FLOURISH 2025 :: the recap

general stuff

December 31, 2025

As I reflect on the year that was, and my big goals for the year, I’ve been feeling very self-critical. I haven’t achieved a lot of things that were on my list. I felt like I’ve wasted time, like I’ve stagnated, like I’ve let down 2024 me who challenged myself to FLOURISH in a year that was going to be full of big emotions.

And then I pulled up the post I shared 364 days ago, and instead of imagining what past me was expecting, I read back the words I wrote and the promise I made to myself.

“But even when it’s hard and optimism feels a step too far, I get to embrace the challenge, to grow like a wee little weed finding root in the crack of rock on a cliff face. FLOURISH doesn’t demand excellence, it simply requires me to show up and make the best of the moment, whatever it might bring. Because, when it boils down to it, even the hard moments are moments are I get to experience, and that is a gift. FLOURISH is a reminder to celebrate that gift, and create a year of wonderful memories, fun projects, and exploring more of what lights me up.” – me, 1st January

FLOURISH doesn’t demand excellence, it simply requires me to…make the best of the moment. Those words hit me hard. By that measure, I think I succeeded. I pushed through at times, and gave myself grace to rest in others. I spent time with old friends and made a deliberate effort to cultivate new friendships also. I travelled – Sydney, Crescent, the outback, Sydney, Sydney, Coffs Harbour. I held strong in the hard days. I chose joy in the easy days. I made things and read things and watched things. I sulked my way through the last weekend in October, and finally came to terms with the fact quilt camp as we knew it will never return. I nursed sick kids and went to a million appointments and nearly cried when they got covid on top of that. I played games and did puzzles and saw art and made art.

As expected, it was a big year of big feelings. And in between them all, life happened; our babies grew, and flew. They learned new things and got new jobs. One went on his first solo holiday, one bought a motorbike. One finished primary school, one FLOURISHed into her own sweet person and explored a million hobbies.

My favourite project of the year? My monthly colour stories. Definitely something I will be taking with me into 2026. It takes me maybe fifteen minutes a month, to chose my photos and set the colours, and it’s such an easy way to recap the month and celebrate the little moments.

As I roll into NYE2025, it’s a joy to look back on the little moments and the beautiful colours that I found as I tried my best to FLOURISH.

2025 BY THE NUMBERS

FAVOURITE PROJECT BY MONTH

January – blending board class
February – the uni quilt
March – the hockey shawl
April – threading the loom
May – ottoman recover
June – pilates weight bag
July – travel journal
August – week in the life album
September – oil painting class
October – photo a day
November – journal cover
December – Christmas dress

TOP THREE PODCAST EPISODES BY LISTENS

#1 – Make It Merry holds strong for the second year in a row
#2 – from season four – Podcasting, Growth & Community is up from number three last year.
#3 – and also from season four – Hobbies, Burnout, And Staying Motivated was our third most popular episode

TOP THREE SUBSTACKS BY VIEWS

#1 – an unexpected break
#2 – it’s not about the good stuff
#3 – not quite normal

INSTAGRAM TOP NINE

Farewell 2025. Thanks for the memories, the lessons, the people, the moments. I am grateful for another trip around the sun, and the chance to reflect on 365 days of living, loving, and being. Thank you, friends, for being here. Here’s to 2026, and fresh starts and new adventures.

Rach