, to grow, to see more and do more, I have to do it. No excuses and more importantly, I have to not care what they think or say. Others can be an impediment - particularly people who are jealous and cannot do it themselves. It has elicited a confidence that I have never had but do now. I have done/am doing the work. I have a right to be there (often times more so than others . . .) Thank goodness because it allows be to be happy getting rid of all of those other worried and cares.

Nothing really significant happened this year. This past year there was a lot of life closing doors on people and things that no longer serve where life seems to be taking me. A learning to let go of those who are no longer meant to be in my life and embracing those that have been there all along. I feel grateful and curious to see what this next year will bring.

My daughter had a baby boy. We all love him.

The election of Donald tRUMP has left me devastated. I don't understand after all the chaos and turmoil of his first term how people could have gone for that con man and grifter again. We are watching the country descend into political turmoil and authoritarianism. It's going to take decades to undo the damage he has caused. I'm in despair over the daily headlines as I watch him trample over people's rights and destroy everything good this country was. How are we going to survive him? He fosters so much hate with his lies and evil ways.

I was in an accident on my birthday and ended up in the hospital. Its been a pretty scary time, I was resentful it happened, but now that we are a month out and I have had some time to reflect, I think it was a blessing as it was the push I needed to make some much needed changes.

As a 40 something, I applied for graduate school in the creative arts. I didn't get accepted, but the inspiration that came from the process led me to create more art, take on new classes and commitments and approach the world in new ways.

I became a personal trainer, and went part time as a teacher. I totally pivoted my career1 After 18 years as a teacher I am so much more now!

My Dad began his recovery from a massive stroke. I feel sad that his plans for retirement were thwarted and it totally changed life for both of my parents. I am grateful that it motivated me to spend time with my patents much more frequently, as that’s been a gift.

My mom fell and injured herself, which lead to a cascade of health issues, including a perforated bowel which led to a double ostomy. I have had the opportunity to be a caregiver to her, staying with her in the hospital, taking care of her ostomy bags until she learns to, attending all appointments with her, procuring and installing safety equipment, managing meds... I am so grateful to be in a position where I am able to take on that caregiving for her. I am also exhausted by it. But so, so grateful.

I just came back from a cruise to Alaska with my sister. Although the cruise was a comedy of errors, my sister and I got along great. We respected each other and talked things over. Sure we got tired of each other at times, but then one of us would go do something else. As my sister said, it took us a long time to get here and I truly appreciate that we did.

I was asked to write a poem for the Tisha B’Av service. I was touched and honored.

I quit my job and started a new job working from home. It has been an adjustment. I have more time in my day, but I'm more isolated. My employer does a lot of nice things but I don't feel very well connected or supported. I have gotten what I wanted, and I knew it would be a mix of good and bad, and it has been. I am grateful to be around my dogs and my family. I miss some of the people I used to see and take for granted. My wife says I'm never happy, so I have to accept that feedback as pretty true. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

I began taking estrogen, and it has really been a process of teshuvah, returning to suppleness, returning to my connection to something deep inside me. The next year will be a sort of consumption of these changes, as I settle deeper into my new reality and way of experiencing my self and the world.

Move upon move upon move. It was very very challenging. It was an exceptionally tiring and trying time for me having to accept the things I could not change and accept a lot of changes. I was grateful in hindsight that I coped. Totally relieved that I managed to realise that some things can wait if not needed immediately. Yes in a way resentful as I did not realise how much strain this took on my body mind and expectations. I actually thought that this year was a year I would see my family more and my friends and that they would inspire me, but realised that every person has their own worries, lives and things they have to deal with. so little inspiration yet Helena shows everyone what inspiration is as she never gives up. So yes in my life I must be grateful just battling a little to find the balance of feeling good when not really feeling good.

I have finally found the love and relationship of my life, and I am 72 years old. After a disappointing marriage and other not so good relationships, I have found him, and he thinks I'm f-cking adorable! We couldn't be happier. We do so many fun things together. I am ever so grateful, and so is he.

I was laid off from my job (which I loved). It was very stressful for myself and my wife. I was resentful, a little betrayed. I guess I’m grateful for the experience of it, and am proud that I got through it and was able to get another job, although it took six months.

My popop died. I miss him dearly, but am so relieved that he is no longer suffering. He visits me in my dreams often, and tells me that death is soft. He has inspired my creative practices in so many ways :,)

Pete died. October 22, 2024. He wasn't even sick when 10Q ended on October 12. I'm deeply sad. That has buffered in the last 11 months, but will never end. I'm relieved that he didn't have a long, painful illness hooked up to tubes, alive beyond when his body and mind could function. We had talked about how death might come and that was his biggest fear. At the first, my mind kept circling his last 10 days, walking through each moment, each word, each sound and smell. Now I am remembering and talking about our whole lives together. Funny stories, tender moments, times we made each other mad, times we laughed.

I ended up going to Sri Lanka with Catherine, whom I met in Senegal. It was an amazing experience to work from there for a week, surf was amazing and co-living with her was hardly a challenge. Super grateful for having the courage, for the luck of engaging well with her. Inspired to do it again, next year, Indonesia!

This year T won the White House, and all that I could count on in this country been overtaken by a mob boss so successful that I feel like I'm living in Germany as Hitler rose to power. The changes to my academic workplace, to the empowerment of ICE as the brown shirts kidnapping people to the media takeovers... it's hard to overstate how absolutely awful this is. On my work front, this past year has seen two staff members leave my tiny team and making my retirement harder to consider. On a personal note, our divorce paperwork is finally completed, and I feel relieved and sad, although we're still very connected. Mostly I'm exhausted. I keep very busy, but can't envision a future chapter. It's been a rough year, and I'm hanging in.

My daughter and her wife, and our granddaughter have moved back to the USA and are living with us. It is a crazy and wondrous time in our home. Blessed with our 7th Grandchild and completely overjoyed with her living in our home.

My mother's last illness and death. I'm so mad at her for not taking better care of herself, and frustrated that she couldn't do it. I'm so grateful for most of the people who took care of her, and everyone who supported me in months of that work. I keep wishing I could tell her updates about the kids, my work, Doctor Who. It's not fair that the world is like this, that she's not still in it.

After years of fantasizing about living abroad, I realized that I actually have everything that I want/am looking for right here in California, living two blocks from the ocean. As a result of this insight, not only do I feel more grateful for what I already have in my life, but I have expanded my perspective and activities to include more of the kinds of things I had imagined would be a part of living abroad - drinking coffee at outdoor cafes, participating in community dinners, going to local concerts and lectures, etc. My life has expanded in meaningful and joyful ways.

Holiday with my partner. It was amazing. But it just reminds me how crap everything else is. How long can I continue living for one week a year?

We lost our cousin Isaac to an overdose. He was 31 years old and was in a great place. That is the time to be most vigilant with the addicts that we love. This caused me to hold my kids tighter and reopened the feelings of loss when my younger sister passed away at age 35. I am very grateful that Isaac no longer has to battle his addiction. He struggled for over 10 years, getting sober and relapsing many times. I'm grateful that his family has closure and is no longer playing the waiting game for the next relapse. I'm not resentful, Isaac was an addict. I feel terribly that the family lost one of our members too soon.

My brother August dying really rocked me. I am so relieved for him, that his suffering is over. But I miss him, and I so wish that things would have been different for him.

A significant experience that happened this year is that we asked a friend to donate his sperm so we could start our families and he said yes!! I feel very excited and ready to be pregnant and also need to trust more that we will be able to figure out how to pay bills after I give birth while also looking forward to buying a house!!

I went to Poland with my temple. On that trip we went to Auschwitz. I was shocked at how large the room was that held the book of names. Finding my families names was humbling. It has inspired me to live my life to the fullest and to truly be an inspiration to others in their honor

Ajji died. I knew it was coming; it was a long time coming. But she'd had so many near misses and close calls for so many years, that I think we all thought she would make it to 100, or outlive us all, at that rate. Honestly, I was relieved. Visiting her in 2024 made me sad for how she was living. Her brain was working, she was sharp as tacks, but she was immobile and no one visited her. She couldn't hear very well, she didn't seem like she was living for any reason, much less many reasons. It felt static and irresponsible to let her go on like that. She was downright bored. As much as I miss knowing that she's alive and on the other end of a phone, I am grateful that she's no longer suffering and that she lived the last part of her life on her terms. If she hadn't had that, her passing would have been far more difficult to take.

This has been a huge year of change for me. The two biggest: I got married and May and then got pregnant 2 months later. I feel so many things, hopeful, excited for the future, terrified, wondering if I'll do a good job taking on the new roles of Wife and Mother. I'm still in the first trimester, so paradoxically I'm also feeling numb. And exhausted. All I can do is trust that God is in control and that He is the one guiding my steps. He has already given me a loving, supportive family and the best husband ever (no this is not an opinion it is a fact). What more could I ask for?

Two things, sort of on two levels. First, my album was released, along with my music video. Second, I ramped up my structure of support, first through Accelerator, then adding Elevate, and then finally working with Lauren 1:1. It has all served to raised me up in my view of myself. I think I am still catching up with that. I am incredibly and deeply grateful for all of it, and for the means to do it. I know I could do much more to support my music being out there now, and it is likely that by virtue of my recognizing that right here I will begin to see ways to do just that. I love my music, I love and cherish my ability to be a musician and to work with amazing colleagues. I am finally seeing, at age 71, that I have earned my place, and I can continue to build my participation in that world on any level. Working with Lauren affords me the support to get through all - or at least the lion's share of - the stuff that is coming up because it is not in harmony with my vision of my life. I am scared! And I am inspired and know I have more openness to possibility and promise than I ever have had before.

My sister came to visit for a month. Not to go into all the details but she was hurting a lot and needed a place to rest. I was happy that we were able to arrange our house and our time and our activities to provide her with the attention she craved and also the quiet she required. Sometimes I feel inadequate, and that our life is pretty unappealing, and it was reaffirming to find that for the right person we really could be enough. I am even glad that the first thing we did was help her buy her ticket to her next destination, because I see that it is easier to be generous when you know that it isn’t forever.

The fucking election. It made everything worse. I don't know if we'll ever find out exactly what happened and how it happened, but the Tr*ump administration seems bent on destroying this country, valorizing and enriching the worst people ever, and trashing the planet.

I stopped talking to my father this year. It happened shortly after the 2024 election and was partly a result of said election. It was a long time coming. He had made it very clear for my entire life that the things most important to him were appearances and his own opinions. As I became more and more my own person I felt he cared less and less about my opinions and my life if it didn't fit into his perfect imagined world. Not talking to him only lasted a few months as the rest of my family made it their mission to "fix" us, which meant fixing me. The biggest issue was that the rest of my family, my siblings, my aunts, uncle, cousins, and grandparents, all lived back hime with or near him. So me going home to visit them meant visiting him. I care so much about my family and I am not willing to lose them over him and his questionable morals and personality traits, so I have made an effort to try and repair that relationship. In public things are fine, but privately we are not doing well. I am relieved that I no longer care about him and his opinions of me, but it devastates me that the man who I thought had a strong moral compass and good ethical values seems to me now like the opposite. Not just in his political views, but even more so in the way he treats me, my siblings, and the rest of our family. I am working hard to just be with my family while I am home and continue to bring happiness into the home. His wife and him are good at performing in front of others, so as long as I don't stay with them I can pretend things are fine and have the kind of happy and loving family relationships with the rest of my family that I want and need.

In January, my car was stolen. I had purchased it in July, 2024. Having your car stolen is such a violating experience. I'm still sad about it.

My husband died last July, i decided to retire at the end on this school year 7/1/25. I am happy to be retired, which while not a total surprise is still surprising! Im inspired by my son and my now deceased mother, borh of whom set examples of living a balanced life. Now I can. As a school.admin of 10 high needs schools, there was little energy left. Being retired has lightened me. Not just mentally, but physically as well. More energy, not always in my head, more present, more oped. While this will be a flexible, trial by error adventure, I am embracing the opportunity. Volunteering, exercise, friends, travel, classes in topics of interest, prioritizing health, joining clubs of interest, and family. As a widow and one who will not be a grandmother, with friends of different ages and in different stages, I'm building yet another life in my already many lives lived experience. And its realllllyyyy. Okaaaay.

My husband was diagnosed with Alzheimers. He is aware of the diagnosis and we have decided to approach the uncertainty as an element of beginner's mind.

My mother was officially diagnosed with dementia on March 18th, 2025. We had suspected it for over a year but thought that it was a result a thousand other things. By May the 7th she was in the hospital with a massive UTI and she never recovered. She was moved to memory care 2 weeks later. And now I don't call her mom. I privately refer to her as "Dementia 'First Name'". She doesn't typically recognize me as her daughter. She recognizes me as the choir director. She recognizes me as the mother of my dog. But I haven't heard her say my name in 2 months. I'm sad and I'm angry and I'm resentful. My thoughts are filled with progressive grieving. She wasn't an easy person before dementia, and I miss that person so, so much.

The most significant experience was my wife Daniela becoming pregnant. It brings up so many emotions but the biggest one is the feeling of gratitude. Experiencing a miscarriage the year before was the hardest thing we have had to go through both in our life and relationship. I try to problem solve when issues arise and I have no felt so small and powerless by not being able to do something for Daniela as we went through this horrible experience. With the benefit of hindsight and time, the pain of this experience subsides and I can even appreciate it. Contrast is so important to our experience: darkness gives meaning to light; the background gives context for the foreground. All of this sorrow we dealt with last year enables us to appreciate even more the miracle of life.

I had my 75th birthday! I am grateful to be here to enjoy my grandchildren, now two bio-grandchildren and to live near enough to them that I can develop relationships with them. My family here (and me, I guess) didn't make a big deal of my birthday but I am making a special trip to the UK in part to celebrate with two very old friends, friends I've had for over 60 years - wow! We will spend the night in Stratford-upon-Avon and attend an RSC production of "Measure for Measure" - an appropriate and delightful way to celebrate our 75th birthdays!

Grief is overwhelming at times and very welcome believe it or not. What better way to honor our beloved Jared. Grief is loves trophy and is the privilege of loving someone so deeply, as they say. The twins, now 8, are my godsend. While we’re free to travel, stay out late, etc., we feel his presence especially at home. We want to move to a senior community but the ghosts of this house keep us here. Even the kids and grandkids share this feeling. What to do.. we’ll see what the year brings. Caring for a child with a disability taught us more about love, patience, and grace than we ever thought we could learn. Carrying love and loss together has been a unique experience.

A significant experience this past year was my trip to Thailand. It wasn’t one thing—it was all of it, from the chaos of airports and tuk-tuks to the quiet moments where incense smoke curled around me in temple courtyards. I think about the Sanctuary of Truth, the carvings layered with stories that felt older than memory, and how I stood there caught between awe and exhaustion. I think about the jungle hike in Chiang Dao, how my sandals slid on wet paths and Master fell on his knee, and how I decided I was brave enough without crawling into caves. That moment mattered—not pushing for proof, but recognizing enough. The tattoo ceremony was the heart of it. Sitting there, pain burning through me, I tried to move the hurt through and out, tying it to anger and memories I no longer wanted to carry. I cried, not just from the needles, but because surrendering like that stripped me down to something vulnerable and raw. When the lotus was inked into me, I shifted my focus to what I wanted to grow instead. It was more than art—it was ritual, transformation, prayer pressed into skin. Thailand changed me. It showed me how devotion threads through daily life—temples beside markets, offerings beside bus stops. It was overwhelming and beautiful, chaotic and grounding. I came back grateful, but also unsettled, because now I know that sacredness belongs in the middle of my messy life, not tucked away for rare moments. So how did it affect me? I am grateful, yes. Inspired, yes. But also restless. Because I can’t unknow what I learned there—that I want to live as if every day is a spirit house, small and ordinary and holy all at once.

My son's car crash in April 2025. It was a huge scare, and he could have died or been permanently scarred or disabled. I was terrified, and I also was so worried for month later due to the effect of the crash on him. His grades tanked, he seemed to give up on all his interests, and I was seriously concerned. But I couldn't solve this for him. I had to learn to step back and provide support - without driving the bus. So hard, but so necessary with teenagers.

Technically going to Munich and Austria happened in the past year. It was 11 months ago now. It was amazing, and it made me realize I can't continue to just work my 9-5 in an uninspiring location and stay inside all day. I'm working hard to change my circumstances now, and that trip was part of the catalyst.

I briefly had Rachel back in my life, and then things went south in similar ways as before. I've recently been working on actually healing from this desire to have chaotic people in my life, and working to maintain my peace more than anything as we work to pass the Ohio Equal Rights Amendment and Right to Marry amendment. And we got a dog!

Traveled to Spain and Portugal - I've taken many trips before, but this was a LOT of work. If I travel again, it will be business class and, of course, wheelchair assist.

i am continually changed by my relationship, and by deepening it as a partnership. i am at once inspired, in love, resentful, resistant, imperfect, grateful, humbled. may we both stay open to each other and our changing selves.

War in Gaza. Has profoundly questioned everything I thought about myself, my standpoint and my politics

My father hugged my son and spun him around after driving us to our airport to fly home from a visit. I felt like he was hugging me as a child again.

I’m thinking Jewish so that’s the first thing that comes to mind. Letting my 10th grader go to Israel for 4 months with Ramah TRY. I don’t think even now I appreciate how much of an impact the experience has had on her, or on our entire family. Of course, she’s changed, but the ripple effects are amazing to me. That as parents we spent our first Pesach in Israel, and the ways that her new perspectives have changed her approach to Shabbat and holidays and relationships are definitely still evolving. I feel like we’re all growing with her, even as she is growing into her own and separate person. I feel like we’ve all been given an opportunity to see our Judaism anew.

This may be kinda sad, but my dog dying. It affected me by helping me figure out how to overcome grief. So the next time something sad like that may happen, I am not unable to function, but just sad. In a sense I am gratefull, but in general I wish it didn't happen.

I fractured my Femoral neck in a “freak accident” aka bad luck. It’s changed me how I see and help other folks with disabilities. It’s taught me to slow down. It’s taught me the beauty of accepting things you can’t change. My community came through in a huge way and it demonstrated the value of putting in effort to build something so powerful. If I’m resentful of anything it’s the inability to (still) not move my body the way I’d like to, but patience and kindness to myself is key.

Having my apartment broken into and having so many things stolen. It’s weird because you don’t really know what you own (or at least I don’t) until you go looking for it and it’s gone. But then there are times of intense relief when you realize something is still there and not gone forever.

I had to change everything in my business while my marriage almost fell apart. It's been a year of lots of drama and heartache, but I've managed to come back to center. I have had some of the WORST moments I've had in years, but I've also had so much beauty. I got to see how far I've come because it didn't break me. I'm still in the middle of both, and feeling uneasy right now. And trying to coach myself that I've been here before, many times, and I always overcome it and I WILL obviously overcome this as well. And will be stronger for next time.

We sold our home and moved to Oak Crest - a continuing care retirement community. I like our apartment but don't think I like living here - don't find activities that interest me - don't like eating in restaurants most nights - don't like that so many people use aids to walk - feel they are all a different age than me

I decided to prepare and host my long overdue Bat Mitzvah in the coming year! With my father's assistance and the support of a few close gal-pals. I am looking forward to it.

Not being considered for a permanent position at my job, doing the duties I was hired for on a probationary basis. At first I was resentful, even bitter. Instead I was offered an alternate job, part time, at a lower level, which I accepted. I am relieved now, that certain responsibilities are no longer my problem to solve, and that I have more time with my family. The loss of income is still difficult, but I'm coping.

Miriam's bat mitzvah! Super significant. I'm so grateful to have been able to give her this experience, and also to have it over with. All I wanted was for her to feel proud, and I think I accomplished that.

My dad died. I'm sad that he's gone, and so grateful that I got to spend so much time with him, and so sad that I didn't get to spend more. Through the whole expereince of his illness and hospice, I'm so deeply greatful to have had my sister by my side. She is my deepest support and dearest friend. I'm inspired by her to do more, better, to care for myself, my family and the world.

My dream of creating Our Freedom Festival with my beloved friend and teacher collapsed, shattering our bond. Pain, betrayal, relief

I went back to Paris in May. I actually spent my 55th birthday there and I was blessed to visit with my roommate from college. I had the most amazing experience. I realized that I really only have true moments of happiness when I am traveling. I would love to live in France.

In March 2025, I got a viral infection that lasted for 2 weeks - it was the biggest health scare I've ever had. Emergency room visits, no answers from doctors. Still have symptoms. It moved the importance of my health to the forefront of my life. I'm at the beginning of fixing it, but I do not take for granted the opportunity to focus on getting better.

Got divorced from a toxic relationship and very grateful and relieved

Taking my father on a road trip to visit his parents' graves. Made me grateful to a man who has been a loving, supportive, fun and grateful father. He, at 94, thanked them for specific ways they loved him and said his good byes, but mainly his gratitude.

I was doxed for my continued fight against antisemitism in my community. This back and forth with my hateful neighbour made me feel anxious for my safety and security in my own community, but it also led me to finding a Jewish community in my neighbourhood that is supportive and acknowledges my Jewish identity and all the work I've done to keep my community feeling safe and free from hate.

I got to speak at FFH - they paid for me to come and I got to give clases. It was very inspiring and I had a beautiful uplifting pessach Bb.

Though I would still describe myself as a Zionist, and I still believe the goal of Iran and Hamas et al is Islamic Hegemony over the middle east, not a "homeland" for the Gazans, I have lost faith in the Right Wing Netanyahu government to make intelligent decisions. It's amazing to me that Hamas is STILL refusing to give up the remaining hostages. And if they had done so early on none of this would have happened. They chose destruction to "pown the Jews" and force the creation of yet another patriarchal, misogynist, lgbtq-hating, backward fundamentalist Islamic State which the world certainly does not need, much less Israel. As far as I'm concerned, they can have Gaza. But Judea should not be surrendered. There are 49 Islamic nations in the world. There is only one Israel. The original State of Israel partition included all of what is now Jordan, and giving up Jordan *was* the concession to Muslims who didn't want to live in "Israel." There are plenty of Arab Muslims who live in Israel now - and they *aren't* clamoring to be dumped back in a new fundamentalist Islamic state. They want freedom of religious practice, freedom to be athiests, rights for women, and children, and lgbtq people. They want the right to protest and run opposition parties - Hamas, on the other hand, wants none of that. The reason the Gazans didn't want to just be citizens of Israel in the first place is so they wouldn't have to give rights to and stop murdering lgbtq folks, women, child brides, athiests, people of other faiths, and enslaving minorities. Is this really so hard for the US Left to understand? Personally, I think Israel should dig a very deep trench between Israel and Gaza and let the sea flood it permanently and set up seismic monitors to listen for more tunneling. That solves the tunnels problem. They should have done this a long time ago. In my personal life, I had surgery (twice) to fix the issue with my chin and jawline sagging. Since my answers to last year's questions seem to not be here for some reason, this is a follow up to the carcinoma there, as well as my depression and weight gain issues. I hope this will give me some confidence. With the rise of anti-semetism in the US and anti-lgbtq legislation, I worry that my lgbtq daughter, not to mention the rest of the kids and ourselves, have no place to go to flee the new Inquisition in the US due to having to apply for citizenship under a right wing Israeli govt that is controlled by the cheredi. As far as rights go, they're as bad as the taliban, hamas, and christo-fascists. Right now my anxiety is through the roof.

My dad's cancer surgery. I am so happy he's recovering well, but also really grateful for the way it brought me closer to my sister as we supported him together, and for the time I got to spend with him, even when he was being stubborn and/or telling the same stories over in agonizing detail. I got to hear some new stories and some more details from old stories and was just so happy and grateful to soak up the time with him. The reminder that our time together is running out made it easier to be present and patient and generous with him and I'm grateful for that. Also I reaffirmed that I am a great logistics and information coordinator in a stressful situation.

I put out the album Mind Full of Music and got nominated for and IMPA award. I am thankful for the inspiration from my muse, for the times of quiet in the house when I can record, for the abundant prosperity that allows me to buy the equipment I need, for my voice.... I am excited to continue listening carefully and catching songs for the family of fire to sing back to Spirit.

This past year has been a complete blur. It might sound trite, but I think the most significant experience has been getting a puppy. It is the first time in a long time that I have had to take care of another being and have it be fully depending on me for health and wellbeing. I am completely in love with this dog and he gives me a place to put all of my immense feelings. The election of Donald Trump and my subsequent increased political action and personal despair over the state of the country make it hard to sustain the rich feeling of joy I was obviously experiencing last year, but having a simple, loving relationship with a sweet puppy helps ground me when things are hard.

This has been a hell of a year. I am grateful for becoming more aware and going within myself

My sweet doggie Gitano died. I was really sad but surprisingly the over whelming feeling was gratitude. How blessed am I to have this beautiful creature love me unconditionally for over a decade? Would I do it again? Already did when Leo the pug joined our family Labor Day weekend.

My husband changed jobs. It was a good change with more money and a shorter commute. The atmosphere is much better but the store manager can be condescending. I have dealt with worse and that happens in most jobs. There is always someone like that at any job, even the best ones. Fortunately he is supposed to retire at the end of the year.

I changed jobs… I learned that I am not defined by my work. I learned that it’s ok to breathe. I am grateful that I took a step back and relieved that it has worked out.

I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer in March this year and required a hysterectomy. It happened so quickly there are days I’m still processing what happened. Luckily my diagnosis happened in early stages, and my cancer is now gone. I’m so very grateful for my health and humbled by my partner’s incredible support and dedication throughout the process. Life is precious and this is a reminder not to take things for granted.

In June we (me, my girls, and my partner) took a family vacation to California. We spent 5 days together - amusement parks, travel, site seeing. This was a trip I could never have imagined doing 6 years ago and everyone had a great time. I feel like the last year was a turning point for all of us in terms of our relationships with each other and I am so relieved and grateful

I sold my dads house! Such a great feeeling t unleash that burden

I completed my Master's program and graduated this year. I am grateful to have achieved this milestone and have had my family, both born and found, able to share the experience with me. It was bittersweet in that I witnessed my father's mental decline and my mother's physical decline during this celebration. It brought up a number of challenging emotions and conversations since then, and despite all I have achieved, I am reminded that time is limited and choosing how one spends it is critical.

It is very top of mind that I (and my husband) retired this year! I suspect this is going to show up in many of my answers this year. It's a huge milestone and life transition. I feel blessed and grateful that this is something that I can do at age 52. I love that I can feel like we have "enough"--that we can be content with what we have financially and not need more. Of course I welcome having more money, but not at the expense of my time and freedom (at least for now that trade off is not worth it). We worked for this for many years and it happened by design and I don't sell myself short that we had nothing to do with it. But we also are so very fortunate and we know it's only possible because of privilege, the generosity of others, living in a "developed" country, and other things that are beyond our control. I hope we just our blessings and privileges well. I do not take this gift for granted!

I launched my own business - it was a jarring decision for me when I made it - it was not something I had ever really thought about before. I was terrified, and didn't know if I would be able to do it - but I feel extremely proud of myself for taking the leap. It really changed the course of what my daily life looks like and how I see myself.

I got sepsis in October. I ended up being in ICU for 45 days; then had to learn to walk again. I'm two-headed about it: I am grateful that I didn't die vs I'm grieving the loss of my physical capabilities, particularly strength and balance.

had to go live with mu son. cannot live with Nancy now

When Donald Trump became president again this year, I thought I knew how I’d feel. I braced myself for the same depression and anger I carried last time. But instead of sinking into that, something shifted in me. I felt called to my community, to the people right in front of me, and to the spaces where I can actually make a difference. It’s softened me in unexpected ways. I’m showing up with more compassion and curiosity, and less judgment. I don’t want to feed into the binary or the endless back-and-forth conflict between political parties. That choice has changed me, and my workshops too. The conversations feel more grounded, more open, more beautiful than before. I’ve also started protecting my energy differently. I stepped away from social media, and it’s been a relief. I feel more present, more intentional, less drained. So instead of resentment, what I feel is something closer to gratitude... for the reminder that I can choose how to respond, and that I can meet even hard moments with purpose and care.

Trump was elected. I feel fear, anger, disgust. It has caused me to focus my efforts on where I can do my little bit to resist the greed and cruelty of this Administration and its supporters. It's my own DEI ... Democracy, Environment, and Immigrants.

Earlier in August, my new-ish dog Cooper ingested something that caused toxicity in his system. Cooper is only 2.5, and it's probably taken me a solid year to truly bond with him (he's a rescue). So when I was faced with the possibility that he was critically ill and was unsure about his outcome, it made me realize how much I care about him and want him to be around for as long as possible. Definitely made me realize how grateful I am for his presence.

My second son was born. Both the child and the wife were healthy. I'm realizing that I don't have as much time to myself anymore, but I'm still grateful to have a second child.

The start of #47's term as president has affected me as it terrifies me about the future for my two daughters and makes me sad and angry about the deportation of thousands of hard working immigrants who are being put in danger in other countries. I'm also worried about the lack of attention by this administration to the climate crisis.

I gave birth to my baby boy - an absolute perfect angel. Truly changed my life and all aspects of it for the best. I’m eternally grateful for the gift of fertility and for my most amazing son. He makes me want to be the best version of myself and has opened up my mind to completely new perspectives.

We moved into a new house after 33 years in our previous house. It meant saying goodbye to some old neighbors and hello to new ones. We've created great relationships with our new neighbors. We got rid of a lot of crap that we had accumulated over the years. We've put a lot of effort into the new house, and we've really made it our own. Although we were in the old one a long time, with any luck, this is the one that our toddler granddaughter will come to remember us in.

I was diagnosed with ADHD and got on the correct medication. This allowed me to not be depressed for the first time in many years. I'm supremely grateful and relieved, but this also brings some fear and concern for how to live without the dark cloud I've had for so long.

Turning 60 and feeling old, with an arthritic knee

My husband's journey to sobriety. I almost left and it was one of the hardest things I had to do. I am relieved that he is working to do better.

i opened a new business it made me grateful but very stressed about the success of the business

I can walk better, so I am very pleased with it.

Before Rosh Hashanah last year by two months, I learned that I would be losing my job by this Rosh Hashanah. In one week I will be done with the position. I was extremely angry and sad, resentful for sure. I am very good at my job and people depend on me. I enjoyed my job and the lifestyle it gave us, which included my husband being more relaxed and happy. I'm still a bit sad about it but I'm not angry. I'm dissapointed for sure. But my focus has been on finding what's next. I'm having a very hard time doing that. I'm hoping, somewhat desperately, that this latest job I'm applying for wants me...it's at a university and it is something I've been doing for quite a long time. But they have to decide I'm who they want. I want to be inspired and I always something to be grateful for, but I need to know what's next before I can activate those on this situation.

I started reading in French, which has deeply enriched my inner life, and all it took was to "just do it". I feel inspired to continue, and expand my language studies to German in the future.

I was stalked during my first year in college. It was one of the hardest things i've ever gone through but I came out the other side stronger than ever. I'm not bitter, I hope he has healed as much as I have. He transferred after a long legal process.

There's been a lot. But Selma's passing was significant. And I felt very lucky to say goodbye to her as I did. I think it made me more aware of how important it is to be connected regularly, and not wait until someone is dying. And maybe I'll follow through and make space in my life for family and friends. ...

Adopting our dog, Carson, has been an influential moment for my me and my husband. Carson is our first dog and we experienced a big transition from just the two of us to taking care of a living being! The first 1-2 months came with some challenges. My husband and I had to practice patience in a new way. But it's been a really rewarding experience seeing Carson show his personality more, grow more comfortable -- and bring us so much joy and happiness in a sometimes scary world.

I felt the full force of Israel's actions in Gaza and my continued repulsion of the way Israel has conducted itself toward the Palestinian population. At the same time, I'm hurt by the lack of care for Israelis on the part of the public. Being in the middle of all this inspires me to help create a living Judaism that is not tied to Zionism, but that cares deeply for all people - Palestinians, Israelis, Americans, everyone.

Gaza remains the most significant of experiences of our lifetime especially since it connects to so many other scary world events. I am grateful for the community I’ve found that share human rights values but sad for the moral failure of so many.

We moved from NYC to Santa Fe and completely restarted our lives here! I am very grateful to be living in such a gorgeous and peaceful place and in our lovely home.

This past year I had a really bad breakup. The first in a long time. I was very low place in my life. I think Hashem really protected me as I was blinded by someone who could not give me what I deserve. I resented Hashem at first but now feel relief. I think I have grown through therapy and done more work on myself. I think Hashem for this now because I have Paco and he’s truly the best. To answer my question from last year, I learned that talk is cheap. He was faking it but truly wasn’t who he presented.

My daughter came home one month before her baby was due. She had been in an abusive relationship and the controlling man would not let her talk to me. She left him, came home and a month later delivered my grandson. I am happy to have her here- it has been a huge adjustment as I am in a small studio apartment- but I am happy to b building a relationship and I adore this little guy! It is just a LOT and I am kinda in shock

My Mother found out she's cancer free. I am beyond grateful, and relieved. Her attitude throughout this whole process has been nothing more than inspirational. She smiled and stayed positive throughout the diagnosis and treatments. I'll take that energy into the New Year!

The first things that come to mind are getting engaged and the miscarriage. I think I was surprised by how much joy and delight and excitement the engagement brought me. The miscarriage is complicated. I'm grateful I got pregnant and I'm grateful for all the beauty I got to experience in that really hard and heartbreaking experience. I'm not sure I knew that before now so I'm also grateful for this question.

Around this time last year I made the difficult decision to break up with my ex after 4.25 years of being together. It was difficult because it challenged me to face something I had been fighting all along. And it allowed me to deepen my relationship with myself. What followed was a deep year of depression and sadness while I battled my grief and faced the roots of my inflammation and joint pain. I ended up gaining 12 pounds, losing my motivation, fighting depression and falling into darkness. But at the same time I came out with a new found respect for myself I never knew was possible.

Not the election, but the inauguration of Trump has galvanized me politically. I began almost at once to write Congress as close to every day as I could manage. Sometimes several letters in one day, sometimes none. 272 so far. Most of the protests and sign-waving take place on weekends when I work, but I did all that in the 80s and 90s for reproductive rights and hated every minute of it; that is just not my job this time. I am indeed inspired.

I've had a really profound breakup this year that has sent me through the ringer this spring and summer. I think I've experienced every possible emotion at this point though notice feelings mellowing out more and more. There have been a lot of pain but also self-discoveries through this process, ROCD as well as my relationship with limerence to be two big things, and I trust this awareness will only serve me moving forward. While I do feel an ongoing shift towards letting go, I still miss and want her and feel like things should/could be different. I'm proud of the intentionality I've moved through this hard time with and feel gratitude as well as relief in how my friends and partner have shown up for me with patience and love.

Gave up alcohol. Which has had a huge impact on my entire life. I am so grateful I had the courage to acknowledge that the alcohol was escalating, the mindset to do something about it and hopefully I am able to inspire just one person to do the same. I am loving life. Living life with clarity and intention is absolutely phenomenal.

I was let go from my job this past April. It was a gut punch, but not completely unexpected. The reason given was BS; I clearly said (or did something) that pissed off the CEO - the same one who for the previous seven years had given me three promotions and six raises, as well as bonuses. I am angry (though less so of late), scared, tired, and distressed. I've looked for work in down markets before, but this time I'm older and this market is supremely messed up. To be honest, I had been thinking about looking for another job. The pay (which now I would gladly take) was low, the work was getting boring, and the environment / culture was, to put it mildly, a cluster. However, since Paul has been out of work for over a year now, I was determined to ride it out. Since they made the decision for me I'm trying mightily to hold my head up and keep plowing forward. Retirement is not an option for me at this time. I was planning on working full-time for a few more years, and then going part-time / consulting projects to keep myself busy and a bit of cash coming in. I am just so tired of these decisions being made for me and feeling so out of control.

Mass Shooting in Midtown Manhattan on Park Avenue that killed 4 innocent people in middle of the day. I am deeply saddened and concerned about the Public Safety in NYC. We definitely need to find ways to bring people together, Creating Solidarity and Safety in our City.

I have moved back home. My beautiful house and home with Art was sold and the sale completed on my birthday. I've been in my new home since December 19. I miss my friends and family in California, but I thank God every day that I am home, where I belong, in Texas.

My ex-girlfriend and I reconnected about a year ago. We spent months being friends. In February, she asked me to be her girlfriend. In June, she proposed. I was shocked and not expecting at all. We are now planning a wedding for next June. She started planning in January. Not sure if she will move here or if we will do long distance. I struggle with my identity about this other than I love who I love. I don't consider myself a lesbian although many people have labeled me as one. I don't consider myself straight anymore so I guess there has been movement on that identity. I fired a friend. Later, I teased his wife about something and she completely shut me out because she was hurt by what I said. I thought we were better friends. She didn't even communicate with me about why she left. She told a co-worker. I apologized on text and Facebook messenger and no response other than to block me. I started taking energy classes and learning more about spiritual practices. This has been weird and I have been fascinated by this. I am in my third semester of my Ed.D program. I love learning more in this way. And I am overwhelmed trying to do all the things I am doing. Am I being anything?

The world is falling on my head and my life feels like it is falling apart.

Two relatives in my wife's family, plus our beloved cat, passed away. Uncle Chuck passed from an aggressive cancer. Her grandmother, whom they called Gaga, passed from old age shortly after turning 90. And our baby Olli passed from kidney failure at the ripe old age of 16. Honestly, this year has been very tough and I've been feeling very worn down and like I can't take much more. The hits keep coming with little to no relief.

A lot of my family moved to Israel. I am not resentful or grateful, but let them live their lives and let me live mine.

Nothing that significant happened the first quarter of last year – or the last 3 months of 2024, THEN the you know what hit the you know what at work in January when EVERYTHING changed. LONG story short – quit, or was fired from AZ and actually found an attorney to open a CLASS ACTION case March 13 against them with 9 causes of action – ALL of which I have documented evidence to support. Was unemployed for 6 months – then got HIRED by Nexgen – same job, different location and a much better working environment as best as it can be with this type of job it is. A bit more $ 21 instead of $19/hr possibly better opportunity to actually make commission – we shall see what happens by this time NEXT year! Other significant happenings with the family – The Middletons bought a HUGE new home in Sugarland – can’t wait to fly out for a visit. Michelle is due to expel the alien from her body end of October. I’m sure everything will be fine, but I can’t WAIT until it’s over. They’ll be coming out for a quick trip in Nov – I should be excited to see the little brats, but well, you know how I feel, or rather how I DON’T feel about this whole NANA thing. I fake it pretty well. FINALLY got my weight down to UNDER 140 – 139 to be exact, for a few days anyway. Went back to WW – I still feel it’s the ONLY way, until I went back to work, so now I can only do a quick weigh in once a month to keep my free lifetime status. Health is relatively good overall for almost 72 - REALLY 72? When the hell did THAT happen?!!! 2025 IS a full “9” year – so is 7+2. ANYTHING is possible… or NOT! For some reason I stopped drinking wine - didn't "quit" cause I'm not a quitter! Having 1 beer when I come home from work, but that's about it. Got my weight back to almost where I want it, so no more WW meetings.. don't drink hardly at all, so no need for AA - running out of letters to join!! One last “experience” in the area of people lost. Did a google search in July and read that a certain person who was a very significant part of my life – and a main character in a number of books - for nearly 30 years suffered a stroke in 2020 and DIED in 2021… FOUR FUCKING YEARS AGO and no one told me? Not that anyone would I guess, but his obit wasn’t the man I knew at all. THEN, I also found out that Naomi, Vic’s wife, passed away in March! And since we are no longer “friends” (if we EVER were) I didn’t know about that one either. Plus 2 cousin Roberts the Cohen and the Felder BOTH DIED! Word of advice to myself for 5786 – STOP doing OBIT searches! On a brighter note – I briefly joined a little writing group and started working on Bourbon for Brunch – just for fun. Didn’t know I’d already put in 50,000 words 10 years ago on the now defunct Novel in a Month group. If it’s not replace by CHATGPT – who does write some really GREAT reviews – even though they’re all fake. Still, even fake reviews are better than no reviews!

My eldest son and his wife had twin girls. I was very worried on the lead up. Would they come too early, would they have any issues when born etc. Thankfully, all went well and they are beautiful. Twins are amazing!

He died. On November 2, the man who I built my life with and had children with, the man who mirrored my whole adulthood. He died. His heart literally broke. I hate that this is our sons’ story. It shattered us all. The surprise was in the beauty. The love and spiritual strength. The joy of a life well lived and the love that shines even brighter in our shared souls.

A significant experience that happened in the past year was my father being diagnosed with cancer. It was a terrifying experience but it was very relieving that he is okay and cancer-free.

This is tough. My first instinct is to write that I realized I feel dead inside, but that's actually not true;) What was significant was the realization that I want to recalibrate my life, that I've poured so much into my career at the expense of other aspects of my life, and I've lost focus on what kind of life I want(ed) to have, to live, to build, create, to nurture. I realized that every place I've ever lived, except one, was because something was there -- a job, an opportunity -- but not because I was interested in the place itself; that was always secondary. As I consider why (what else) I am here doing what I am doing now, I have begun to think more deeply about the intentionality of place in my life. I am reminded of another time in life that felt a little fated, even though the purpose of that place and time was revealed later, and it was for a moment, not a lifetime, clearly. But now, I think I want to lead with something else, with intention, when it comes to my next move on many different levels.

Donald Trump was elected and became president. Nothing has made me more angry. I fear for our democracy and our country. Historically, we are a country who believes give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free. Now masked, jackbooted thugs expelling them is the new pornography. The cruelty is the point. I remember a year ago when Trump and his ilk were for freedom of speech and against cancel culture. Hypocrites, the lot.

I resigned from my full-time job. It's been a relief, and I feel grateful for the opportunity. It's been a good time to reflect, exercise, be more creative, travel, and enjoy each day. Each day has moments of beauty.

I left the US. I don't have a lot of feelings about it, because maybe they just cancel each other out. I'm grateful and sad and happy and angry and inspired and resentful of it all. I'm glad this opportunity exists but angry that it has to.

In the past year I became a mom. It has given me a deeper sense of motivation for example enrolling back into school for nursing in order to have a more stable career and be able to provide a better life for my family. It has given me a deeper sense of joy. My days are full of love and gratitude for my daughter and husband. I’m tired from working full time, and school, and from my roles as a mom and wife and dog mom but I feel so lucky for everything I have and everyone in my life.

The most significant experience that has happened this year is giving birth to a beautiful sweet baby. I finally became a mom!!!!! It has been the most amazing thing and every day I love my son even more. My heart is just bursting with love. I am so grateful to have such a wonderful little boy. He is the light of my life! Life was hard for a short bit at first and I experienced some postpartum depression, but I was able to quickly reach out for help. Now I regularly attend a postpartum support group on Fridays and the people there are amazing. I also joined a Single Moms by Choice group and that has been great so far as well. Every day I am so appreciative of my baby and I love him more than words can even describe.

I had to say goodbye for a while to the love of my life, my finance, and drive him to Tijuana to take a flight back to Monterrey, Mexico to protect him from the anti-immigrant policies of this current administration. I’m grateful he’s safe. I’m furious my country has devolved into a an autocracy run by morons and greedy techno billionaires.

I (successfully) went through IVF. It's something that I had long wondered if I would need to do, and after a year and a half of trying to get pregnant in my late 30s, it became clear that it was the best path forward. I had heard so many horror stories, or maybe the better way to put it is to say that I have known many women who struggled through it for years and years without anything to show for it. So I had built it up in my mind as something that would be maximally challenging. But, now being 21 weeks pregnant and essentially "on the other side" of it, I see how it is perhaps the "not knowing" plus the ENORMOUS financial buy-in that is the most challenging part. I really surprised myself by how patiently and calmly I endured it. I feel like I really met myself in a new light. While I had feared being a basket case, instead I got to see my own mettle and learn that I am much stronger than I had given myself credit for. I won't lie, there was much that was unpleasant or uncomfortable from a physical standpoint. But emotionally – spiritually – I really poured myself into it completely, and did the hardest thing of all: I let myself hope without guarding my heart. Knowing that I could end up so wounded, knowing that it might not work out the way I wanted. I had to let myself hope, and I discovered that, despite enduring a lifetime of the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune and the psychic scars left behind, I am still very much able to do so. And that was a blessing.

My good friend Brian passed away about a month ago, following some serious health issues. He almost died 25 years ago, and we're all grateful that he largely recovered from that to live to see his children grow up, but at the same time, it seems so unfair that he died so young (60) and he and his wife have had to face so many hardships. May he rest in peace. I had a second friend die the same week, a fraternity brother I've known for more than 40 years. His death was due to alcoholism, and it really hit home. He was a great guy, hilarious and brilliant. Rest in peace, brother John.

2 of my Friends died suddenly this year. Both had been experiencing bad health but it wasn't expected, for either, to pass. Meanwhile, my older sister also had a stroke (she is quite overweight with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) yet seems to be coping well, thank God!! I am convinced now that when it's your time, it's your time. Reality check!

I've changed my surname to return to our original Jewish family name. I've been meaning to do that since approximately forever, but got sidetracked by various things in life. It affected me in a number of ways. First it just somehow feels differently in a way that's hard to put into words. It made me visibly Jewish "on paper" which is not devoid of risks, but it was a conscious decision. I'm relieved and a bit inspired by it, I guess.

My daughter had her first child, my first grandchild. As I type this he is sleeping on my lap. He is a happy, healthy and beautiful baby and I feel so, so lucky to have this relationship with him. I’m also so happy for the relationships I have with my kids, their spouses and friends that allows me to be in this beautiful boy’s life.

This past year I lost my period at 21 years old. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through. It felt like someone opened up my skull, took my brain out, and replaced it with an alarm system. My personality, energy, youthfulness, kindness, strength, and health all disappeared in a matter of weeks. However, I am very blessed to have also recovered my period this past year. I now look back on losing it with immense gratitude because it forced to get to the root of an issue that persisted for years. I attribute the pain of losing it to giving me the strength I now need to pursue my dreams.

My mom's health (cancer) scare. She's all well now, but that was a lot and i'm relieved she's all ok.

This year I lost my husband after a prolonged illness. This year 5 wonderful, smart, witty women friends have come into my life. We are the "Soul Sistas" since we share so much of our personal thoughts and concerns with each other. We traveled together for the first time to Crystal Bridges and really enjoyed the time together. We have different personalities but manage to see and accept each other for who we are. Soul Sistas has given me the support I've needed to mourn my loss out loud.

my body has shown signs of wear and tear. This is what seems to consume much of my thoughts and plans even though the issues might be relatively minor. specifically, my shoulder is bothering more in the last 2 months and in late June i tore my meniscus causing uncertainty about my ability to push myself physically