Q01

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

I had a seizure (or "seizure-like event") in a comparatively new friend's car, and he saved my life (while still driving!). We're tight now, and he just moved into my apartment today! Also, I came in 3rd in a Latin recitation contest on Horace 1.9, "Vides ut alta stet nive candida"; a very moving experience, as well as a bit promising professionally. Oh, and my first publication!! At least, I think that was this year... This one's a long time in coming, and worth the wait. Having finally carried it off, I can see why it took this long. Too many different, competing, intersecting problems, and too many varieties of untrustworthy readers.

I struggled with finding big monuments this year but finishing the Mascot Race film has really changed me.

Well, I am currently 12 weeks pregnant. The whole journey to get to this point, from conversations about when I might be ready to start trying to conceive, to grappling with what "ready" meant, to actually trying, to getting pregnant and navigating my first trimester, has been a significant experience. I feel so grateful for a partner who listened and supported me as I explored my feelings about taking this huge step. I'm also grateful that I got pregnant after only three months of trying, while I know so many people who have struggled with infertility. I am still nervous and taking things as they come, but overall, this is truly one of the most significant journeys I have been on.

I was worked up for increased imbalance and thinking problems and was diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. I had a ventriculoparietal shunt put in my brain. The improvement in balance was instant and the clearing of my mental fogginess occurred over a week. I had felt that my life was ending prior to surgery and wanted to get my houses sold and my Story Worth stories written. I did not have any feeling of zest in my life. That has reversed itself. Facing death squarely I didn't feel sad, I just felt resigned. I have had a heck of a life and for a long time, 73 years. If I needed to go now that would be ok. I wouldn't change much except I would have been kinder. I am sad about not making he diagnosis of NPH earlier but grateful that it is taken care of.

There is so much I could write about this year, but I got accepted into a long Covid drug trial, got the real drug, and it put my ME/CFS into remission/cured it (not sure yet and might never be fully sure). The level of gratitude I have after the medical struggles I had last year is innumerable. It took me from mostly disabled to being able to have an active life again. I don't wake up every day waiting for the morning cortisol to wear off to see how I actually feel. I stopped "counting spoons." I just wake up like I used to before I got long Covid, and I go about my day. I still have other medical issues, but the ME/CFS was the worst of of all my symptoms. Until this trial, there is no medication for it, and the only medication on the market only works for approximately 60% of people who take it and all it does is just make your symptoms suck less. It gives you the appearance of more energy, not actually more energy. So this was and is a miracle. Within 3 weeks of the first treatment I noticed my energy had noticeably increased. By my birthday in January, I realized I was having busier days and getting more steps in without ending up with a month-long flare-up. And by the beginning in February I realized I wasn't counting spoons anymore. I just got up and went about my day. I went to the mikvah before Rosh Hashanah with my new synagogue, and when I had private time to meditate in the water after my time with the Rabbi, I found myself sobbing and just saying, "Thank you, thank you, thank you" over and over again. The gratitude poured out of me, and I want to carry this with me. I want every day, no matter what it brings, to be one of gratitude that I am here, I am healthier than I've been in 4 years, and I got my life back.

I retired. I feel very relieved and also dumbfounded - what is this? I have no desire to work and I am still worried about money. I know I will have to do something to bring in some money but I have so little interest or motivation. Retirement feels right and also strange and foreign. I am hoping that inspiration emerges and that it isn’t time yet.

For the first time I made the first move and asked someone out on a date. I said to Jen, after we had been dating a month or so, that wasn't it strange that we both liked each other at the same time? She responded with, "Isn't it supposed to work that way?" She wasn't wrong, it's just never happened before. It also hasn't happened that I've made the first move either. I am grateful for Jenn and Alexis who urged me to take the risk. Being with Jen is just nice. We are able to laugh at ourselves. I am able to be honest with her about my sexual inexperience, my disability, and my feelings--as awkward and uncomfortable as they may be. So far I haven't been able to scare her away, thankfully.

The return of Ari. Ari 2. Ari, too. Scrolling through Humane society adoption, I see a cute very small orange tabby. Not wanting to adopt a kitten I start to scroll on. But then. His name. ARI!!! We went right down and collected him. We have kept him in Steven's office (litter box and all) so they could bond. The first 3 days we didn't see him at all. He had climbed under the desk and into the drawer from the back side. And then he emerged. And then he revealed his true nature. A hellion. The cutest hellion evah, but a very exhausting being. The first month was fun. Visiting him in the office. So cute. But when we try to intermingle the cats he runs straight for 3 year old Grayson's back and pounces. My kind! Pounce!! Everytime. Grayson tries to escape rather then kill this annoying creature. Ari chases and attacks! Grayson was so mad he stayed away from me - my fault after all- and stayed out till past midnight twice. Once till 5 am. I waited up in the living room like the mother of a teen. Then Ari figured out the cat door. So now it's a game of who's behind what door, quick move the food, shut that door, open that one. AGH! Not a relaxing transition. I hope to read next year that once Ari could go outside and not be locked in the office at night that he calmed down (not to mention a year in a cat's life is like 10 of ours). He and Grayson created a detente and now go about their own businesses and Grayson has his old routines back. Sigh. I sure hope to read that.

Grateful that I live where I live (SF), am part of my local community, have good health care, getting by financially (not rich but not poor; most needs are met). Having a prime year in general.

my life went completely off-kilter on november 27th 2025. i fell into a pit of dissociation, numbness, pain. i’m still not quite out of that abyss, but i’m trying to find the light within. it has completely altered my existence, and i’m positive that it’s a permanent shift. i am filled to the brim with resentment for this shift, for the worst year of my life so far, and yet i hope it has a positive outcome somewhere down the line.

This year so much stuff happend. But getting diagnosed with cancer? That feeling of having the rug pulled out under me, of loosing my ground of being so scared and confused. And at the same time realising that I am SO loved and cared for and that I am so grateful. For my family for my friends and for being alive. For having this life and for having the chance of making the most out of it. Also just being so so strong with Diego. That took so much out of me

My dad died. Brutal. So glad he was at home. Was holding his hand. Finally had some positive rulings in my court case. Regarding my dad, lots of emotions. Glad he isn’t suffering. Glad I was with him. Being with him at the end helped inspire me and focus me on writing.

I turned 60 (!) and enjoyed a surprise party and night out dancing with friends. I feel grateful to feel as good as I do at 60. I started writing regularly most days (am at page 180 of screenplay) and started doing an hour of yoga a day with online Kripalu classes, both of which are making me feel good. I enjoyed an active social life (poker games, dances, parties, and special visits to and from friends) and loved nannying (which is now only happening one day a week). Politically, the shit show just got shittier, and I manage my grief over this by writing about it on my Substack, Paying Attention. Renee and I celebrated our 10th anniversary in Rehobeth Beach, and our family had a 10th anniversary memorial for Kyle, which was hard but moving.

It was so amazing to have Ben finally living with me. The first time I've lived with a partner! It's just as good as I thought it would be. Maybe even better. I'm so happy and inspired and just grateful

Camping with my son for 2 weeks. Fun, connected, understand him a bit more.

I reached 100 days clean a little bit ago, and that moment was super powerful for me, because I was right around the corner from my first time self-harming and it proved to myself that I can overcome this even if I had more moments where I wasn't in a good headspace. While it had been almost a year since the first time, 100 days isn't a year, but its close to 1/3rd of one, and that's a big enough milestone for me for now.

This was my first year of retirement. I'm grateful. I loved being able to spend so much time outside, generally half of the day, and so much time being creative, writing poetry and creating the poetry and birding walks to provide moments of community and creativity for others. I'm grateful for finding new communities to belong to through volunteering at the Audubon society and at the Blanton and through Audrey's mobility classes. I'm grateful for still feeling a strong connection to my school community through book club, writing club, and some volunteer work with my old team. I'm relieved that I always feel welcome when I return to school. Before I retired, I was concerned about losing my sense of community, but I still feel very connected to my school community. I'm relieved not to have the stress of teaching which, sadly, is only increasing for my colleagues because of budget cuts and political changes. I'm also grateful to have more time to take care of myself. I regularly attended and enjoyed Darlene's 7 am yoga and sound class and in the spring got hooked on Audrey's mobility classes, attending three times a week. I met with a nutritionist and began eating more protein and lost some weight. I continued to swim once a week at Barton Springs, but no longer had to hurry to work afterwards or skip my swim because of a morning meeting. I had time to help my husband with meal planning and cooking and took on going to the grocery store. I had new opportunities to learn, taking classes in birding, Tai Chi, and Frida Kahlo. I had four fantastic days of training to become a docent at the Blanton. I was able to take on a quirky passion project, rewriting War and Peace in haiku which taught me that I can write every day no matter what else is going on or how I am feeling. I'm still working on finding the right amount of structure for my days and have sometimes wasted too much time on my phone, but overall I'm proud of how I've used my time and managed this major change from a lifetime of teaching to retirement. I'm so grateful for my retirement which is offering me so many wonderful opportunities to create, spend time in nature and exercise.

August 23, 2026, Aaron Seth announced that he "had work to do" and should do that work unpartnered. In the days after he said he would consider reconciliation. I didn't journal it, but about a week later I heard him whispering in his room before watching Anime. I had a feeling. The next day I clawed it out of him. He was interested in someone else. They'd already kissed. After the break up, of course. The break up that was about a week (two) fresh. I can't think about anything else in the year. I don't want to reread my 10q because so much of it is occupied with my worry for the relationship. The hope that him "trying" was maybe private and he would share with me when he was ready. Only he never did the work, never really tried, and the only thing left to share was to end it. I'm recording this on 9/18/26 what should be day 8 of 10q, but I was dragging my feet. I haven't done 10q since 2021. But I know what that year and the year before will read. I was struggling. I was lonely and sad and I knew that my partner was working hard but questioned if he worked so hard that he'd forgotten about the shared work of a relationship. I have a trace memory of reading past answers and meaning to get to recording and then... not. I hadn't realized it had been so many years. I think I've been in shock this entire time. Which, you'd think, would prepare me for the shock of this ending now. I am unprepared. I am shattered. But I am typing this without sobbing. Though a few tears have eked out. I am resentful that he did this to us. After 12 years. Half my adult life. A quarter of my life on this planet. With a partner who lied to himself and to me for so long. Moving away from that. Last October I finally got a job I liked, it was a part time retail job, and I really enjoyed it. I worked hard and was kept on after the holidays. I've received a promotion and I am next in line for a full time position. I'm inspired by that. And willing to wait for my time to come up. It was one of the things that I knew frustrated him. And I'd been so desperate for years to prove myself. It had been so difficult after moving here, and I thought he had it in him to understand. He would say as much, often, that he understood. I finally found something I enjoyed and wanted, and could receive because my hard work was recognized. And it wasn't enough for him.

I went to some Youth Speaks events and feel inspired by the poets, if not their poetry.

I spontaneously announced my retirement date to colleagues during a planning session this summer. Naming, as everyone but me knows, is catalytic. I love that I casually went into it like a dope, and am now reaping all the benefits of having set public intention. It's been fabulous and terrifying to see the range of reactions from everyone around me... and we're only 12 weeks out from the mic drop. More to come, right?

I started Rosh Hashanah with an injured knee and then during Chanukah broke my arm in a really bad way. I spent a great deal of time in hospitals, bedridden and in pain. It's a looong road to recovery, But I learned I like being alone and in my bed

I moved away from my city for the first time in 5 years, and from my state and country for the first time in 16 years (possibly for good, which would be the first time in my life). I feel excitement for what is new, grief over leaving behind my community and culture and language, and anxiety about uncertainty.

I got diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy and I’m having some severe bitterness about it

I had my first semester of clinical in NP school, which felt amazing and also perilous. I realized I need to stay on top of my assignments to be in good standing.

My mom was diagnosed with a brain tumor and had surgery. It was incredibly traumatic and stressful. I am grateful for the time with her, though, to guide her through it and be there to help her. It reiterates my goal of building authentic connections with those I love and not taking my health for granted.

In the past year I have had several significant events. I lost my father, my sweet Hobbes, and started graduate school. It’s a roller coaster of emotions. I will forever split my life into two parts. The period of time with my dad and the after. While I look forward to my wedding, I miss my dad every day. And his absence is still piercing. I’m excited about my new career and sad I can’t share it with my dad. Every joy will be tempered by his loss.

About a month ago, I read Torah, read the haftorah, and gave the d'var torah. I spent almost the whole summer crafting the d'var, threading through elements of the torah/haftorah, my research, my research experiences in Colombia and Jewish experiences in Colombia, and then I connected it to the politics of Israel/Palestine. It was my first d'var torah I've ever given and the first time I had a large "audience" to speak at shul. I was extremely proud not only of what I wrote/delivered, but how well it was received from the multitude of congregant ideologies. Oh, and I was appointed associate editor at a journal that I'm proud of.

There may have been other significant experiences, but I'll go with the most recent. Just a few weeks ago, after a more strenuous day than usual for a couch potato like me, my knee gave out--twice. The first time my husband was right next to me and caught me. The second time he was in another room, and I went down hard on my tush and banged my head on the kitchen floor. Though as it turns out I wasn't seriously injured, my head was sore for quite a while, and my confidence was badly shaken. Now I can't stop worrying not if it will happen again, but when it might. If I'm alone at the time, I'm frightened of becoming the old lady moaning, "I've fallen and I can't get up."

I am grateful to have met my partner whom I have a great connection with on all levels It inspires me to be a better man, and summons feeling of excitement about our future and building a family together.

Terminé mi relación de 8 años hace como 3 meses, ha sido lo más díficil que he hecho en mi vida. Dejar no sólo a una persona, pero la vida que planié con ella, mi identidad, mis rutinas, mis sueños. Me afectó mucho soltarlo e irme, pero también me estaba afectando mucho quedarme y sosteniendo cosas que me lastimaban. Estoy agradecida por todo lo que viví, estoy un poco aliviada por elegirme a mí después de tanto tiempo, también resentida con el por no cambiar cuando le di las oportunidades, creo que simplemente no creyo que yo me iba a ir. Pero confío de que vendrán cosas mejores para mí.

This year my almost 7-year relationship came to an end. It was my first real partnership with someone, and I learned a lot about myself throughout it. We are and will always be friends, which I'm also so grateful for. In the end, I'm thankful to have experienced real love, but I'm open to what the future has in store for me!

I would say my hope of getting into grad school, happiness of getting into grad school, and then sadness at finding out that I could not afford grad school. I felt so disappointed in myself.

There's been many significant experiences happening this past year, but I'm pretty certain that the most significant has been meeting Albert. So. Damn. Grateful.

I have just completed a 7 week vacation in Europe with Philip where i was completely unplugged. My team did everything . My team is Angelica, Matt, Stef and Alona. I am not a plane to APM symposium in Chicago . Here i hope to see what is next for me in the Mortgage industry. I want out . While i was in Europe i took a wool felting class in The Haag with Anne. I discovered that i love wool felting :) I want to create more things with it and acoustical panels to be used in Architecture and design. I am excited about my next chapter and what that might look like .

Too many significant experiences. I helped my mother find and purchase a condo in Chicago. I started dating, very casually. I successfully navigated divorcing Erin (effective Oct 30). With the help of so many people and so many hands and funds, I was able to have a quick and mostly painless move into 2422 W Lunt Ave in November. I started dating someone more serious in January 2026. I visited my dying mother for her last birthday in March. I ran a really successful 10-miler (first distance race in two years nearly and best time in many years). I was home when a pipe burst above my condo and flooded the apartment, ruining much of the ceilings and walls and paint job that had been fresh months before. I went to sit with my mother in the last weeks of her life and help her in the ways that I could, which was not much. I moved both Hollis and me into my boyfriend's house for 2.5 weeks while we had contractors re-doing all the damaged ceilings and walls and paint. I went out to WA/ID one more time in Aug to help bring her composted soil remains to her final resting place. My daughter officially started PreK (for 3yo) --a half day experience--this fall the day after I got back. I have been training for the Ultra Loony all spring and summer--to some success--and the race weekend is almost here. just over a week away, I will run 37 miles (10k +5k; 26.2).

We moved to a new town and bought a house. i am grateful and relieved. and terrified and inspired. i’ve been frustrated by our lack of teamwork and also joyful about our moments of teamwork and breakthrough. i’ve been learning a lot about this old house and working on projects and figuring out how i like to get projects done. we love our neighbors, i like my job, and we’re grateful for this town.

Discovering we're going to be grandparents. Wow! After so long, we're excited, and actually, I'm a little nervous. It's going to be a change not only for our daughter and son-in-law, but for us too!

The most significant event of at least the summer but likely the whole year was the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI), which I had been planning to do for a while (even mentioned it in last year’s 10Q). I tried to train a good bit, which involved biking to work and going on consecutively longer bike rides on the weekends, and then two weeks before the trip I invested in a new bike (a carbon road bike) — both of those things turned out to be vital to my success. The trip itself was so fun — even on the first day which was probably the hardest, I immediately felt like I would do it again. The biking was great both because of the beauty of the surroundings, the group vibe, and the safety/etiquette - it was a very well organized experience, and all the people I met were really lovely. It was fun to recognize the same people over and over across the days, it was fun to do lots of random stops, it was fun to run into our crew in different towns, it was fun to camp near municipal pools so there was always relief at the end of the day even when I’d been slower/later than many people. I felt really proud of myself for having done it and definitely inspired to bike more outside of the city.

I can’t think of any one particular experience. Grateful: I am still going back-and-forth to Florida, which I am grateful to afford. Relieved: I am having knee issues and will eventually need surgery, but as of now my pain is tolerable to non existent. Resentful: I am struggling with my kids living with me, even though they are paying me rent and are actually helping me with bills. I wish they were more successful and self sufficient. Inspired: when I am with my tribe, I feel inspired to be the best I can be; a good friend, sister, mother, traveler, even cook!

Within this past year I got engaged! I got to know my finances kids and siblings and parents - and he got to know my family. I was welcomed into his work community and he supported me as I built mine. And I started dreaming - for the first time - about what the rest of my life could look like! So grateful and relieved and inspired!

I discovered that I was in an abusive relationship with someone I would have trusted with my life. It affected me tremendously, and I wanted to end my life on multiple occasions. I went through all of the emotions. Anger. Sad. Distraught. Resentful...finally...peace. It also inspired me to live my life on my own terms. I feel lighter...free...alive.

I broke up with a boyfriend I thought was going to be a life partner. The anger is slowly fading. The sadness lingers.

I learned my husband was cheating. I learned my husband was a narcissist. I learned my husband was a pathological liar. I learned my husband was a sadist, a predator, and a soul-less monster. I learned that can survive being broken. I learned that I can survive being degraded. I learned that I can recover even if recovery is slow.

My son announced that he was trans this past year. It came out of the blue and rocked our family's world. This is complex territory in our country. We worried for our child's safety and their mental health and their sense of purpose. Things have been very bad in spite of loads of support and love. We toggle between resentment, pain, sadness, confusion and occasional heartbeat fractional seconds of hope.

Amir and I started dating this past year! January 19, 2026. It was certainly unexpected, caused by a shift in the universe. Yes I had set the intention to simply become open to dating in 2026, but not so soon! Or with Amy. It really caught both of us by surprise I think. I'm definitely grateful, but I also wish I had more time to be single, because it feels like this could be it. He could be the one. I'm still uncomfortable with parts of it -- I only fell in love a week ago! -- I'm trying to keep it going organically.

I finished the second draft of my ya fantasy novel, Project Fae, in late summer, and while I know now that there are lots of funny ingredients in this book's soup, I am really proud of the accomplishment. It was significant for me because I had been carrying this draft for so long unfinished, and I feel like momentum is building. Soon I will begin draft 3, and I am going on a writing retreat in a few days to do just that!

I decided to get divorced. I'm sad that my marriage has been a mostly unhappy experience despite my best efforts, but I feel relieved that it will soon be over and I can surround myself with supportive, healthy relationships. I know I did my very best, so I can walk away with no regrets.

After getting my heart broken twice by the same person, I met someone new who is a great match. We're very compatible, and I'm pretty amazed at how easy it's been. I'm not getting the types of emotional withholding and playing it cool that men often express. We seem to like each other a lot. I didn't think it would ever happen again, and it feels really good. I'm hopeful about moving into the future with this person.

The ongoing experience of downsizing, letting go of possessions as we prepare to move to our cohousing community. I feel as if I had to start gradually with the light-weight stuff, warming up little used muscles, gradually escalating to heavier items, and now picking up the pace. I still have the occasional pang when I give something away, but I also feel great when I find a new home for a well-loved treasure. I must constantly remind myself that I can keep my most favorite things. And maybe only every 10th item is a “favorite”. I’m relieved to see empty drawers and closet shelves, uncluttered attic and cellar. Hoping that a lighter inventory will free up creative energy.

Another year of significant change. The year has moved ever so quickly as I fear it will continue to do until the end of (my) time. I started out the year with grand plans thinking that I had stabilised the earning challenge and opened up opportunities to pursue the important things. The combination of recurrent bin-fires and my own energy limitations has meant I am here in late September wondering how to start again. I will of course, as I always do. I feel the significant experience (singular) is yet to come. I have been asked in all corners of my life to be patient and that gives me the time to work through the murky uncertainty and have greater sense of knowing what is next. that moment is closer than it has been for a while. Perhaps this time next year will be the capital letter significant experience I have been preparing for.

I went to Louisville and Cincinnati with my cousins for a wedding and I had a blast! What a great time, and I learned so much about whiskey.

If you want to ask about the world situation, I will say the Democratic Party has begun a tailspin with its move to allow DSA members to run for office. While the obvious major sticking point is the anti-Jew bias, the notion of socialism is abhorrent to me, and the way it is defended is that it is just more of the post office and roads being government monopolies, so why not a lot of other economic and social institutions? I am the opposite of grateful on this issue; I see a lifelong self-image of being a social liberal, fiscally responsible adult thinker, and I feel like an orphan. The problem is that the other side is just as bad. More personally, I was very pleased with having Naomi with us for 2 weeks this summer. She is growing up, and it gets more and more fun to be around her. I especially like it when it is just Joan, Naomi, and I.

The transition to living without a partner for the first time in my adult life. I get my kids a week at a time, and a week of just me time. I also made a career change - making the highest salary I've made in my life. Highest title. I should feel more fulfilled, but I feel mostly like I am still catching my breath. Still dealing with grief that comes in waves.

I’m having a difficult time remembering a single significant experience from thus last year. It was my first full school year as school based therapist and took a lot of my time and energy to learn the school, the people, the job, and keep up. In family life it feels like a blur raising a toddler and a five year old. Oh! I got in a car accident with both kids on the way to school. I made a mistake and took a risk, one that many often to on that road and tried to get around traffic to the left hand turn lane and someone else was trying to cross two lanes of traffic to turn left ran right into us. Thank God there was no major bodily harm but it ruined my car (BZ4X) shook my confidence and was of course shocking to me and the kids. I’m still more cautious and less trusting of self and others in the car. I felt really bad about myself and my judgement for a long time. And really bitter when I see many people making even more dumb and careless decisions around Baltimore with what appears much less consequence than mine. On the up side we are safe and whole and I have a great new car, Ioniq 5, that I like much better than the old car.

I sold a large amount of company stock I had been awarded as a member of a startup. I now have a tentative date for post-work transition, own my home, boat and car free and clear, and am planning for a comfortable retirement. I am very grateful, but also somewhat unsettled by the unknown. I have worked full time for over 35 years, all my adult life, and the change in lifestyle will be significant. I have two passions that will give me focus and purpose, however; making music and boating.

Mom became bedridden. This, along with her steady cognitive decline has changed how I relate to her as well as how I live in the world. I rarely make weekend day plans so that I can spend Sat and Sun afternoons with her. But it's hard to spend more than an hour or two because conversation is so limited, I get tired and antsy, she gets loopy and confused, and I get very sad for her situation. I often feel guilty for not being able to spend more time with her. I am also thankful that we are able to keep her at home rather than in a facility. I am endlessly grateful to her 2 aides who take beautiful care of her day 24/7, and the fact that she can afford it. But I am also weary and depleted. She seems thankful to be alive, but I question the quality of her life (and so does she). I regularly wonder how long she can live like this.

Last year, I managed to get out of a rut. The rut was a metaphorical hole I had made for myself after experiencing burnout from my previous job. I finally applied to jobs, seriously, and accepted one offer which I am grateful for but am outgrowing right now.

My father died on April 27. I am grateful for his long life (he was 88 when he died) and everything I learned from him. To some degree I was relieved when he actually passed away, because the last months of his life were very difficult for him, my mother, and the family generally. He fell, then had to go into the hospital for surgery in February, and essentially spent the months after that moving from one care facililty to the next. It was heartbreaking to visit him in the final facility near his home on the farm, because he wanted so desperately to go home, and his growing dementia didn't allow him to understand why he couldn't. My mother suffered terrible guilt about it, and my last visit with him was tense because of his desire to go home. He was in such poor shape at the end. I'd like to hold onto my memories of him in his prime.

I was promoted at work, and now I'm more confused than ever about how to do my job well. I'm grateful and relieved that my boss and his management chain believe in me. But I feel like I'm adrift. My impostor syndrome is strong. I'm not fully sure I should have tried for a promotion. Very ambivalent!

Coming to terms with the fragility of life in very tangible ways; my friend’s teenaged son was struck by a car and died. Another close friend had a stroke (thankfully no major damage). These experiences are filled with grief and sadness. The grief is ongoing but so is the realization that we don’t know how long we’re in these bodies, these lives, around the people we love, etc. The circumstances of our lives can change at any moment. We think things are solid and predictable but they are anything but.

My husband's short term working memory isn't working the way it has in the past. I am resentful. I hav spent several years helping him address back issues. Now this. I have been resistant to what addressing even more of his needs means: I am on my own.

I did a TEDx talk. It shifted a lot in my body around generational trauma that my grandparents felt. I was more scared and proud of myself than i've ever been. It took up a lot of my time and attention. It felt good to be deeply dedicated to something and to see that i CAN write, I CAN act, I CAN remember 12 minutes of monologue. It made me feel like I can do anything I set my mind to and I'm clever AND POETIC.

This year I finally got diagnosed with OCD and PTSD, and learned my GAD diagnosis may never have been accurate. I did ERP therapy and am currently doing prolonged exposure, and I switched meds to something effective for OCD. I also took four weeks away from work to do intensive therapy and practice. This diagnosis has been earth moving for me. It shook me even though I swear I already knew it, treatment was brutal (and often continues to be) recovery is non-linear… but I don’t feel like I’m white knuckling my life anymore. I feel more at home in my body. My relationships are improving. I feel present with my kids. Some of the clarity I’m gaining is uncomfortable - it’s not always easy or even what I want - but all of this has allowed me to move closer to a life that is driven by values and reflective of the world I want to live in.

I decided to apply to med school. I'm proud of myself for finally getting past the dormant regret that I've felt for 2 years and getting over the psychological obstacles standing in the way

I had a hysterectomy in August, attempting to relieve the endometriosis pain and constant fatigue that had become normal in the past 3 years. It's been 6.5 weeks and I already feel relief, though I'm not sure yet if it's physical or the psychic relief of the decision being behind me.

I never read Great Expectations, but this was the best of times and the worst of times. I had a genuinely rough time at Edgewell from August through March. I woke up nearly every morning at 3 panicking that I would lose my job, that the leadership hated me. It colored how I spent my grandmother’s 100th birthday - giving a presentation only to be stopped a few minutes in to be told it wasn’t what the team needed despite me following the outline I was told to use. I started working with a career counselor in August because I knew I had to get out. I thought I wanted to transition to something completely different (corporate social responsibility, nonprofit work, trends work). The challenge? I didn’t have skills in those areas, and I wasn’t getting any traction with my informational interviews or with resumes I sent out. In March, I was laid off from Edgewell along with three other people from my team. I still have intense emotions about it. I am resentful because I wanted to leave on my own terms (stick it to them), upset that my own narrow skillset and the currently poor market conditions for my type of work wouldn’t allow me to start a new full time role. I’m relieved, certainly, but also anxious about earning the type of income I used to because the world is getting so much more expensive to live in and because my kids are expensive. I’m also incredibly grateful. I never would have had the courage to go out on my own and start a new business and have the flexibility I have now without a push. Is a market research consulting business my ideal type of work? Absolutely not. But now I have a blueprint for how I can make being an independent contractor work and I know I am capable. I have gained so many skills over the past couple months, and I know I can keep adding to them.

Having my knee replaced has been pretty life-changing. I didn’t really realize how much pain I was living with, or how much of my life I had organized around what would hurt my knee and what I could or couldn’t do. It’s been amazing to realize how much easier everyday life can be when you’re not constantly thinking about pain. I’m really grateful for that. I’m also a little apprehensive knowing that my other knee will probably deteriorate eventually and I may have to do this all over again. For now, though, I’m trying to enjoy having a knee that works!

ICE is created, murders American Citizens and innocent hard working people. Alex Pretti and Rene Good turn out to help their neighbors and are murdered in cold blood. Concentration Camps are created where atrocities are carried out. I pledge to resist, and I do my part, and I am very tired. I have to remind myself to do what I can while preserving my health, both emotional and physical.

I moved into a house with my daughter her husband and their 3 children. It is a leap of faith that we can get along and support each other. I’m happy to be with them.

started Bnei Mitzvah program so grateful to feel this sense of belonging to the Jewish people. I think was looking for this connection my whole life

This year, 5786, was a year with a lot of experiences. Quite a few of them were negative. But it was also a year in which I grew, learned, and improved. I’m better now than I was a year ago. The breakup happened at the end of the previous year, but the process of getting over it really happened throughout this year. Even so, the most significant experience was Elena’s death. Elena was my other mother. She was the woman who welcomed me into her home, accepted me as a son, and fed me even when there wasn’t much food in her own house. She took care of me, helped me, and was very important to me. She was the mother of Ricardo, who was my best friend and who died twelve years ago. But despite the distance, and despite everything that happened over the years, Elena never stopped being a mother to me. I spoke to her one weekend, and during the following week she had a problem with her brain and was hospitalized. She was in the hospital for about two or three weeks. It was a very intense and painful experience. At one point, Carolina, her eldest daughter, asked me what my decision was about removing the breathing support and disconnecting her. I told her that I supported them in whatever they decided. And she said, “No. What is your opinion? What is your decision? She loved you like a son. You loved her like a mother. We love you like a brother. It is your decision too.” That was very difficult. In the end, we all had to make the decision to disconnect her, so she could rest and so we could also rest. I told Carolina that, if it had been only up to me, I would have kept her connected for another two weeks so I could have time to travel and say goodbye to her. But I knew that wasn’t fair to her or to anyone else. They disconnected her the next day, and her body finally rested a couple of days later. It also made me go back to Colombia at a time when I really didn’t want to, because I had some ghosts there that I still had to face from my previous relationship. But yes, this was the most important experience of the year for me. There were things at work and things in my personal life, but I think this is the year I will remember as the year Elena died. It was very difficult. But I’m also deeply grateful that I had her in my life, that she gave me another family, and that she made me feel loved so many times. And I’m grateful that I got to see her a year ago. The last time I saw her, she was happy with me. I was with my former partner, and Elena was happy for me, happy to see me doing well. That is something I get to keep

This year I found my person. It's changed everything. All things are richer now, even though not all things are easier. I'm all these things - grateful to be here beginning a life with him, relieved to know I no longer have to walk alone because I hadn't been forgotten, resentful at the decades of time lost to pain and fear, inspired to begin again and write a new story together where so much more is possible.

Unquestionably, the most significant experience of the past year was Lyla being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. It was almost a year ago now, so we've seen it through the absolute upheaval of the first weeks and months until now, when it is a normal part of our lives. Her diagnosis was completely unexpected and out-of-the-blue for us, the sort of day that divides life into before and after. The earliest days felt like a trauma, like a bomb had exploded in our lives. Eating and sleeping were not really happening for me. There was so much to learn, so much to manage, so many new fears about the future creeping into our minds. Lyla's positive attitude and resilience really kept me going. If she wasn't going to break down and cry and scream, then I wasn't either. If she could be so brave in the face of having to be poked and prodded and injected and her life overturned - then so could I. On the other side of her diagnosis now, nearly a year in, T1D is more of a nuisance than a crisis. I still struggle with anxieties about the future, but my dominant emotion as I care for Lyla now is gratitude. The technology and science that supports T1Ds has come so far so fast - this diagnosis would've been a death sentence 100 years ago, and now with a CGM and an insulin pump Lyla can thrive and expect a lengthy, good quality of healthy life like her non-diabetic peers. Every time I get insulin (for free) from the pharmacy, change her Omnipod, get alerted to low blood sugars in the middle of the night - even while the admin and stress of these tasks can be unpleasant, underneath it all I am so grateful that I have these tools to help us. Whether it's made me a better mother or stronger person I'm not sure. It's not like the alarm goes off at 2 am and I'm springing out of bed with a smile on my face. There's plenty of "arghhhhhh whhhyyyyy??!?!" moments. I am proud though that as a family, we have truly come out the other side from the darkest and most overwhelming early days into a new normal. People ask us all the time some variation of "so are you used to this now, are you guys managing it all right," and we inevitably go "oh yeah, definitely," and it's true. We think about diabetes every day but it's so integrated into the fabric of our lives that while it is a stressor, it isn't even really the primary stressor on any given day. I'm grateful to have Tariq, truly an incredible partner in this, who thinks as thoroughly and quickly as I do. We are an unbeatable team facing this challenge. I'm so impressed with both kids - obviously Lyla most of all, but I even heard Argo stopping the boy next door from taking Lyla's fruit out of her bowl, saying "she's had insulin for those pomegranate seeds!" Lyla impresses us and her teachers and everyone in her orbit, for being so mature and thoughtful about her diagnosis. She educates her classmates about it. She takes disruption and difficulty in her stride, *almost* always. And at age 6 (5 at diagnosis) it is truly staggering to see such a little person being so knowledgeable and so positive about such a big challenge.

finished working at bq. at first it was disappointing, but the time off has been refreshing and enjoyable

In the past twelve months I had the opportunity to travel to both Buenos Aires and Delhi to meet inspiring advocates, activists, cultural creatives working to promote resilience at the community level. They give me a hope in an era where government dysfunction and corruption, environmental destruction, as well as the advent of AI can easily fill me with despair.

We moved into a new home - very much not part of the plan. With this move we were also able to move my in laws into our old home, which is only a 10 minute walk away. I feel so in awe every time I realize I get to live i my new home and that we were able to create closeness for grandparents and grandkids. Besheret.

I've processed my childhood and my family dynamics, drawing out my fear of rejection, of being inadequate, and of feeling alone. In that, I've also started to separate my inherent worth from the perceived worth of holding a certain role in my birth family. It's difficult, but also makes me feel lighter. I hold less resentment and I allow myself to feel anger.

One significant experience this past year was that I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and needed to take not one, but two medications to get it to an acceptable level. This completely blindsided me - didn't see coming - and yet, now I can recognize some symptoms but never in a million years did I think I would get this diagnosis. I'm relieved that it's a diagnosis that is manageable - and even reversible.

First year in new home. Very grateful for my house but depressed about the current climate. Growing first vegetables, feeling inspired

I am 100% grateful, I (re)met someone who in the past was part of my life, at a moment in time where I was genuinely happy, things were going great for me, and then I met her again, after not talking to her for a year and before that for 10 and from, this is weird, to this is fun, to this should never be anything more than fun, I am not partly living in Potsdam in a new apartment with her

Going vegan was definitely a significant experience in this last year. I'm incredibly grateful that I was in a place where I could reflect on the way my actions affect others. Even more grateful that I had the capacity to change and consume in accordance with my values. I believe it's made me a more conscious and empathetic person as well as giving me a purpose, which I was lacking before.

This year I met Jeffrey. Happy to have a stable relationship, although not clear if this will be my final one. But things seem to be falling into place. I'm grateful to have someone to enjoy life with outside of my kid and they both like hanging with each other...

I was unceremoniously fired from my job. And at the end of the day, the reason I was let go was because I was standing up for myself, my coworkers and asking for a safe and respectful work environment. I am grateful. I needed to leave, and I loved my job and my community too much to make that choice for myself. I'm not relieved. Ultimately, the problems there still exist and my former coworkers are unhappy. And it's unfair in so many ways but the transgressor always gone out on top in these situations. But more than that, the experience was terrible from start to finish. I was treated so poorly and it all could have been handled do much better. But somehow the people I had worked for, for 6 years, forgot that I was a person and treated me like a problem. I'm not sure if I'm resentful. I'm hurt. I miss my job and my community. I'm stressed, it's very hard to find a job right now, and especially with a 9 month old. Did I mention j was fired on maternity leave? Ok, so yes, I'm a bit resentful. But more, I'm so so sad. Sad for me and my family, for the community I left and for the way women are still treated so poorly. I'm resentful, because I firmly believe that if I was a man this would never have happened. And that's wrong.

January 2025, I went to a meeting on the 31st floor of the “new” WTC 3. (It’s the building with Eataly, on Church and Dey.) It was one of those -20F windchill days, so instead of braving the wind tunnels of lower Manhattan streets, I walked underground from the A/C/E subway station directly into the concourse, through the connecting vestibule which still has FDNY and NYPD signs and spray painted warnings preserved on the walls, on autopilot to the southern corner of the complex. I hadn’t done that it 25 years and it was virtually the same route I remembered, except having to navigate the idiotic Oculus circular shopping plaza mishegas. Can’t stand that thing. I arrived early. The conference room has a spectacular westward view, overlooking the memorial plaza. I didn’t realize I was having a panic attack and crying until the manager I was meeting came in to say hi and said “Are you ok? You don’t look so good…You haven’t been back here since, have you.” We’ve known each other for years, she’s a good egg. She closed the shades and we talked for a bit. She said this happens to a lot of the old timers. We went through with the meeting, me seated with my back to the window, and she escorted me all the way out to the lobby. Productive meeting, FWIW. I was able to get a counseling appointment soon after. Even though I have regular insurance, the medical and mental health providers at the WTCHP William Street Clinic offer support and understanding that I really appreciate. I didn’t think it would make a difference or that I would benefit from going to a WTC health center, but it does. Every time I go there, I’m surprised what a relief it is knowing that everyone in that waiting room “gets it.” Unfortunately, I've been in a state of PTSD since then. I'm grateful that my counselor, who is a sweetheart, is helping me through it.

I moved from Baltimore to DC. It was very difficult and very expensive to move because of my impetuousness. The house that I got is really wonderful but it's too expensive. I do live just a couple of blocks from my grandchildren and that is really heaven. I have gotten to know them so much more this year and gotten to spend more time with my daughter and her family. It's also awesome because when my son comes to town he doesn't have to decide whether he's going to come to Baltimore or to Washington so I get to see those grandbabies a lot too. I love having access to public transportation. The Metro is a block and a half from my house. I really do miss my old apartment though. I really had just finished getting it set up. But the truth is it was feeling very heavy and very cluttered. Despite the fact that I got rid of a lot of stuff I still feel a bit heavy and cluttered. My first husband, the father of my children came down with pancreatic cancer and it was causing my daughter to have to do a lot of caretaking so the reason I moved was to support her and take care of the grandkids. I think that I accomplished that. My children inherited a lot of money from my first husband and I just feel entitled and angry and jealous about that because I am so poor. And I know that I am not entitled to any of it and I don't expect them to share with me but I just regret that I couldn't have either made my own money or that I didn't compulsively spend everything that's ever been given to me or that I've earned.

I guess there are two from this past year that stick out, and both are kind of huge, especially for me. We bought our first house, in a place I absolutely love, with my own money. It’s been a lot more than I thought it would, in terms of stress and money, but I hope it’s worth it, and I love so much about the house and location. I also got engaged, which is something I never anticipated happening. I was the one who asked, more out of practicality than most other things, but now that our family and friends are finding out, I feel more and more than it is the right decision for me at this time. An edit that he “proposed” with a ring two days before Yom Kippur. We were on a hike and it was unexpected but not too much and absolutely all I’d wanted and never admitted to wanting.

Going back to court to fight for a program that i am convinced would be life changing for one of my kids . I exposed the truth, i got supporting evidence for every word i wrote, i got professional supporting evidence about bebefits of program and i did not succeed. The lies and manipulation won again . I feel defeated, depressed worn out

A few of my close non jewish friends decided to ask me about Israel and its history to better understand the conflict. Grateful for the dialogue.

On July 31, I closed on the sale of my office building. This was my last tangible connection to the business I built there over 23 years. Sold the business in January, 2023 to the woman who had been my General Manager for several years, a good friend and trusted employee (closer to a partner, really). She continued the business in the same spot, leasing the building. She is now the new owner of the building, as well. This is exactly how I envisioned things turning out when I hired her around nine years ago. I'm relieved, proud of myself and of her, grateful for our continuing close friendship, and feeling completely free now to dive into the final chapter of my life without any lingering encumbrances.

The summer was really effing hot and I hated it. I found it terrifying on an existential level and deeply uncomfortable on a personal level. I was basically incapable of working without nearly falling asleep at my desk and I just felt like I stank all the time - like, properly smelt. We managed to get into a pretty good sleeping regime thanks to fans and ice packs and a robust windows and doors, curtains and blinds strategy but day to day existence was just horrible. We went into drought pretty early on and the countryside looked so sad. But! I survived and the world hasn’t ended (yet) so maybe I (we, as a race?) are starting to adapt to the weather… and it looks like our new PM is recommitting to net zero goals so fingers crossed that commitment is undiluted. My climate anxiety is through the roof but I am trying to focus on the positive memories of summer. And we might become climate refugees and move to Scotland.

I got a promotion and then a transfer. I was CBO at Curse of the Werewolf at Epic and then I got approved for transfer/promotion at Jurassic Park for commissioning the reopening for River Adventure plus Camp Jurassic and Raptor Encounter but River is the reason I’m here. I’m so grateful that I was CBO for the two months I was at Curse and now I get commissioning which means more hours and I get to be part of a big reopening for a classic attraction. I wanted Fast and Furious but this is honestly still better than no commissioning at all. And it’s SOOO CHILLL!

Jeremiah got his license AND a car. He is now a driver. It was terrifying, but I had to give it up to God! Every time he leaves, J is in God’s hands! I’m grateful J is doing well!!! And I am relieved he was willing to learn and do the hard work! It has made my life less chaotic and helped me stress less at work! I’m ecstatic to find out what he does with his independence! He was born to do great things! I am anxiously awaiting!

Getting pregnant is the first thing that comes to mind. Definitely grateful, despite how difficult being pregnant has been. And grateful for a wiggly baby who eases my anxiety now in the third trimester.

Celebrating my parent's 50th wedding anniversary. It was so touching to see how much the evening and event meant to them. To see tears in their eyes because they could celebrate with a meal at their 50th was moving. (they said they could only afford cake at their wedding). They were so thoughtful about their considering their guests' experience to the vow renewal and party. Selflessness and generousity demonstrated. Grateful I got to be there for this very special day - and celebrat the year with them too!

My dad has stage 4 colon cancer. I am sad...I can't think too hard about it at the moment. I need to stay present or I fear that I will disappear into myself.

Successful testimony in LA Federal court. Grateful for the opportunity and felt inspired by the success.

On Saturday, May 16th, my wife's parents suffered health emergencies. Her mother fell (again) due to Parkinson's, and her father injured himself trying to lift her into a chair. Both were hospitalized, and the next morning, my wife and I were on a plane to Florida to care for them. The feelings were numerous: * Gratitude - 1) that they stablilized b) that we could get down there to care for them * Resentment - 1) at how little estate planning they had done, including power-of-attorney privilege for my wife and/or me. That made it hard to execute on their behalf 2) how conflict-averse they had been for all the years I'd known them, never willing to discuss this type of situation and how they/we should handle it 3) at the guilt trip they had put on us over the years, and at the moment in particular, about why we had not packed up our lives to relocate to Florida to care for them. "Everybody else's kids live here," they would say.

Liora's Bat Mitzvah. I was very proud of her and she did an amazing job. First of the kids to do it. Makes me realize there aren't that many more years left of big kids in the house every day. Also, AliMaya retreat. Amazing connection with new friends. Lessons learned. Inspired, grateful, introspective.

I was honored and thrilled to attend and celebrate the first same gender wedding in our family. My niece married her lovely partner. It was a woodland wedding and was so joyful. I was very pleased that her parents have accepted and welcomed their new daughter-in-law into the family.

my grandfather died. It's hard to process, even though it's been 8 months. It's hard to let myself feel the feelings. I cried on occasion when it first happened. I think it's harder to feel those feelings alone. When I'm with others, like when my aunt saw me wearing his necklace, I cried easily. But I'm alone most of the time due to my health. I think I'm used to walling off negative feelings in my brain. There's the feeling like, if I start crying I'll never stop. It's also dangerous to feel things so greatly in my condition. It can lead to mental PEM. so my usual protective measure of walling it up comes into play pretty fast. But it also means I feel like I haven't processed it much. I can tell myself 'this happens. this is life.' and distance myself from it. In a way I've been bracing for relatives to die since covid hit the scene and we all decided it's perfectly fine to catch repeatedly despite the ways it affects your heart. My grandfather died from heart failure. He had a stroke earlier in his life, and he was on a list to get a heart operation. He was 95. I wasn't even surprised when my aunt had a serious heart issue this year. It's the consequences of our inaction. I've been bracing for it for 6 years now. It's insanely lucky that no one in my family has been so deeply affected by COVID until year 5 (myself being the first to never get better, I guess). Maybe accepting that I might be the next to die leads me to be less devastated when my grandfather dies, or my aunt ends up in the hospital? Of course I worry about her. And I could still cry my eyes out about missing my grandfather if I let myself think about it too much. But I don't, because that would hurt. So I stay on by saying.. this is just a part of life.

This year I was able to face my anxiety and begin to take control / make changes that have led me to increased stability and less scary thoughts. The experience was a toxic breakup. I am grateful, relieved, resentful, and inspired.

I had a baby. Becoming a family of four, instead of three is sometimes hard, but so amazing. I am grateful to see Adrienne step it up as a big sister, and also grateful to have a chance to parent a baby again with a lot less stress than the first time.

Hysterectomy - relieved, of pain at least, and of dying from uterine cancer or ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage

My mother died this March. I feel sad; I am grieving more than I expected. I had a very conflicted relationship with her; we finally connected when she was diagnosed with cancer. I have made my peace. I am getting help with a Psychoanalyst and it has been a game changer. I am grateful!

I cannot express how grateful I am to have received the NIH grant I've been working towards for many years. I was also diagnosed with ADHD. These are two different experiences but related. I feel I have clarity now on what has held me back but also what has empowered me about my prior approach to my work and goals. Going forward I want to leverage my talents better, and find the continuity to know how to do so.

Learning that having kids biologically is going to be next to impossible. It has caused more grief than I ever could have imagined. I don’t think I am grateful for this experience. I am resentful and sad, but trying to find the beauty in it.

I did a solo trip to Thailand. It gave me back some of my mojo and sexual confidence that had been an issue. I am thankful for the good times I had, and somewhat resentful for the time I wasted and the hassles I experienced with my Thai girl friend, who turned out to be more of a whore than a real girl friend.

In March a terrorist drove his truck filled with gasoline and fireworks into my son’s school in an attempt to kill 150 children and as many Jews as possible. The media immediately promoted the idea that he was “justified” because his family members in Lebanon were recently killed by an Israeli air strike. Never mind that his family is in another country, no American children were at fault, he himself was not American and chose to move here, and no Jew in America had a thing to do with the attack. I am resentful. I reflect on this “Revenge is not a Jewish idea”; “If we respond with vengeance, they have won” Yet my American children are being targeted because the state of Israel is being vengeful, and we cannot deny that.

This past year, I got a new job outside the Jewish community and was so grateful to step into a powerful role, a significant salary increase and overall, the partnership with the CEO was truly what I had hoped for my entire career. As I write this, things have changed and I find myself in the frustrating position of being with a CEO who has no management skills. It has taken me by surprise and I have not been told yet why I have fallen out of favor. Before the holidays, I was distraught, crying at home and confused at work. Today, I want to say, "Fuck you, I quit." I'm taking it day by day and was promised that this organization was a healthy environment, and it is not. Postscript: These past 10 days I have returned to a positive relationship with my boss. While I remain cautious, this was a great learning experience and I am less afraid of what my future will be and wherever it will be.

I processed a breakup. I felt a mix of relief, inspiration, along with anger, sadness, and grief.

My friend broke up with me, it devastated me because we had been friends for nearly a decade and she held in all this anger until she suddenly brought up all the pain I'd caused without naming it. I had just helped her get a job with me, so interestingly, I felt used. In contrast, I got married to my Bashert, I had endo surgery, and I'm finding out how to be true to myself.

This past year I have felt very tired and overwhelmed. It’s nothing but my own doing, however, the fatigue which it has caused is palpable. Ever since the start of the year, I have been needing peace, quiet and solitude however, those are all things untenable, considering the pace of my life, and those who need me. Since I seek to constantly hone myself and stay strong, physically and emotionally; I never allow myself time to rest. I feel tired in all respects. It’s all led to my Body beginning to resent me because she, though a symbiotic relationship in my life, is separate. She knew her limits and tried to warn me. She also took extreme measures which culminated in me tearing my Achilles. Her harsh measures are terrifying and eye-opening, but I’m suppose I have to listen to her now.

Same best friend from the response 2 years ago... We had our words, spoke our truths (though, I feel like I shared more openly than she did). Now we're at a different dynamic than ever before. It's very hard to accept. I still struggle. I'm grieving still and I feel resentful toward her husband. This has not only impacted me, but also our futures. I planned on including her in my will as my sister. Now, I have to figure out a new solution.

We got married! Wow! Our 'on paper' wedding back in March and then we kept plodding on with planning our wedding day in August. Our ceremony was on 8/8 and it was beautiful, magical, the best day ever. Yuck, I used to hate it when people say that, but it definitely was an awesome day that we'll treasure forever. I am so incredibly grateful I got experience a dream fairytale wedding. With a husband now! How surreal is that.

Sabbatical Grateful

I didn’t get a big promotion that I had been working toward for over a year. It was deeply disappointing at the time. I was angry and sad and just felt like the last year was a “waste”. But I am so incredibly grateful and relieved that it turned out the way it did. Little did I know how much not getting something I wanted would open up my thinking around what I actually want with my life. And all the work I did to prep for getting the role, it gave me confidence, taught me discipline, proved how much I could transform when I dug deep, and revealed untapped talents. My thinking is different after the process regardless of whether the outcome was what I had hoped for and for this I am so thankful.

Right now I can't think of anything fun this post year. I'm so overwhelmed and sick right now. Something big that happened... I bought a timeshare. I'm not sure if that was smart. I don't know if it was a good choice. I feel a lot of embarrassment and shame in investing in myself like this. I'm hopeful, though. Hopeful that it means my love and I will have s future with time dedicated to us!

My husband has survived terminal cancer for the year. I thought he would be dead, and although he's dying, he's still here and able to talk, walk and laugh. I'm grateful he is still here, I am bitter than he will certainly not be here by the time I write the next answer to the first question. I'm heartbroken, I feel as if I'm living in a nightmarish cosmic joke. And my body has started falling apart despite the fact I've only just reached 40, from the last year of stress and fear and horror and desperation.

The death of my beloved brother. It has left me upset, unhappy, sad, relieved for him as his illness was inevitably going to lead to his death. Grateful that I had him for 70 years

I completed my MFA thesis!!! A 140+ page paper and an immersive installation. Very impacted by the federal occupation but I will talk about that in another question, I think. I'm glad that this actually leapt to mind first, since the occupation was so traumatic it's nice to feel resilient. I had to make a conscious choice to invest my energy in finishing my program and I feel proud of what I accomplished. As people go back to school this fall, I am relieved! At this time last year I was balking at the idea that I had to start writing my thesis and defining myself as an artist in all these technical and specific ways, when I still wanted to be experimenting. Now I feel that that experience helped me so much to...define myself as an artist! And the exhibition process was so challenging for me, I draw a lot of strength from how I made it through that and am proud of the work I made. I am in 4 shows and 2 publications in the rest of 2026 and just really proud in spite of all the self-doubts, rejections, etc.

I recently started a GLP1 and cannot believe the effect it has had on my body. I feel more like myself. I am grateful about the effect but wish I could have had this when I was younger. My self esteem was so low because I felt fat and ugly. I know looking back I wasn't that fat but it felt that way and this would have helped tremendously and maybe even prevented some heart breaks in my life.

This last year has been full of significant experiences: my Dad died in December, I started a new job in January, I moved out of my house in May and my sweet cat Ginger died in June. Working full time again and moving from rental to rental has taken a lot of my bandwidth, and I sometimes feel resentful that I haven't had more time this year to sit with the losses I've experienced. But I'm also incredibly grateful to be working and to have a job I mostly enjoy, and being uprooted from my home has probably been a blessing in disguise because my gratitude for it has grown immensely. Perhaps it was actually easier to weather all this change in new surroundings, I don't know. I have felt a certain 'needing to catch up with myself' this whole year, and there have been a few brief moments where I've done it, but I feel like I'm mostly in instinctual survival mode, though not in a bad way. It almost feels like a protection? I don't know. Like the reality of the losses and all the shifts they brought about is slowly percolating onto me. I'm grateful for all the love and blessings in my life, absolutely. Now moreseo than ever. I've also started the 'Year to Live' course and am loving my cohort and the lessons/questions it's asking me. I don't think I'm alone in feeling like the coursework can take a (remaining) lifetime to digest and explore, and I'm hoping that my cohort of Mark, Sam, Bethany, Wendy, Lindsay, Em, Kate, Anya and me :) continue to meet into 2027. I really feel like these people could be lifelong friends! But we'll have to be intentional about it and committed to gathering.

The dream where a person I hadn’t seen in almost 50 years related a story about his friend bringing him a Keith Jarrett album and telling him “you must hear this. “ i woke up a little later and thought “ I must hear the voices telling me I should retire or make a lot more time for music and Torah hiking and tending the earth and friends and family and myself.

Full breakdown led to breakthrough fuck everything that doesn’t matter that I get so overwhelmed about, what matters..aren’t we here to enjoy our lives, our days, our relationships and not just be overwhelmed scared worried afraid

I'm writing all these answers on Yom Kippur this year. I've been reflecting a lot but not getting it down in writing. I think the combination of my Morton's Neuroma (foot injury that kept me off my feet for 4 months, waiting for treatment) and the possibility that I had endometrial cancer, at the same time. I'm relieved that everything came out fine, with no cancer and successful Cortisone treatment. I'm also frustrated that the "better" medical system here has not done a better job of taking care of me. It all would have been more expensive in the US but probably slightly more timely.

Does it count as last year if it was after 10Q started (but before I opened any of the emails)? My cat Lola died this week, and caring for her in her last weeks was really formative. I'm relieved not to be caregiving in that way anymore, and glad that she's no longer suffering. But of course I miss healthy Lola like crazy.

significant experience... I think the most significant experience was the thoroughgoing humiliation of being able to play no useful part to defend an important political program. watching it survive despite my failures really made me feel like I had done nothing at all useful with my professional career for a long time

My husband of 50 years died. It completely changed my life and how I feel (lost, lonely, unmoored).

My sister-in-law turned 50 and her father turned 90. And for both occasions, I flew to the west coast for parties far more elaborate than my usual. I went to represent the family. But they reminded me how important it is to celebrate--milestones, family, friends. I also spent some time crafting, retreating when I felt overwhelmed by the crowd, and found that when I accepted this need for myself, it was readily accepted by others.

My grandma's death was the most significant thing that happened to me and my family this year. It was difficult, it was beautiful, it was Vavness, and it was full. In the end, it made me feel full, especially in the way we were able to help guide my grandma to her next journey. I was able to talk with her, sit with her, sing her to her next path. So much of my family "showed up" for her in the way she showed up for us in our lives. In doing so, we celebrated her life in the way she lived her life, with family in community. Someone had said when they listened to the funeral, it was more like a fun-eral, because while there were tears, there were a whole lot of laughs. At the end, my grandma said she wanted people to be happy, not to be sad. In these closing chapters of my grandma's life, who was so much more than just a grandma to me, it gave me the chance to reflect on the life and the family and the community I want to build. And, what my grandma built is a really special guidepost to learn from and emulate.

Probably the most significant thing was that our youngest (30) was officially diagnosed as disabled and is now getting SSDI payments. It's not enough to cover all of their expenses, but it takes the financial burden off of us because we had been paying for their housing and everything else since December 2025. We had hoped that they would get psychiatric help through the programs at our local hospital and eventually want to work again, but that is very unlikely now. It makes me feel saddened, relieved and disappointed that even those who get disability really can barely survive with the costs of everything these days. Another significant thing was that my wife and I traveled to Quebec City again after 20 years. It turned out to be a very good trip where we did more relaxing than we usually do. But we also got to see a lot of new things that we didn't know about the last time we were there. We had a great time, and I think it brought us closer together. That makes me feel happy.

It’s been extremely painful, challenging year. My 91-year-old husband Jerry has had another six surgeries since this time last year . He’s been hospitalized for the last four months with five operations because of complications after each and he may require yet another operation to be decided in the coming weeks. I’ve been nonstop with him back and forth between the surgery hospital and the rehabilitation hospital, which has been exhausting physically, mentally and emotionally for him and me. I also was gutted by the death of our dear friend Gloria Steinem who died on 9/2 at 92. She always quipped to Jerry, “my gift to you is that I’ll always be one-year-older.” Not anymore; I’m heartbroken that she’s no longer with us and I’m fervently praying that Jerry recovers.

Passing the LMSW exam and starting my career as a mental health therapist at the clinic i use to be a client at. While Community Mental health is HARD work, i do enjoy it, and find the work meaningful, even if the paperwork side is annoying as hell

Not being retained past my 90 day trial at the new job. It ws awful. I am normally a very confident person. I believe I a very capable and I don't doubt my abilities to do things. But after being so excited to start a new job at FW, where I was finally getting paid a decent salary, a certain supervisor who shall not be named eroded my confidence by giving me disappointed looks for everything I did. No matter what I did, even if it was "99% excellent," it wasn't good enough. I would get criticism and go to the bathroom to cry and come back and give it my all, and it still wasn't good enough. It really demoralized me and made me question whether I was useless. I did learn that I didn't excel at certain things, and I now know to avoid a field I'm not somewhat interested in, but I also recognize that my supervisor was a micromanager who couldn't let go. I obviously know I won't be a good fit for every job but I know I gave it my best and stayed late and made sure everything was done. Now that I'm starting a new job, for the first time ever, I have anxiety about the new job and worry about failing. I've never had that before. I know I'm good and I'll just have to let this new experience overwrite the past one. It did make me more sympathic to DH, who has suffered from defeats since childhood and has ingrained feelings of failure.

In the past year, I moved into the Moishe House. It was a big decision for me and has allowed me to grow my community and become a leader. It has been challenging and rewarding and I am so grateful for it.

this year i started to get involved in a mutual aid cooperative in my area, and i was surprised and so pleased at how quickly people began to reach out and rely on me. just goes to show that the hardest part is showing up and putting yourself out there.

I went to school for piano technology this past year. It's good to have a new career, but I don't feel very confident and I do feel a little resentful about the experience.

Dad has had a very rough year health wise, hopefully going through a complete journey and coming out better on the other side of it. I remain very conscious of the great fortune I have to be so close to him and mom. At the very moment he has a flu and is still struggling with depression and poor sleep, but I think the overall prognosis is good for him. And to answer the question directly, I’m incredibly grateful for it. In a family where everyone has their stuff they are dealing with, I’m grateful to see some of those challenges in the rear view mirror.

A significant experience that happened this past year was Daniel breaking up with me. We were so in love so breaking up was a big change. It didn’t affect me as much as I thought. I was very sad for the first week but then got less and less sad. By a month later i felt pretty recovered. Now it’s 2 months later and I’m almost all recovered. When I hear love songs I still think of him though. I feel grateful because I’m happy to crush, go on dates, and keep my mind open. It reminds me of when I broke up with Matthew - every guy is an option. But now I’m not in my hoe era and want to fall in love again

This year was Michael’s bar mitzvah. It was a good example of having to adjust expectations and to be present in the moment. It was extraordinary to witness Michael being Michael and loving the child becoming himself. It was so so meaningful to have so many people here from the Pelc clan, all present and loving and cheering for my kid. It felt like a big hug, embraced fully and lovingly by all these people who understand where we came from, what we’ve been through, and what it cost.

I finally moved into my own apartment for the first time. It was big but it was so nice to have peace. No one yelling, no one hurting me. Just peace. My own space. I am so grateful for this sanctuary.

I was laid off from my video game job in April, and after a few weeks of searching was offered a role as the CTO of a small media company, and of co-founding a new digital services business. It felt like a big opportunity after a few years of career malaise, and I was excited to take it.

Our family dog died. We put him to sleep. He was in so much pain. It made me sad. My mom basically went through depression. My daughter got moved to a different kindergarten class and her kindergarten experience vastly improved. I got my first less than great performance review and it really shook my confidence in my teaching abilities and also kind of made me angry and annoyed. I don’t love teaching anymore. At least not in its current state. And the state I live in plays a huge role in how terrible public education has gotten. I feel a tad depressed at times.

This year has been an inescapable clusterfuck. I am resentful it has been a total waste

Our trip to the Finger Lakes, Laurentides, Montreal and Vermont left an indelible impression. It was a powerful reminder of my need to be in nature; to live a less hectic life; and to spend time at rest. PEACE. I want to spend this year finding more of it. I know ultimately, doing less will help me do so much more.

I learned that sometimes the hardest time doesn't last forever. And that I am much stronger than I ever thought. My husband betrayed me and left me alone with my two neurodivergent teens.

After 58 hours of excruciating labor, I gave birth to a baby girl on Erev Passover. Becoming a mother to this funny, happy, dangerously adorable, surprisingly determined, and strong little girl has given my life new meaning in ways I never expected. I feel all of the above- grateful, relieved, inspired, and yup, resentful (if you're a new parent, you know). Who am I now that I have this miraculous, blue-eyed appendage whom I love beyond reason? There is still so much I want to accomplish, but I have to remind myself to be patient and have the grace to accept that I have to slow down and be present now. I know there will be so many life-riches available to me from this experience. I love that I am joining the ranks of incredible Jewish moms.

I was sent home from work due to my physical health. The experience has posed serious questions about my career when it was only just getting started. I have felt depressed and defeated, and it has been a struggle.

I became a certified teacher in the state of MD. It has been overwhelming, uplifting, valuable, taxing. It has also been a big adjustment for my family and especially my spouse.

I travelled to Europe again - this time London, Stockholm, Sarajevo, and Lisbon. Sarajevo in particular was moving given its history. Everyone hears about the bad, but there's so much beautiful history and culture in the city as well. These days, with the threats coming from the south, the bad parts of the history was unfortunately quite relatable.

A lot has happened in the past year. --I got diagnosed with ADHD, which was nice just because I had been wanting to know for sure. --I started participating in Get Your Words Out (160,000 and counting!) which has made me more driven to work on my writing. --I started a new job, only to get pushed back into my old one, which is not the #1 stressor in my life. I know I have to find a new one now, and that is an incredibly daunting task, esp. since I've worked at the same place almost 15 years. --I went back to Trybal. It was everything I expected and more. I might more connections, and I think I'm likely to return to Midwest again next year if they have it, which will hopefully help me forge even stronger bonds with the same people. And it gave me the proper getaway that I needed. I went the week before Rosh Hashanah, which was such a good experience. I loved how many Elul/R.H. activities they had. It made the whole experience feel more focused. I kayaked for the first time in years (went all the way across the lake, and wasn't even that sore the next day!) And it made me all the more aware of just how much I need a new job. Because the experiences were such a stark contrast. The person I am at Trybal? When I'm writing? When I'm making art? That's who I want to be all the time. At work, I'm everything but. --I also had my bat mitzvah. Honestly, this was probably the most significant experience of the year. It really helped me overcome my perfectionism, which I realize I likely developed as a kind of defense mechanism. I live in a society in which love is often conditional, and perfection is highly valued, despite the fact that it's impossible. But then I spent months learning how to chant the first chapter of the book of Ruth. In festival trope, no less. And for once, everyone assumed imperfection. And for once, imperfection was not equal to failure. After months of study, it finally started to dawn on me just how *unconditional* love is at my synagogue. That no one there expects me to do more or be more than I am. No one is expecting me to do the work of multiple people in half the time. I don't have to change myself to be accepted there. And I never will.

The most significant experience I've had this year was that my youngest daughter passed away in February. I've dealt with deaths before, just nothing like this one. It threw me to the curb and under a bus. It's affecting me in so many ways. My entire future has changed. I've fallen into a dark pit of tears and then flown up to the highest heaven as memories come and go. I'm so happy for her - no more tears, pain or rejection from family members and society in general.

My mother died. It caused many emotions. Gratitude that she was leaving behind a sad existence. Uneasiness when realizing I am the patriarch of my family. I realized I need to travel while I can and see the world. I don’t want to die like my mom, with my dreams unrealized.

One of my besties moved away and I miss her a lot. She's only an hour away but I really took her proximity for granted all these years. I'm feeling a bit abandoned.

We got engaged in June this year. I bought a ring. Did a romantic proposal and filmed it. It was nerve wracking and exhilarating. People clapped and Susie was very pleased. We then went on holiday and all our friends and family were pleased and were lovely to us. When I think back on it, in some ways it felt very compulsive, but conversely it also felt considered. Both too soon and just right timing. It has also accelerated our relationship… time will tell

I reconnected with my sister after 10 years (after the last time we spoke at our Mother's unveiling). I have been cautious, but I also felt relief. It has allowed the three of us to connect again. We have differing views of shared experiences despite shared genetics, and that can be OK. It has given me some glimmers of positivity in an otherwise scary and bleak world.

Getting over the death of 4 animals in 2025, by murder and euthanasia. Spent most of the time working with my grieving daughter. My mother-in-law is getting confused, Steven is frustrated by my ADHD. I've had a lot of work done on my lower back -- that has helped.

Lev learned an incredible amount this year. He was so little a year ago in Barcelona, now he can run, hold conversation, song sings, is pretty training. Seeing him develop and grow and learn have been truly magical in very grateful to see and help it happen

a significant experience that has happened since Rosh Hoshana 2025 has been hitting "rock bottom" in my job search - no success and reaching out for help and deciding to take it from EVERYWHERE. I am broke and bleeding money and it is "not sustainable". I need to get a job. I have been GRATEFUL for the help I've received, relieved at the kindness of others, completely resentful towards my Ex-husband for monopolizing my time and attention, and ruining my career with his narcissistic scheming mentally ill ineptitude that he cloaks behind his new neurodivergent diagnosis, and INSPIRED to help others.

Healing of both glutes via PT and chiropractic. Grateful. Inspired to do more.

Hmm. What to pick? On a positive note, let's say starting Tirzepatide. I am down 25 lbs and started working out again and feel so much better! Gratefuol and relieved.

The decision to get a private evaluation for Dan really helped us all to understand him better and certainly was helpful in successfully winning his disability case

Every day seems to have a significant experience with the corrupt and inefficient government running our country. Costs have risen on absolutely everything we have to buy, the 'president' started a war for no reason with no exit strategy, approval rating at 30%. I'm angry that we are in this situation while gets rich off us

My marriage has been bad; we simply have not been able to get along. I do not feel well physically, mentally, or emotionally. I have become a bit resentful.

I've been recognized at my job for excellence. Given more responsibilities and am being paid a stipend for those responsibilities. I am beyond happy. But also, I feel the pressure to go above and beyond. All the plates are spinning and it is a bit nerve wracking.

Creating my Guess dance, watching myself have the dream, not know if I could do it, and make it happen. Feeling the applause on that last day, when we held the final pose and the audience just went absolutely nuts for 30 seconds. I'm watching myself grow into this process of having the dream, the vision, not knowing exactly how I'm going to make it come true, and finding my way. Having Maria help me and taking myself out of the dance was revelatory and very helpful. Now with Sports Car I am daring to go it alone and so far -- two minutes in, no formations yet -- it feels like it's working? I'm already amazed at what I've been able to pull out of myself, and excited to finish it up. I'm creating so so so so much this fall, and have done so much already. I feel my powers are growing, waking up, multiplying, stretching their wings.

People I thought were my friends turned out to just tolerate me. It really made me depressed but I learned self esteem

It was a pretty uneventful year. For that Im grateful, as I’ve had my fill of crisis over the last 5 years.

In 2025 I began volunteering at La clinica gratuita as a medical interpreter. I also (along with 2 other friends) read a small portion of Torah. I am very happy for both oppurtunities. Both involved using languages and both provide a path for further study. The rewards are intellectual but more importantly, they have made me happy. I feel closer to members of my congregation and to staff and other volunteers at the clinic.

I graduated from the massage therapy program and received the first EVER academic award for our department. In my usual fashion, I landed on the extreme of NOT seeking or expecting awards/acknowledgment of my achievements because my sense of worth/accomplishment has been heavily hinged on awards/sucess for most of my life. This experience taught me that I can absolutely relish being acknowledged for hard work. I can celebrate myself without guilt. I can feel grateful and humbled that people I admire and respect want to celebrate me, too.

The “world premiere” of my string quartet “Bluesberry Jam” would qualify in its significance. In the weeks before, I was rather anxious about how it would be received. The local community thinks I’m jazz not classical. I was nervous as in my early years of performance, yet I wasn’t performing. I am most grateful that it was performed well, recorded well and received well. There were people I wish had commented who didn’t. I always interpret that as a negative. But I’m glad it is now in the past, making it easier to do it again. No resentment. Some inspiration.

The invasion of ICE here is still almost incomprehensible even though I witnessed what was happening. Seeing all those black SUV's with tinted windows and Texas license plates, carrying a whistle with me everywhere I went, and feeling so helpless to stop anything that was happening. And then realizing that as a white woman, my fear was nothing compared to anyone who didn't "look white". The mobilization of so many people to fight back will always be something I draw on when I feel hopeless. Delivering groceries, driving kids to school, following co-workers home from work so you could intervene if they got pulled over and the thousand of other ways we protected each other. Unless you are from Minnesota, there is no way to describe what it feels like to hear a crowd of tens of thousands of Minnesotans shouting "FUCK ICE". We don't use that kind of language in public for others to hear. It's just not done here. But when it happened...glorious! They tried to provoke a violent response. I don't think I've ever been so grateful for the deep vein of passive aggressive Minnesota nice in my entire life! We responded with caring for our neighbors and refusing to let ICE intimidate us. But they killed people and kidnapped people. I don't want to forget that. Ever.

Getting pregnant! It all feels so weird and new. Again, like getting married, not something i’d spent a long time imagining. I’m excited, feels like it’s going to be so novel and dramatic, hopefully in a mostly positive way, compared to anything else that could happen.

The past year has been a bit of a blur. Not working at all for over a year now has been healing in ways I did not expect, but in retrospect it makes sense. I think it took time to feel my nervous system finally regulate but progress in my skin, sleep and mood have been major. I have clear skin, sleep at night and have "good scores" and actually replenish my body battery. All of this meant that this year when we went on our summer holidays to Canada, I actually really really enjoyed myself. I played for hours with the kids, did activities like tree climbing adventures, kayak and stand up paddle in pure comfort, saw friends and ate out, didn't overthink every small detail. I really, really enjoyed myself and it felt great to live normally. Being on a plane for long flights and not feeling like papyrus paper at the end is also such a relief. So the significant experience is not a specific event in time, it's the progress and change that occured over the year. I feel like I have turned a corner, finally.

This past year I had the blessing of a sabbatical. It really gave me perspective on my career, and opportunities beyond teaching in the traditional classroom that may interest me. I am grateful for the opportunity and feel inspired to continue to pursue paths I'm interested in and not feel limited by previous misconceptions or others' expectations. I remain committed to teaching, but am beginning to see that the traditional classroom may not be the place I can succeed most in. What's next? Who knows...maybe part-time tour guide, part-time reading specialist, part-time Ph.D. student, and author? Maybe something else...the point is, I've got options and don't need to decide now.

I had a baby. It has affected me in every way. I am so unbelievably grateful, relieved, and inspired. It took me a long time to the clarity that this is what I want in this life. Once I had found that clarity, I feared that it was potentially too late. But my dream became a reality against the odds. And I’m really loving this. It means so much to me.

I took my partner to the Pacific Northwest at the end of July, to where I grew up– the best time to go, with the best weather. The major purpose of the trip was to release my Mom's ashes at Neptune Beach in Whatcom County– MY beach, my identity's ground zero. I don't have a lot of family left there in that area, but my beach family's friends & neighbors– the McKay's– rallied around me lovingly. I couldn't be more grateful. It was, of course, an overcast & drizzly (but warm!) afternoon– but it was a PERFECT celebration full of love. I'll never forget digging my feet into my beach sand, the way my Mom's ashes billowed into the calm, still seawater, and that Leah & Merle brought roses from their garden to float above and drift off. I am so grateful for the entire afternoon.

At the beginning of this year I was still in the worst part of radiation. It's the reason I didn't do a 10Q last year. It affected me in that it was EVERYTHING for me for months. I was weak and dependent upon others to get by

Looking back over the last year, there hasn’t been one big, dramatic event. There have, however, been the endings of important chapters in my life and the unsettling beginnings of others. I began stepping away from coaching and the men’s-work world. After ending my role with Robert Glover, I also ended my relationship with John Wineland and completed my final year of EMLT. At the same time, I became more firmly grounded in my identity as a therapist, working primarily with men around relationships, emotional avoidance, integrity, and compulsive behaviors. I turned 62, and the practical realities of the next stage of life became much clearer. Looking at retirement, income, taxes, and debt has been something of a wake-up call. I’ve recognized that I need genuine financial stability—not another lesson about trusting the process. I also began seeing how much striving has organized my life. I’ve felt pressure to perform and prove myself through leadership training, men’s work, writing, finances, marriage, and certifications. My time in the Panamint wilderness helped crystallize my desire to leave behind the guru persona and move toward something slower, quieter, and more like eldership. During this time, a friend told me, “Stillness is your superpower.” That has stayed with me. I also took a deep dive into the Enneagram, educating myself and using it to better understand my own psychological patterns and identity. My body reminded me that I am vulnerable. Last spring, I began experiencing symptoms in my throat and became concerned that it might be cancer. My health concerns became entangled with my financial concerns, leading to considerable anxiety and even panic. Although the medical findings have been reassuring, I’ve seen how quickly uncertainty can activate me and cause me to scan for catastrophe. I remain deeply concerned about Chrissy’s future. I have also watched Jennifer’s son, Gigi, struggle with meth addiction, homelessness, and repeated attempts at detox and recovery. Both situations have confronted me with the painful reality that I cannot control or fix everything. I began writing a weekly letter to my email subscribers and started pursuing speaking again as a possible new career opportunity, particularly around mental health, burnout, and what it means to live with integrity. Most of all, I have stopped trying so hard to prove myself—to become famous, well-known, or esteemed by everyone. It is a relief not to chase that anymore. At the same time, letting go of that pursuit has left me facing a deeper and more unsettling question: Who am I, and what am I here for?

I lost my my precious companion, Loki. He was my soulmate and a little body of a Shih Tzu. It’s been almost a year now November 24Th. His loss totally sent me spiraling. Family sad lost without him. I feel his loss every day. I didn’t realize how much I relied on his loving support until he was gone.

Turning 50. It’s the first time that I allowed myself to receive fully; without worrying what to give back.

Well, I GOT ENGAGED!!! Just 12 days ago. I'm excited and so happy and really hopeful about my future with Chris. I'm really looking forward to continuing to build our life together! It's been such an incredible time so far together and I can't wait for what's to come.

Shingles made me completely re-evaluate. I looked around my room and saw self neglect and other's versions of me in the piles while outside my room was pristine. I'm still so sad I didn't know how common in women under 50 it was so I could get the jab, but it massively woke me up. I take care of my space and myself now, began going to gym and eating better, and I think its made my boundaries better too.

I started taking testosterone. I have been thinking about taking t for 25 years and I decided to finally go for it. I am still short and I don't pass at all. But I feel more peaceful. I can stop wondering.

Well, lots of things have happened this year such as graduating from LATTC with an associates finishing 3 years of school, traveling to Australia for 2 weeks, applying to LADWP, and uprooting my job situation only to find that it might not have been the absolute best move for the moment. Finishing school was amazing. I haven't set out on a project that big in a while and I feel very accomplished having pushed through and gotten it done. It is cause to my applying to LADWP and looking to become a lineman. Traveling to Australia was incredible. I have wanted to go for as long as I can remember. Admittedly, I felt more at home there than I do here in Los Angeles, I don't know, maybe the States too(?). I quit my job at Robert Half to take a job with my friend's start up company. And, although it was a significant pay increase, I am pretty sure the company may not survive their method of business/growth. It's not that I don't have the stomach to deal with the bullshit, I just don't feel like it anymore and I exited. Today, I find myself looking for a job. I trust The Universe, but I also realize I did that with no income. Fingers crossed I find something soon. I know everything will work out just fine; I just have to keep participating. Hopefully we end up with LADWP soon enough.

My wife and I finally travelled to Greece as part of a European trip. So grateful and so excited I have always had an affinity for ancient Greece and it slipped up to my expectations and I can’t wait to go back. Less positive I’m going through complex legal action with my oldest brother regarding my parents care that has been very stressful and has been very disappointing. Revealed things about my family. I wish I didn’t know. I was happy to live an ignorance.

My wife became pregnant. It awakened something inside of me. At first, it was an involuntary need to provide. In general for my family. Specifically, at first, it was to care for my wife who was having a rough first trimester. However, I felt that my capacity and threshold to take on more simply grew. It makes me feel like superman when I am able to accomplish more.

I started a new job with the College of Engineering at the University of Alaska Anchorage. I had forgotten what it was like to get up and go to a job you looked forward to doing. Working with amazing people.

I froze my eggs this year to extend my fertility until I can find a worthy partner with whom I can start my family. It was a roller coaster of a journey from the moment on my birthday when I decided the time had come. I was broken-hearted and angry at God that it had some to this. This was not the trajectory I had planned. The process itself was logistically challenging and physically uncomfortable but completely fascinating. What an amazing body we find ourselves inhabiting! I learned so much about hormones and fertility. I will never look at my body the same way again. I am now the happy owner of Hope frozen in a test tube!

This past year my friendships with two of my best friends of a decade disintegrated. It has been incredibly confusing. I felt enraged, ashamed, embarrassed, sad, hopeful, angry, and also mainly extremely disappointed. Now I am left with so much grief. And still some anxiety, fear, and denial. I tried my best to have integrity while still being a flawed human in our interactions. I wish we had similar views on how to treat one another, but we sadly don't. I wonder if this was coming down the line anyway.

Taking the train down for Shabbaton, and Shabbaton itself, was so nourishing. So was attending Shabbat morning services in person for the first time. I feel grateful, welcome, and inspired. New friendships are budding, a sense of wonder is taking root, and my conversion desires are growing stronger. All this in a community that strives to walk the talk of social justice, inclusive, affirming values. I'm so grateful to have found this Home.

I began to struggle very bady towards the summer. I didn't realize it was happening until I was in the middle of it. I'm honestly still only at the beginning of figuring out how I got here and where to go, and while I'm not happy this happened to me in the slightest...I honestly could have gone my entire life without ever knowing what it feels like NOT TO FEEL ANYTHING, but now being in this place I can understand others and how they exist here, and have existed here for much longer than I have. People have opened up to me about their struggles or their family members and it's just made me more aware and I think a bit more empathetic and compassionate. That is probably the only good thing I've gotten out of it so far, but I suppose, time will tell.

My son who is addicted to Meth spiraled. My brother found out he has metastatic cancer. I will expound on this in a different question. Aunt Bernice's granddaughter started taking her to the beauty shop on Fridays because sometimes I just didn't get enough sleep and couldn't get up that early. Then a couple of months later and Bernice bail while she was at home by herself and we got a hairline fracture in her pelvis so they put her in the nursing home. She turned 96 in November and she had told me several times that if it came a time that she had to go in the nursing home that she would be okay with that but the problem is she's been really confused and her mental condition seems to have gone down a lot since she was putting the nursing home. I should visit her more than I do. Every time my friend Brenda says drunk calls me she gripes and complains about her kids. She has good kids they're not on drugs or alcohol and they work and take care of their families and they take care of her. The thing about it is she can't control when they come see her and how much money they give her stuff like that so it makes her mad at them. I know it's a mental condition but every time she calls me she harps on that and here I am going through all this stuff with my own son and with my brother and I just get tired of hearing her complain about her good kids when I've got one that won't even call me who lives 650 miles away. I finally had to tell her the last time she called me complaining Brenda you got good kids you need to be thanking God for him and stop complaining about how bad they are I told her that she don't know what having a bad child is. She hung up kind of quick after that and I haven't heard from her since but I just couldn't take it anymore.

I was diagnosed with Mantle Cell Lymphoma. I had been sick for over a year but the cause was never clear. I was relieved to find out what was going and to begin treatment

Well. Dad died. Which has been a life shaking and altering thing that will forever change me and mom. Hospice was wildly intense, draining, and hard. Mom and I are going to have to navigate our new selves. That is the most significant thing to maybe ever happen in my life.

This past year I had my first full year as a cantor. Honestly, it's an awesome job and I'm so glad that I have had a chance to serve the Jewish people through prayer and music. It is also way more time than I ever expected, and the challenges that I have heard from other cantors have come true for me as well. I feel grateful and resolved towards certain changes within the way we put so much expectation on clergy. Rabbis and cantors are people too!

I got blood work back from Rheumatology that indicated my weight was having a negative affect on my health. I didn't wait a minute before resolving to make a change. I went to the gym the next morning, bought a scale, and went to the grocery store. In 3 months I've lost 20 pounds and am happier, healthier, and more active. I look forward to finding ways to move my body and I've gotten good at cooking, I have big goals but they're realistic. I am grateful for the wake up call. I am Relieved that I responded the way I did and I am Inspired to achieve my goals.

I turned 30 this year, the same age my mom was when she had me. The same age she was when she started to find the courage to leave my biological father (officially divorced when I was 4). My mom is about to turn 61 in a few days, and it might be her last birthday. My mom's dad was 61 when he died. All of these ages have little significance, but when you look at the events that happen, they start to. 30 is a big birthday officially the end of my 20s and youth but I feel like I am mourning so much more. I also feel like I am mourning some of my future events that I won't be able to share with her. I am grateful for the 30 years we have had together and the family and life she gave me, my brothers, my sister and my stepdad (who raised and sees me and my older brother as his own). Turning 30 means a lot to me in the context of big birthdays but also simultaneously means nothing. My little brother is turning 13 next year a big birthday in Judaism and it is a 'big if' we will be celebrating with our mom. Age is just a number but the significance of all of my birthdays are the people I am with - my mom being the top of that list. Lastly I met Casey we have definitely had some bumps in the road but we are coming up to our one year anniversary in October

A lot happened early this year - my romantic relationship fell apart spectacularly, i got laid off, i started a new job & new relationship. I think the break up was very significant, not just due to the end of a difficult pattern, but because it inspired me to connect with a therapist and truly think about what I want and what I need. I felt supported by my network of friends and family in ways that are hard to overstate. It was difficult but I learned so much.

I was anointed by Christ as "Speaker of Divine Truth." On the same evening I had a huge throat chakra opening. Beginning in mid December 2025, I began having spiritual experiences that involve an inflow of divine energy. I start receiving energy into my body and I make involuntary movements. At first, the energy feels like a cleansing. The energy has angles and cleans out my energy body and also my physical body. After the cleansing, the energy flows in spirals and curves and feels amazing. The feeling in my body as this happens is like riding a roller coaster and I don't know what the movements will be next or when. Sometimes its the arms and hands, sometimes the legs. I had heard stories of people around the world seeing Jesus in dreams and converting to Christianity. So I prayed to see Jesus and my prayer was heard but so much bigger and better than I had imagined. I thought that I would see the man, Jesus, in a robe, surrounded by white light. I got pure Christ energy instead. The evening it happened, it began with 2 hours of the divine energy flow. I lay on the floor doing fascial release on myself around my chest, collarbones and neck. Energy guided my hands and I could SEE my muscles and bones as golden energy flowed around them with purpose. I felt that my collarbones expanded laterally an inch on each side. The overall energy was in the shape of two triangles, bases touching. The first was from my solar plexus to each shoulder and then the shoulders to the crown of my head. I was vibrating and following the guidance of the energy flow to release the fascia along my chest, neck and jawline. I saw my body expanding and suddenly opening up as a blue goddess emerged. I sat up, and in an instant, the energy began gathering around my throat, expanding into the shape of the throat chakra - a triangle inside a circle. Then, the brightest, whitest, most pure white light shone on me and I received the message: "Anointed: Speaker of Diving Truth." The divine energy flows began happening every week and sometimes twice a week. I have received divine healing for my spine many times since and talking about it or even in prayer, the divine energy flow will start. When the energy flows begin I immediately announce my sovereignty and declare that I only allow energy from pure Divine Source and Love. I am so grateful! I feel so connected to God and Christ, in fact, I didn't use the word Christ before and now I know that it is the cosmic consciousness that Jesus, the man, embodied. I feel a responsibility to prioritize my spiritual growth and the elevating of my consciousness as well as being impeccable with my word. I have the responsibility to point my consciousness to Christ Consciousness at all times. Though I am not always successful at this, it is the state I aim for. I want to be a conduit of God's unconditional Love in all my dealings with everyone, from my family members to the grocery store clerk and everyone else.

Tough choice, but I’d generalise with being stuck in Israel during the Iran war. It changed me to an almost completely different person. I saw that the life I’ve been having before — workload, pointless projects, restraining from just having fun and going with the flow, meeting new people — was actually not mine. I met so many new people, had amazing experiences, came closer to Hashem and observing mitzvot. I felt happy, free and open to future even during the sounds of azakot. This experience changed me in so many ways, and I’ll be never thankful enough for that

Just before Rosh Hashanah, our cat Amos died. We had to put her down because she had cancer. It was the clearest, cleanest grief Ive ever felt. I felt no struggle or remorse in assisting her with a kind death, but I miss her terribly. The anticipatory grief and the week following were the most pain I have felt move through me in a long time. It just came. It wasnt like I could push it down or walk away from it, or compartmentalize. The grief and the love and the pain just were. I miss her every day and Im crying now just writing this out. She lived with us her whole life. 16 years. My whole adulthood really. She watched it all, and was a constant, demanding, cuddly presence. She was so beautiful and we are so lucky. Teaching Simon to grieve and walking him through it was also profound. Her death made me more grounded in my home and family somehow. I dont want to go out looking for anything else, I just want to be safe and secure here with the people and things I love.

My Aunt suffered an heartattach and now multiple strokes. It has really changed everything, such as where she lives and how she is able to interact with others. I see how others have treated her situation and it causes me concerns as I try to do the best that I can with what I have and I still feel like I fall short. I am still currently without employment so I can not afford to get her things, but I do go and see her two times a week, every tuesday and thursday and if I can on sundays also. I bring her treats and I sit and talk with her. I trim her nails and her facial hair if needed. I try to get her room decorated now that she is in a facility and make the decorations dementia friendly. She has a little of a mean streak which she has never had and she is very childish but that seems to be easy to work with (thank goodness). Making the time for her is important to me as I want to make sure that remains important and thought of as she did for all of us prior to these changes. I have my own feelings of falling short on her care but I also am so disappointed with other family that does not even make the time to go and see her and use the pretense that they do not know what to talk about with her and my mom struggles with making the time for her because I fear that she really does not want to but guilt is making her do it and that will only last so long. I am grateful that I have the time to give to her and I enjoy the time that I spend even though it is different from all the years that I spent with her previously. I fear that I am resentful to the others that will not make the time for her, but I am inpired by her persistant rememberance and belief in her faith. I pray that I will have the same security later in my life.

I don't even know how to answer these anymore. I had some wonderful experiences this year. From travel, Eli's semester abroad, Ezra doing well at work and potentially another job - all is going very well (besides my work - but not as important). But I am angry about the state of the world. That it keeps getting worse and worse. That as human beings we are helping bring about our doom. I worry for my kids, for humanity. I thought the jewish community would be smarter by now. They aren't. The international community - they aren't. I hoped (but suspected he wouldn't) that Carney would be more than a banker - he isn't. so I am pissed and I protest and I write letters - but it feels like we are powerless!!!! throw in AI and it isn't just a dumpster fire, i feel we are done. And I am an OPTIMIST!!!!

Have traveled a lot for work. It sounded easier than it actually was. It's only a 3-4 day trip and it takes me and the family about 1-2 weeks to recover after I get home. I had no idea how upending it would be. Grateful to my husband for stepping up when I have to be out of town. I also have no idea how my parents managed us as kids when my mom was constantly out of town- the travel I do is a drop in the bucket compared to hers.

The last 18 months had two significant health adventures. They also had the incredible blessing of seeing a child called to the Torah. The second was a beautiful testament of life and possibility. The nachas was amazing. The first had me reflecting on choices. Initially thought some significant life changes were needed, but through therapy, found some opportunities for growth within the context.

I bought a car. I am relieved but alsoOMG cars are so expensive! It took so much time to find what I wanted. Also, will cars exist soon? I wanted a plug in hybrid but couldnt find one that wasnt an SUV and super expensive. I also coulnt find an EV that didnt break the bank and that didnt have huge, distracting screens and didnt make me nauseous to drive it. I kind of think all cars will be electric soon, so Im worried I spent a butt ton of money on something that will soon be obsolete. But hey, if it IS obsolete, that will mean the world is no longer using gas which will be AWESOME!!

爸爸離世，一方面很替爸爸能從病痛中解脫開心，另一方面再也聽不到有一個人無條件愛我的人跟我說話了。人生說長不長，說短不短，我希望自己每一天都活得清明，能有智慧看見生命真正重要的事，能有勇氣做真正重要的事。

It's a crazy thing to think about this. This time last year, my son had just started school in England and I was a primary school teacher in a tiny school. Even just three months ago I had no idea that we were able to move to China again or that it would work out. I chose to wrest control away from work and refuse to be consumed by the English education machine. I feel resentful that people were empowered to bully me into that decision, but incredibly proud of myself to be able to do it.

My Dad has stage 4 Melanoma with brain lesions. It's been a rocky last six months. I was depressed for a long time, and so was he. All he thinks about is how he's going to die. And he doesn't even try sometimes. I'm definitely resentful that everyone around me keeps dying. And that cancer is so prevalent with my loved ones. I'm furious that his doctor didn't catch it sooner, even though we begged him for months to get an MRI. I'm trying to see the good in it. And remember how lucky I am to have a Dad that loves me. So much. Family's been visiting and i'm exhausted. I'm not sure what i've learned from this yet. I just know that I love him more than anything and I hate to see him scared.

There's one experience that rises above all else. Moving back to Chicago! Into this new beautiful, dream home. It was quite the move from Griffith, Indiana to Norwood Park, Chicago. I am surrounded by so many people, good food, and bike trails--it's awesome. I feel blessed, grateful, and that there are opportunities; I only need to wake up every morning and seize them. I'm proud of myself for packing all our life belongings and safely moving it here--we're all here in one piece. My family is the most important part of my family and they mean the world to me so being able to exist in a beautiful space with them is cherry on top of the cake. I simply need to remember and keep coming back to this gem of how I am winning as long as I hold my family in my heart.

The biggest thing this year was our trip back to Spain and Portugal as a family. We found out we were pregnant with Madison Grace in Portugal early on that original trip, so going back to Casa Lata with her this time gave it a different weight. Doing a HYROX race in Malaga was a highlight, competing internationally with everyone there. We also got long layovers in Paris and Amsterdam on the way, seeing the Eiffel Tower at night and exploring the canals in Amsterdam was really cool. Traveling with Mom, Micah, and MG all together, watching Mom experience it with us, made the whole thing feel full circle. It wasn't easy, the flights were stressful and sleep was hard with a baby, but going back to Portugal and closing that loop was really rewarding.

The most significant experience of the last year has been watching Adam go through surgery and cancer treatment, overcoming the cancer, and getting back to himself. I'm incredibly grateful for what is now behind him and relieved it isn't the day-to-day anymore. It reminds me of my own journey and how I moved through it. Sometimes I wonder about years when they don't hold such tremendous struggle... but I would love to find out.

In December 2025, I read Nobody’s Girl, the story of Virginia Giuffre at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein and the other pedophiles in his circle. In January, the Epstein Files were released. I read a lot of what was released. It sent my mental health into a tailspin for months. I stopped reading physical books, and instead listened to audiobooks. For months, I couldn’t do anything once I’d come home from school except put together puzzles and listen to audiobooks. And sometimes I couldn’t even muster the energy for the books. I just sat, in silence, putting together puzzles. Now, I’m not so unimaginative that I don’t understand why puzzles were so cathartic. The world is a fucking mess. Puzzles literally fit together and make sense. Puzzles take a jumble of pieces to make one, lovely picture. But I also stopped practicing yoga. Some days I would barely hold my shit together and come home and do puzzles for hours. I stopped making dinner. I stopped practicing yoga. The voice in my head kept saying, What does it matter? It’s all going up in flames. Stop even trying. I became numb. In May I started making mosaics. I did it almost every single day of summer. When the school year started in August, I went back to practicing yoga. I’ve had a solid practice for the last four weeks. I’m slowly emerging from my numb state.

This past year was full of significant experiences, but the most important one was almost certainly the revelation about S's abuse of his siblings. This was devastating and difficult—in many ways, harder than the divorce, and it has made me into a parent on a deeper, darker, more mature and experienced level. At this point, above all, the word I'd use for this feeling is – resigned. But other experiences include the breakup with Sher, falling in love with S, travel this summer, a new relationship with R, and getting involved with the Catherine Project.

OMG- the death of my mom, and the process of being with her in those final days. Connections, bonding, and a little food for nightmares. I miss her, and I’m guiltily glad my siblings weren’t there with me. That makes me a bit grateful, and relieved.

Our beautiful Krauss passing. It was devastating. I miss him. everyday. I was angry and resentful at first. I'm still feeling a little of that at times. I'm also feeling grateful for having him and loving him. Inspired by his beautiful personality.

Well my separation was huge. I am definitely relieved to be out of my marriage. I wasted too much time with someone I couldn't trust!

I hadn't seen my stepson in a long time. I was shocked by his behavior. He has become an abuser, a predator. It was very disturbing.I felt badly for his partner and children.

My husband died in June less than a year after he was diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive cancer. We met when i was 6 and he was 9, started dating when i was 15 and married when i was 18. Our life together had its ups and downs but we stuck it out and our last years together were our happiest— even happier I think than the beginning of our marriage though that was a lifetime ago and who really knows. He was always my biggest fan and, while he didn’t always love me the way I wanted to be loved, he was always there for me and he loved me to the end. He was a good man, beloved by many and kind to many more. I am lost without him because he was always the person who grounded me.

There have been several deaths within my community within a short period of time. It impacted me in a way I didn’t anticipate. It is bittersweet. Of course, I miss the people but it has also given me a greater appreciation for people and life. I’m inspired to do more with what time I have left.

There have been so many significant experiences. It's hard to pick one. US citizens of the dominant culture being killed on American streets. War in the middle east. Genocide in Palestine. Government policies causing hunger and illness among the citizenry. Thousands of people losing their income through illegal DOGE cuts. The continued estrangement of my daughter and granddaughter (though it has softened). I partnered with a long time friend to begin a YouTube channel devoted to "cruelty free self-care". I spent most of the year sharing my car with my adult granddaughter because she was intimidated by the situation. I reached out to my family to ask for help with my financial situation. There's even more. I've felt righteous anger, grief, resolve, hope, clarity, discernment, exhaustion, overwhelmed, and wise.

Well, my grown daughter has now stopped talking to me, in addition to my grown son. I feel sad, confused, resentful, and sorry for trying so hard to protect them from their abusive father, who they both treat well now. I tried so hard to be the best possible mother to them and keep them from being harmed, but they don't seem to appreciate me. At least I have an adoring husband now.

I spent about seven months in and out of Lebanon in the army. I never felt like I was really going to die BH but definitely I was putting my life in danger each time going in. Those seven months affected me in a few ways. First of all it made me extremely proud of myself and of all my fellow soldiers who made the chose to be front line combatants. So many people in Israel back out of it, but the people I was around willingly and happily put themselves at risk every day in order to protect their people. True bravery, and it really makes me love am yisrael even more. There’s something to the reality of making that choice, you really show yourself how deeply you believe in your values and it’s a satisfying feeling to know that you’re now a cheap or shallow believer in them but they really do matter and are worth giving up everything for. Secondly I’m grateful looking back at the fact that our pluga had no serious injuries or deaths in all our time in Lebanon which is relatively rare. I don’t know why God made it that so many people were killed in the war but I can definitely give thanks for me and those around me staying safe. And lastly just being in those situations naturally forces you to think about the nature of your own mortality a lot more. I remember at the beginning I wanted to write a note that my family could read in case I died. I didn’t end up doing it since it became less and less dangerous relatively over time but just having to think about those things at such a young age makes an impact. It made me realize how much more I want to do in life, how much potential there is to make an impact but how little control you have over how much time you have. You really do need to make every moment count

My partner and I decided to start talking about having children and it wasn't one particular experience versus a conversation that took time and an idea adjusting to. The unfolding of this conversation is so grand that I don't have words to describe. My partner is not as gung ho about it as me but he has known that it's important to me and this is a time to remind myself that this is an active choice that he is making to support my desires. The cherry on top is that because of his ADHD, I don't think he knows how great of a dad he is going to be.

Our beautiful baby being born a few weeks early, at the end of March. My FIL died in mid-February. Because I was the closest to where they lived at the time of his passing, I was the first to get there. It was awful being alone in the room with my MIL and my FIL's body. She was weeping and I tried to comfort her without feeling sick, looking at my FIL who was slowly turning green. She didn't want to close his eyes until my husband and BIL got there, and it ended up being very upsetting for them. The funeral was a week later and also two days before the baby shower. My MIL wanted to continue with the celebrations; she clearly wanted something to look forward to. Around that time, I developed gestational hypertension that was slowly evolving into pre-eclampsia, so we had to deliver three weeks early. It was a good thing we had just put together the bare bones of the nursery! The first half of the labor went well, but unfortunately as they introduced the pitocin to start contractions. my epidural failed. I felt every single contraction and I felt my baby ramming me in the side. As soon as the nurse noticed I was trying to get more injections than was expected, they did a test and realized the epidural had failed. They tried a second epidural and that didn't work. Since the baby hadn't progressed, I asked for everything to stop and to have a C section. We had to wait for an OR to free up, so we tried to rest as the pitocin left my system and the contractions slowly stopped. Then I got a third epidural which lasted until the very end of the C section when I could feel the team sewing me up. Having my baby was wonderful. We had waited so long to meet him and he was a tiny purple raisin of a person. I wasn't able to hold him immediately because I was sedated, but I kissed him and soon held him in recovery, where my doula helped him latch, which he did--eagerly--despite my not having any milk. I have mixed feelings about everything. Resentful that I had to endure death staring me in the face while I was pregnant and my MIL was so distraught that she didn't care. Resentful that I couldn't hold my baby right away. Resentful that I was in such shock from the hard labor and the C section recovery. It took me maybe four weeks to feel affection in addition to love for my baby. But I'm so happy he's here. He's beautiful and sweet, always laughing and happy. And one day he'll hear all about his grandfather after whom he is named.

I birthed and began to raise a child. It's the most awe inpiring experience to watch a human interact with so many things for the first time, and hugging him brings me a sense of calm that I have never before accessed in my body. Maybe that comes from my own knowing of the impact of a mothers' love - that very specific feeling of someone else caring about your safety and security more than you might ever be able to. I love this role and it's made me more resolute in building a meaningful future for myself.

I had my 3rd baby. The birth was a challenge as I wanted a home birth but had to have another c section and she had jaundice resulting in a hospital stay. That affected my relationship with Eli a lot. The first 3 months or so I found elements of her so hard. She screamed sometimes for hours until she projectile vomited and it was horrible, the screaming was like torture. But then she seemed to grow out of it and she’s the smiliest happiest cutest baby. She’s so funny and sweet and joyful. She is the best addition to our family. My husband didn’t want a third and found it hard but he adores her too now. She’s an absolute delight. The best thing we could have done.

I was with Mum in Powerscourt last Saturday and when I gave her a card to write for Grace starting college, Mum couldn’t remember how to form the letter D when I asked her to write “dear Grace “ she was so puzzled.. and my heart sunk into my stomach.. I just felt so sad. This is a year of loss and grief. I am having a lot of dreams and more nightmares .. both mum and dad have dementia now, it’s so painful. Life is full of pain .. and also joy ! I feel that I need to let go of the pain In order to make room to enjoy the good moments

Hannah's bat mitzvah was amazing as was our trip to Paris. I feel grateful and happy that I did those things.

I slipped on the stairs to the light rail and twisted my leg very badly. It ultimately resulted in a fractured hip. And I have since had a full hip replacement. It affected me with fear and frustration as I attempted to resolve it. The pain increased in waves over the course of nine or so months until an MRI revealed the fracture. I can say that I am grateful for all of the love and support that surrounded me as I progressed through this journey.

My dad was diagnosed with cancer around Easter. It definitely disrupted my world, and changed a lot of things. It’s scary going through this with my parents knowing there is a chance we can lose him within a year based on the type.

The significant experience(s) are the deaths of my mother in January, my aunt the previous November, my uncle (not related to my aunt, different sides of my family) in April, my father in June, my mother-in-law in July and a very good friend in August. I am unable to really assess my feelings as I am overwhelmed by the process of dealing with their estates. Maybe by this time next year, I will be able to note that I've been able to mourn and also to feel like I've moved on.

Without a doubt, the most significant experience over this past year was getting pregnant (again!), giving birth to C, and and adding baby #2 to our family! At this time last year, I had written about my second miscarriage and TTC and about how I wasn't sure if we would be able to have a second child. And now here I am with a three month old baby in my lap! How much can change in a year, and what good fortune the universe can sometimes deliver!

The death of Poppy is the most drastic. Though in the "grieving process" I find myself not grieving. His memory fades away without pain, sadness, or joy. I still pan to get a tattoos of a poppy because he is and was my father figure. I am definitely not grateful for his death but it is an important first milestone of a death of someone I care about, which I think it something to recongnize and ponder about.

The years are blurring in my 50s and since the shock that was the pandemic. I visited India in May. I am grateful for the opportunity and the challenge. I wish I'd had more time to admire the crafts museum area in Delhi but it all was inspiring and reminds me to not take my current surroundings and culture for granted, either.

I had multiple experiences of receiving love with a lot more ease than I ever have in my entire life. It’s sort of like a door opened that I didn’t know existed. It’s a little terrifying, but mostly such a huge relief.

I'm surprised that the Ayahuasca retreat i did in January was still unfolding new connections and ideas for me 6 months later. Delighted that Russ is drinking less and coming to bed every night. I've grown to really love the people i work with at Flora. And I'm grateful for my friend and business partner Mike. We went to Strasbourg to see Angine de Potrine and the to Lucca, Florence and Pisa. I wouldn't have expected that the two varicose vein operations on my legs would make walking so much better. Despite the arthritis in my knee, its still better than last year. Ive started wearing a bit of make-up and it's really - surprisingly- boosted my confidence! I got very excited that the skeleton short did 3 million qualified views on YouTube. I thought for a while that I could reach monetisation with that boost, before October 24th, but stuck at 4.4 million, I don't think that's gonna happen. I'm gonna keep trying, but I have sort of lost heart. And I find myself saying" yes, but what would you even do if you were monetisated? It's not like your good in front of a camera" and that, coupled with seeing my numbers drop, is making me lose heart. I notice I'm actively talking myself out of something I might not be able to achieve. Pretending I don't want it and wouldn't know what to do with it. Which makes me lose heart and stop trying!!! Duh!!!! Downward spiral or what?!!!🤣

I went to work at the Y. It basically saved my mental health. I am now getting out in the community, talking to other people, using my skills, and making a small difference. It has totally changed my thinking on our whole living situation.

In the last month, David "snapped back". It is hard to describe living with someone who has bi-polar because one day he is who you THINK he is, then he may go days, weeks, months acting completely different. This has actually been a 3-year (maybe more) dip. Granted, part of this dip involved being physically sick with cancer & treatment. But even *before* -- for about a year, he just stopped. Everything. Stopped skiing, golfing, helping around the house & yard. Didn't laugh much, didn't engage in conversations, thing I said just didn't seem to register. He sat on the couch. Literally. It was sooooo frustrating. Then -- it was like a switch was flipped in mid-August. Suddenly "my" David had returned! I was and still am absolutely THRILLED. He is back on a health kick -- got to make up for lost time and get back into shape. He went golfing this week for the first time in *years* and had a good time. He is planning to be in shape to ski this winter. I have no idea how long this will last, but I am planning to enjoy every single second of having THIS version of David around for as long as he stays.

M got his visa and we moved. I felt relieved at first, finally knowing when we are going. But it turned out that everything was (and still is) in the unknown. Arriving and the building not being finished. And then Iran, so I had an unfinished house, and two kids to take care of by myself while trying to settle. Which then put eveything else on hold. And then going back to deal with the flat. And coming back and resettling everyone. It feels like it's just on going and I am not sure if or when I will leave this space of things are happening and constantly changing.

A significant experience for me this past year was returning to my childhood home in Kankakee, Illinois, on March 1, 2026. I rang the doorbell, but nobody was home, so my reunion with my childhood home consisted of standing outside and looking at it. Even from the sidewalk, though, I was struck by how small it seemed. The house that had loomed so large in my childhood looked almost surprisingly tiny. Apparently, houses grow in childhood along with everything else. It was strange to stand there and realize how much of my childhood had happened inside that little house. The physical structure was smaller than I remembered, but the memories attached to it were enormous: the people, routines, holidays, arguments, discoveries, and ordinary days that somehow became the backdrop to an entire life. I felt grateful that I had the chance to see it again, even if the house didn’t exactly roll out a welcome mat. There was something unexpectedly moving about standing outside the place where so much of my story began. And then there was another feeling I hadn’t expected: relief. I was grateful for where I came from, but I was also very happy that I no longer lived in Kankakee, Illinois. Seeing my childhood home again reminded me that a place can remain an important part of your story without remaining the place where you belong. The house may have been smaller than I remembered, but my life had become considerably larger.

Africa- our trip to Africa was an absolute revelation. Not just the animals, but the towns and the people and the cultural exchanges. It also taught me that some people can't change. That hate and anger and resentment last far longer then I think should be possible.

The past year has been fraught on every front. However, my health is improving, and my financial situation is stable. That has enabled me to get more serious about my drawing and painting, and I am on the brink of opening an online shop to sell my artwork. I am hopeful and excited and a little scared around the edges.

I finished my masters degree. It took so long and felt so anticlimactic that I didn't really advertise it much. But the number of people who checked on my progress and insisted on attending graduation was so fucking moving. I had friends drive and fly into town for it, and family converge without even asking them to come. They all volunteered themselves to sit through a three hour convocation. I can't remember a time where I felt so loved.

My wife had a stroke in May. She has been recovering beautifully. It has affected me by adding a lot of anxiety into my thoughts about the future. And it has affected me by reminding me to recognize beauty and preciousness of every day. I am grateful for today with my wife.

I am currently in Italy travelling with my spouse and I am loving it. Feeling grateful. And also kind of opening my eyes to the uniqueness of Canadian culture. So many people say Canadians are so friendly, helpful and polite. I’ve never really understood exactly what that means. But I think I’m getting it now. I wouldn’t say Italians are rude - they just in general don’t go out of their way to be particularly helpful or friendly. It’s just not their culture. I guess like many Canadians I’ve thought we aren’t really nationalistic and our identity is more about what we aren’t than what we are. But I love that we have a culture and we are known for being open, kind, helpful. I mean of all things to be known for - especially in the current climate around the world. I can’t say I’ve ever felt especially proud to be Canadian. But I am. Quietly proud. And, true to my Canadian nature, I don’t want us to get too proud. Just proud enough. And that inspires me to. To be Canadian if that means spreading kindness. Being helpful. Being gracious and polite.

My mother died on June 27. Like all things having to do with my mother, its effect on me has been complicated. Confusing. I have had moments of intense mourning, but they have not been over her dying but over the relationship that we never had. Her death only slightly saddens me; she had declined so much in the past year that I think it is better this way. I've discovered newfound empathy for her, revisiting moments that still pain or anger me as the recipient of her behavior but better understanding the pain and the confusion that led her to behave badly, sometimes almost feeling her feelings, as if I were her. I feel more connected to her good intentions than I did when she was alive. I find it easier to love her now that she's gone.

I accepted reality so I need to give my husband divorce papers. I was relieved at first because he couldn't keep the promise needed to stay married and I waited 4 years. I am also resentful since I will have to work out things for him too which is another reason I am unhappy in this marriage.

I have found my person. I met him in May 2025, he told me he loved me on Christmas morning, and he continues to love me. He knows my trauma story and my recovery journey, and he is loving and supportive. And I give all that I can back to him by way of love and support.

I had my knees replaced this year. It has been ROUGH, but also so very needed. Our whole life was flipped upside down- hospital bed in living room, Bren took so much time off work, poor Straxx does not love any of this. PT is hard, but doing my home exercises and seeing Olivia every week has gotten great range of motion. I don’t have knee pain, but it is going to be a while before I feel normal again. Next year will be better! I will be walking with no pain- that will be so unusual.

I had the opportunity to travel to Africa in October 2025. It was a business trip, but I couldn't go that far without spending some time there -- with the group of other conference attendees. We did a two-day safari. Overwhelmed. Mesmerizing. Peaceful. Amazed. Just some of the words to describe the experience. When the world seems a little out of whack, and you don't really know what your purpose is, try watching a mama elephant play with her baby with no care in the world. We should all have that kind of a day every once in awhile.

One of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had over the past year has been helping rescue dogs from Türkiye and find them new homes in Europe. I started working together with a veterinarian in Türkiye, and since then, we have managed to rescue and rehome several dogs in different European countries. It has been an emotional journey. Some of these dogs came from very difficult circumstances, so seeing them eventually arrive safely and become part of loving families has been incredibly rewarding. It also taught me how much can be achieved when people in different countries work together for the same purpose. I feel mostly grateful and inspired by the experience. Every successful adoption reminds me that even a relatively small individual effort can completely change another living being’s life. It has definitely made animal rescue an even more important part of my life.

I turned 40 right before Rosh Hashanah last year - that felt like a relief; I don't love the period of time before a transition, and it was nice to be on the other end of a milestone age. It gave me the opportunity to reflect on where I am at 40 compared to where I thought I might be - and my general feeling was gratitude for all of the components of life: family, friends, home, career.

ohhhh boy. well. i fell into attachment. if not love. it has affected me in every way and innumerable ways. i am new.

Last year I fell in love. I've spent the past few years questioning my understanding of romantic love and of my own experiences. It had been so long since I had loved someone like that. With Max it was so easy, to be interested in him, to be open with him, to think about him. I remember on our first proper date, he had just gotten charges dismissed and his client was free. His exhilaration floated off of him. How wonderful to love someone so good, who is committed to such meaningful work. I remember him asking me to sing for him, so I did. And I kept singing until I had to kick him out so I could finish my homework. It was intimate in a way I hadn't felt I could be with anyone but my friends. I knew I was in love in a matter of weeks. I am still in love.

Two things that were significant in different ways. Bubbe died, which has made me more attentive to spending time with family. It hasn't fully sunk in still that I won't get to see her again. Second, this deal selling the Misfit Love music is making me both stressed and excited... I feel like I can actually succeed as a musician. I just need to commit all the way.

I started my job within the Sustainability office of state government, and it is magnificent. My role had a promotion built-in, which occurred in February. There is also the possibility of another promotion soon, to deputy director of the office, so I will be interested to see what comes by 10Q time in 2027. While my personal life has become less stressful in that I have employement and an acceptable salary, I stilll have plenty of things to do. I just started being Board Chair of TCS, and doing all that work has been a lot. I also hope we still have Paperclip in a year, she recently had a scare where she lunged at someone and gave them a bruise. I don't want to lose her. I struggle when I feel like I am not in control.

Lynette and I took a road trip to Southern Utah in April and May. I had been to St. George a year before (I think; I didn’t check my calendar) to watch the PPA tournament there. I was taken by the geology of the area and wanted to go back. I found a retreat-style place through Airbnb near Kanab, UT, a little farther east than St. George. The three weeks we spent there had a profound impact on me. I fell in love with the nature of that place. Even though it was 5000 feet above sea level, I acclimated quickly to the elevation and went on numerous hikes. I loved spending time in that high desert region. The owner of the place created a very spiritual atmosphere, focusing especially on Buddhism and Hinduism. I spent much of my time indoors studying the spirituality of Buddhism. Having that opportunity was special for me. I think about Southern Utah almost everyday since.

The GLP1 is working. I was not prepared for the low water intake leading to constipation. I now make sure I drink a minimum of 18oz BLD. That keeps me better hydrated and urine light colored. I had an absolutely fun summer… CS Day Camp, my one week sci/space camp for kids, research at Montana State, 2 sci conf. in Idaho. MSU football… Go Cats

my performance piece - took me over a year to create and form. very grateful and inspired - felt like I had brought into reality a dream that I'd had in some form since childhood

Two things come to mind: scattering the last of my big brother Gregory's ashes on Arran last October; and attending my 25-year gaudy at Hertford College last Saturday. The thing that struck me about scattering the ashes was how bad my family is at communicating sometimes. I don't know where this comes from. We all seem to do it in our own ways. For example, I thought it would have been a good idea for one of us (probably me) to share a summary beforehand of everyone's comings and goings and what the plan was. But I didn't actually do it. This might have helped to flag certain issues, such as the fact that Laura and Tommy needed to have their ferry tickets available when checking in (their phones were in their backpacks in the car) and they were unaware that there was no plan for lunch on the first day. We arrived on Arran in the late morning / early afternoon and walked straight to the place where we scattered Gregory's ashes. It was a decent walk. Fran and I came prepared and had our packed lunch beforehand on the ferry. Richard was carrying Gregory's ashes in his backpack. I offered to take them for a while so that we could all carry him some of the way. When I offered this to Sandy, I don't think he understood what I was saying and therefore he didn't take the bag to begin with. Then there was no plan for what we'd actually do when scattering the ashes. It was all a bit haphazard and messy. I knew I wanted to go in for a swim and so did Richard, but I don't think I'd encouraged Laura to bring her togs. I got in awkwardly while Zoe was laying a wreath she'd made for Gregory. Argh! There were so many little moments over the weekend that got slightly annoying and draining. On the last day we went to the beach for a walk and a swim. I thought the plan was to walk first and then swim. Laura and Tommy went straight in. I was caught in between two groups and just decided to have my swim straight away. It made me realize how difficult it is to have a group family holiday when we're all adults, in our own households, and aren't used to communicating with each other. It was a relief when it was all over. It took Fran and me the first couple of hours of the drive home to process it all! I think in future we should avoid big family holidays and just see each other in smaller groups. The gaudy was also a bit of a challenge. I didn't have a great time at my last gaudy, the 10-year anniversary in 2011. I'd just recently failed my DPhil and started a new job and wasn't feeling particularly confident. I didn't have the most satisfying or stimulating conversations and felt a bit awkward around my peers. This year, I'm in a much better position in life but still feel ashamed of my emotional immaturity back when I was a student. I drove to Oxford Parkway Park and Ride and got the bus into town. We were supposed to meet in college for drinks before dinner, but I could see a big crowd outside the King's Arms, so I went over there. I said hello to Si and Louisa but felt shy and awkward and didn't have a good ice-breaker, so I went off to speak to Ieuan instead. Also chatted to Andy Clements. We went over to college quite late. I was one of the last half dozen to collect my name badge. Hung around talking in the quad. One guy from the year below me (Eil Lim), who I sort of recognized, seemed to know I was / used to be a touch referee, but I'm not sure how he knew that and I didn't ask. At dinner I was disappointed to see the seating plan. I was next to Ian Roberts from the year above, who I didn't know at all. But I was on the end of the table, so he was the only person sitting next to me. Emily Ford, from my English set, was across the table, but I didn't speak to her at all because I know how difficult it can be for me to hear across the table during a noisy dinner. I was technically next to Ed and Alban from my English set on my left side, but they were on another table over a metre away, so I didn't speak to them until after dinner. I actually enjoyed speaking to Ian, so I don't mind too much. Because I hadn't really caught up with enough people, I went down the bar afterwards, which is not my comfort zone, but it was fine, if a little warm and loud at times. I coped OK with the awkwardness of conversations that fizzle out or when one of the parties makes an excuse to get out of it. I was beginning to get tired, so I left before it got too late and people were too drunk. I could have stayed longer and had more conversations, but I wanted to leave before I started not enjoying it. The gaudy didn't quite live up to my hopes. I'm not really sure what I wanted to get from it, but it brought back some sad-ish memories and made me realize that I didn't really have any close friends at college. Some of them are still in WhatsApp groups or go on holiday together. I'm not in regular contact with anyone I knew at college. I always felt like a bit of an outsider, tagging on to other groups rather than being a welcome part of it, and that was echoed during the gaudy. It was nice to catch up with Ed in particular. He and Alban were never really on social media, so I don't know what happened to them. Some of the people I was expecting to see (Fiona and Sarah) didn't turn up. I'd tried to contact everyone from my English set in advance. Some didn't respond, but I was assured that Fiona and Sarah were planning to go. Never mind. Will I go to the next one? I'm not sure. Maybe in 10 years' time rather than 5. I don't know. I'll see how I feel then.

I bought a bloody house! I did it! It's crazy reading back on my answers from last year and thinking that this was my stretch goal and I somehow achieved it within less than a year!? I guess sometimes you just have to put the thoughts out there and see what comes to you. I started talking about it with my parents, and Holly gifted me some money for it, and that sort of started the ball rolling for me. I was able to save up a significant portion, and that helped me. I started looking at places and figuring out what a realistic budget looked like. And I also asked if Nat wanted to move in with me, so now I'm living with someone! Which feels new, and nice! It feels wild that I've been able to accomplish this. It still feels very new. I got the keys July 20 and only moved in August 7, so it's still very fresh. It feels exciting that I can do anything with this place, and I can't wait to make it my own. It feels surprising that it already feels quite home-like, and it's made me realise that I've collected so much at my old house that felt like home already which allowed us to make this space feel like home quickly as well. I am grateful to my family for their financial assistance and support. I am grateful to my friends for their support - emotional support when the going got tough (my first accepted offer falling through; having a handful of offers I was hopeful about get rejected), advice and help with moving and getting settled in. I am a bit sad to have left my old house, which was my home and safe space for 7 years. It feels odd to have said goodbye to it, and I felt quite uprooted by it and emotional about it. I loved my neighbourhood and my neighbours, and even though it's not that far away, it does feel slightly different. That said, it was a bit freeing coming here and seeing that I could do it. I could move my life. It's possible, and kind of exciting to think of future possibilities and what the future brings. I feel excited and inspired by the possibilities of how I can continue to build this space and make it my own over the coming years. And it feels reassuring - that I can achieve my stretch goals; and maybe I should start putting more of them out there to see what happens.

This year I decided to retire also from my activity of literary translator, which has been the core of my identity for a very long time. From my early twenties to the early fifties, professionally I've seen myself primarily as a translator and a teacher and scholar of translation and translation studies. The last twenty years have seen my professional identity shifting from what I might define a cultural being to a spiritual being, culminating now with with my service as a spiritual assistant in hospice and grief work.

I retired from full time work, and went to Berlin to study German for the month of February. I am grateful to be able to afford to go on trips like that AND grateful that my health was good enough to not worry about managing stairs, etc. I actually WAS sick while there, with post nasal drip the whole month and a cold for about a week, but still managed to attend classes and go out to look at some things. Also, I see from last year's 10Q that I kept putting off some work at home; this past year I DID finally call the TaskRabbit guy to do the tub caulking and fixing the basement storage unit, so am pleased with myself for that.

My sister unexpectedly died. I was shocked, sad, surprised, and upset. It just came out of nowhere. I miss her terribly and wish she was still here.

My appendix exploded on Halloween, my favorite holiday. Instead of costumes and candy, I was having emergency abdominal surgery and an 8 day stay in the hospital. I was terrified, and in pain, and then worried about how much it was going to cost, and then angry that it wasn't noticed until too late, and then angry that I may have needed to go in for another surgery. And then...really satisfied because I advocated for myself, waited, and the issue resolved without the need for further surgery. That said, two weeks after I was discharged, I was back in for an unrelated issue, one that is still not fully diagnosed. We'll see if that one rears its head again.

Had 2nd episode of AF. First was about 4 years ago. And increasing difficulty walking up hills. Whether we find medical cause or not, it's a reminder of mortality.

Watching my mother-in-law, Louise, transition from life to death in peace and with grace. This is something I have not experienced before in this way and it was an experience i will always remember.

My young adult daughter, who struggles with serious mental illness, was conserved by the state of California My feelings around this are complicated. I am so relieved that she is finally getting help. Watching her refuse treatment as her illness grew progressively worse was a pain I can’t describe. I am also incredibly saddened that it has come to this point.

In some ways the past year has been ordinary: just more of the same - routine things, fun activities, troubling politics, amazing moments, short and slightly longer trips, seeing our son as much as we can, whether on video chat or in person. I struggle to say which event was significant! Maybe husband breaking his femur fits that definition. It certainly upended our lives for several months and reverberated into the following months. And now that I give it some serious thought, I did have complex reactions. There was some PTSD on my part, returning me to emergency mode similar to when he first came home from the hospital. I had to do everything for him, and it was a constant worry that he might fall and I would need help with him. We did indeed have to call for EMT transport early on, but that did get better. There were also the intimate duties I had to perform (or else hire a full time nurse, something that wasn’t necessary). I was resentful, I was worried and anxious; when I had time to reflect, i was inspired by his resolve to get back into shape and back on his devices, and I was grateful that he wanted to do all those things.

Walking with my dad on his hospice journey and all the moments that have led to this moment in time, recognizing that he is "stable" and Joel and I will be able to take our road trip to South Dakota and meditating. I am noticing gentle self contact and gratitude to have my brothers in my life.

On Yom Haatzmaut, I worked with Jewish students on campus to create a celebration of pride and identity. Students ate falafel, danced to Israeli music, made hamsa bracelets, and put up displays talking about Israel's history. Watching students proudly own their identity was as beautiful as it was inspiring. I remain so proud of them.

I STARTED TEACHING FULL TIME. I can hardly believe my luck. I was offered a one-semester appointment for Spring 2026 at Montgomery College (in part based on the strength of a workshop I gave a few years ago at DCFNE for the MC nursing club) and loved it beyond measure. I am in the middle of another 1 semester appointment and just applied for a more permanent role. I am very hopeful that I will get it and keep being part of the MC community. I have found it to be an incredibly supportive place to grow as an instructor and clinician. I find the students endlessly joyful and amusing. Class is never a slog. I am beyond grateful to get to do this, to get paid for something I find so personally and professionally meaningful.

my boyfriend of 2 years told me that he was no longer in love with me at a time when my entire perception of the world had started changing. unbeknownst to him, i had started falling in love with him all over again- harder this time. so, when we broke up, something inside me broke too. i'm not resentful, nor relieved. disappointed, sure. hurt, definitely but most of all i'm grateful for a second chance at getting to know, love and grow by myself.

Perimenopause slapped me silly this year. I've been going through it for years now but never quite as full-on as this past year with so many disruptive symptoms that impacted my sleep and ability to live a normal life. I ended up switching primary care physicians (because my young, male provider told me he doesn't "meddle with menopause" because he's not an expert; okaaaaay, but presumably half your patients are women who WILL go through this if they live long enough, so do you only "meddle" in men's issues? I switched to a young female doctor from the UK, got referred to a gynaecologist, got prescribed HRT and am done waiting the 2+ years for the referral to the Mount Sinai Menopause Clinic. I'm so grateful to other GenX women who have flooded social media with our collective outrage that our health is not deemed worthy of investment for research. SO much is not understood about our health and it's enraging to know that men's comfort and convenience is prioritized over women's actual health. Perimenopause may have delivered a half dozen unwanted symptoms in my lap seemingly overnight, but one of the byproducts I'm extremely grateful for is the drastic reduction in f@#!$ I have to care about so many things, now. For the first time EVER, I feel like I'm genuinely prioritizing ME. Since the BIG disappointment of David not showing up for me in any capacity during Ironman last year, that experience PLUS perimenopause PLUS being more immersed in Dr. Jennie Young's Burned Haystack Dating Method (BHDM) have helped me reach a point where I am no longer willing to accept crumbs or subpar behaviour from men who want to be part of my life. My BARE MINIMUM requirements are that men have to show up for me like my girlfriends do: with curiosity, earnestness, and willingness to grow together. If they can't manage that bare minimum, which my girlfriends do wholeheartedly and without reservation, then I don't want to have anything to do with them. I am using the BHDM ruthlessly and will only tolerate men who put forth effort and thoughtfulness into their interactions with me. The other BIG thing that happened this year is that I served on a jury for the first time ever -- and it wasn't just some white-collar Ponzi scheme court case. It was a murder trial. It absolutely affected me. It took five weeks of my life and left me with months of vicarious trauma. To this day, nine months later, I STILL think about the accused whenever I walk past certain buildings or scenes where she was the day of the assault. What made it worse was that it wasn't a clear cut case of "she did X because of A, B, or C". We had to make our decision based on extraneous facts about how recklessly she behaved after the assault, which ultimately led to the death of a 3-year-old boy. It was layers and layers of sadness and trauma and loss and I thought about her constantly, wondering if I could somehow intervene in her programming while incarcerated to help her feel supported. It's part of the reason I want to return to Corrections to help improve the health care and mental health care services inside.

March 1st . The fall. The ice. The recovery... six months later, I am finding more gratitude for this realignment of my life than I am finding the sadness, loss and frustration that I moved through over the months. But this isn't the only significant experience. I have to include mom's diagnosis--Alzheimer's or dementia, it doesn't really matter which. Both are leading to the same place. I also have to include Marian's semester in Israel. Gone for so long & home now, but so grown. My baby. And the reams of antisemitism and Jew Hate that has entered into my orbit, impacting every aspect of my life even though it hasn't shown up directly to me or to any of my people. It's there. Looming. And, of course, there is Scott's cancer. So many significant moments in this past year it is impossible to narrow it down to a single one.

I suddenly had a very real realization that if I can dream it - I can have it. Istarted to allow myself to dream about things and experiences I was afraid to dream before. Hence, started boating lisence courses, started planning kitesurfing next season, etc. Not chading for trends, but for the feeling I want to feel, i.e. it's freedom and passion for something, also compounding trust in myself like, oh, yeah, I also achieved this next to other things. I feel freed of fear, distrust in myself gone.

I finished an MBA and found it illuminating in that it pointed me further down the path I was already on and made me want to do more school (Accounting degree) to support me in the new career path though I don't need it and can find other ways besides school to grow professionally.

My Daughter's Bat Mitzvah was a huge event that felt impossible to get through. Now that we are through it, I can appreciate the process and the day. Also getting through COMPS for my PhD was everything.

Is it wrong that I can't think of any significant experiences in the past year? I've had a lot of things happen, including many good things, but none feel particularly significant. I suppose I'm settling in to how to be stable and steady, how to have years where nothing big happens. I'm definitely still doing things, still exploring and being active and the like, but I don't need to have any big, life-changing events. It's nice. It makes me feel more comfortable, more like a settled adult, and more like this life might be sustainable in the longer run.

I finished my masters. I'm relieved and proud, but also don't know what to do next. The answer probably should be nothing, just step back and breathe. But I can't stop the feeling that I always have to be moving forward. However I'm at a good, albeit busy, place. Three young kids, a spouse, a job I enjoy, starting to spend a little more time on hobbies, there's no reason I can't just let that space fill with family and hobbies. But I still feel like I "ought" to start the next thing.

This entire year has been significant in breaking patterns and healing old wounds in the knowing that I can rebuild and life my life alone again. My separation is the most significant event of this year, and it does bring up a lot of anger as to how I lost myself and gave up the essence of what makes me magic and how much this health condition has limited my life.

I left my husband a year ago June. I have experienced a range of feelings and still do. Confidence, heart break, joy, despair. It has allowed me to learn to trust myself and G-D in ways that I could not have imagined. It has allowed me the bandwidth to participate fully as a mother, a daughter and a member of our community.

My 83-year-old husband had a seizure (his first ever) in May, which has led to a cascade of problems and me becoming his almost-fulltime caregiver, with all the love & resentment that that job entails. I've discovered so much about him, myself, & our relationship. It's been exhausting & only very occasionally rewarding, like when I figure out a way to help that improves both of our lives. For example, he was wearing his shoes on the wrong feet, so I painted one of them with nail polish. Little successes amid the despair.

This has been a weird year. And I also have to say that some or all of my answers are colored by the fact that I have Covid. Got it for the FIRST time just a few days before the High Holidays started. So that's been a weird throwback to another time and has made me feel incredibly out of sync. I'd have to say that the most significant overall event this year has been my increasing disenchantment with the left, with left-wing politics and with continued anti-semitism on the left. I feel like I have no faith in any politicians of any stripe anymore, I don't trust half the things I see in the news, I think the NY Times has gone totally bananas in a completely different way that right-wing media has always been totally bananas. I feel like Trump has worn us all down to a numb, exhausted populace that doesn't even know how to be kind any more, or civil. I try to practice individual acts of kindness in my day to day life as way of keeping despair at bay and while some people respond I'd have to say that just as many seem not to notice. It's as if all that seems to cause people to respond any more is a screen. I wish and I keep racking my brain for what I can do as an individual to create a space where people feel seen and appreciated and where they can share their true feelings and perhaps build relationships. But I keep coming up empty and I have to say that part of it is fear. I'm more afraid of people than I used to be. Not afraid as in "Afraid for my life" (though I do occasionally experience this on the subway, I won't lie) but afraid I'm going to get censured or cancelled or humiliated for having a POV that isn't sufficiently pure or correct. I might feel differently if I travelled in different circles. I'm in theatre, which is still soaked in cancel culture and performative wokeness. My partner is an academic. Enough said there. I think my significant experience this year has just been wonderful where all the normal, sane people are and wishing I could find that location on google maps. Or even some directions scrawled on a cocktail napkins. I'd be fine going analog with this just to feel that there are people who are sane, caring, awake, aware and capable of not becoming rage buckets if I don't think exactly like them. This world, as it is now, is exhausting me no end.

I have a few things I'm batting about . . . I mean, I started getting a pretty kick-ass tattoo . . . but I think the fact that my oldest son graduated from college, and both of my sons got full-time jobs, is THE thing: my nest is empty, and they both have 100% launched. I am the mother of legit adults. I am so proud of them, amazed at who they have become and that these two little munchkins are adulting, paying their bills, dealing with rent and utilities and their own medical appointments and applying for jobs and . . . I almost miss them more now that I don't have that last tie of holding their college funds or other last pieces of having dependents. So, relieved, inspired, grateful, and floored.

I took my girlfriend with me for my annual college reunion trip after years of talking about the idea. I was really happy to see her mesh with my friends so well and we all had a great time! My only regret is that my trip was cut short because of event overlapping, which has been a big issue all year.

Well...it's 2026, so the big one was going in for surgery unexpectedly at the beginning of the year and coming out two weeks later with a cancer diagnosis. I hate it. I resent it. I resent being a burden on everyone, I resent feeling okay enough to look like I'm functioning but actually being at the mercy of nausea and fatigue, I resent the nagging anxiety constantly at the back of my mind, I resent how it's affected my daughter.

A significant event that has happened to me in this past year is that i have gone to camp roger 2 weeks in a row and both times i've had Lilly and both times i've had a great time with great advice given to me on both occasions, you dont awe anyone anything and teenage boys are stupid and dont mean anything behind their words.

My psrtner and I bought an apartment together! My answer last year was about the terrible conflict we were in with our downstairs neighbor - this made us speed up our process of finding a place. I was resentful, but we ended up finding an incredible place. It meets both of our needs - I have outside space in which to work and relax, she has more modern space with the amenities that matter to her. It's a huge step of growth in our relationship, a beautiful and comfortable space, a big accomplishment, and it's been great getting to make it our own.

In February of this year, I went to Paris. I went when I did because I wanted to be there to light a candle for Mommy at Sacré-Cœur, for what would have been her 50th birthday. I also had my first half-marathon in Paris in early March. From the moment that I arrived at my hostel near Gare du Nord, there was this feeling of being deeply at home. I decided within only hours of landing that though I would have to return to the States at the end of 90 days maximum, I would be applying for a long-stay visa and making a life for myself in Paris. During my time there, I made new friends, went to new places, stayed in a hostel for the first time, and learned so much about myself. I found myself homeless for a little over 2 weeks time while there, and in the end, this turned out to be a blessing in disguise. This was not my first time homeless, but being in a different context with no easy way home, it pushed me in ways that previous times had not. I returned to NYC at the end of May, and will fly back to Paris this Sunday. This time with my own apartment in place, and with other plans for my life waiting to be actualized. I will be forever grateful to myself for having gotten on that flight to Paris on February 27th, even when everything wasn’t yet figured out. I gambled greatly, and was rewarded for it. I inspired myself, and I know that was just the beginning of a bright and beautiful new chapter in my life.

I completed my Ed.D.! I am proud, relived, and at the same time, a bit deflated...maybe that's too strong of a word. I guess I feel like I jumped through a hoop that I had side-stepped. At the same time, I feel like the work is mediocre, and also like somewhere in side of me is a writer but I haven't quite figured out how to extract her.

Crush leaving to IDF, was sad but grateful because i understand now why it had to happen

Becoming a father is easily the most significant thing this past year. I'm so grateful that Sam is happy and healthy and also proud of how we have taken care of him and also that my marriage is stronger than ever. What a blessing

I went camping with my son and his troop. I am grateful I was able to go and support my son, it feels like one of the last bits of childhood, now that he is in middle school. I will continue to go as long as he wants me there, of course. He feels like he is growing up and not needing/wanting me as much, but also still wants me to lay in bed with him at night, so I will hold on to what I can. For as long as I can.

My brother almost died of a brain tumor...I feel grateful first for my daughter who is a neurologist, for family and friends and realize how life can change in a moment. Thankfully he's ok. I realize that I am strong and can handle most anything.

I was moved from the high school to the middle school. This was devastating to me, taking me further away from what I'm best at, and even worse, it separated me from my three career clubs, where I was able to work with and influence the career trajectories of older students. This is truly what I loved best about being at the high school. I went through a long period of deep anger and frustration and sadness. On the other side of that I did realize, however, that this event allowed me to deprioritize my job and reclaim parts of my life, enabling me to shift toward a retirement future. Then a couple of months ago I was told I'm not returning to the high school and will finish my career here at the middle school. This reopened the wound and sent me into a deep sadness which I'm still trying to pull myself out of. Grateful for this life, grateful that I still get to work with students and do what I'm good at. Still angry at the inferior, angry men who get to determine the last years of my career. Working on giving up that anger, There is still work to do.

I celebrated the 50th anniversary of my bat mitzvah by reading from the Torah for the first time. I was proud of myself for doing it. It also made me thankful for the progress we have made in women's roles in the synagogue. It was meaningful to me. I was happy that my family could share this experience with me.

Breast Cancer happened. Too many emotions- all of them at any given moment. It’s such a mind game. it

I HAD A BABY. my answers last year were all about baby but like, i had a baby! labor and delivery were intense, having this child is intense, post partum is in tense. He's so fun and cool and i wasnt expecting how much i would just ENJOY him and LIKE him. but its also so hard! and i'm boggled that he came out of me and now hes a whole guy! hard to not be thinking about this all. i wanna do it again!

I've lost about 70 pounds in my journey to be here for my grandkids for years to come. It has been a very difficult journey, but one I'm proud of nonetheless.

On a very personal level, this year has really consolidated how much my standing at work has changed, and how unrealistic any hope of a return to a situation where I feel properly involved and respected is. I have known this for a while, but a few things this year have made me really accept it. I am angry and resentful, exasperated and disappointed, but mostly really sad about it. I am now trying to regroup and build habits that will help me to build something for myself. Whether that involves making money (ideally!) or initially just filling some of the gaps left by the shift. I want to feel helpful. Engaged. Connected. Creative. I want to feel that I am part of something, that I am heard and involved and valued. Work can’t and won’t give me that any more. I need to find it or create it for myself. Is that building a micro business? Or volunteering? Both or something else entirely? I’m not sure. Yet.

A big event was my bar mitzvah. I’m really happy that happened. I was gentle. I’m inspired to be a better community. A better person in my Jewish community.

The life of my first child. It has been so crazy to watch her grow, learn, and get excited about the world around her. Most of the time I'm elated by her and happy she exists. Honestly, though, sometimes it's just boring to be with her solo so I've had to come up with things to do (walks, bike rides, etc). And sometimes it's just hard when she is crying a lot (luckily doesn't happen that often).

I broke up with my ex fiancee of seven years. It was my choice, and one I made with great intention, but it completely changed my life. We broke up in April and after unexpectedly becoming a carer over the summer I am finally living the life I dreamed of for years. I feel exhausted, but so happy. I also fell in love over the summer, which changed how I will view relationships forever and has left me hopeful and loved.

My most significant experience this year was my flight from the U.S. and de facto aliyah. In February my already tenuous legal status as a אנדרוגינוס, (legally gendered “non-binary”) was made even more difficult when Kansas rushed through SB 244. That law invalidated the driver’s licenses of all trans folks and added bounty hunter provisions to make public restroom use dangerous as well. Fortunately my previous year working towards aliyah meant that I was as prepared as possible. E. from my synagogue accompanied me to the DMV where I was told I had to commit perjury in order to drive. E. then gave me a ride to the Purim spiel and then home, letting me close a full year davening with that community. Both of my parents stepped up and helped me run last minute errands, stockpiling meds, and packing the best I could. It’s really hard and painful to fit one’s entire life into two checked bags but I managed it. Because I was scared of TSA given the uncertain status of my passport, I took the train from Kansas to Toronto. Or rather, that was the plan. What happened is I took Amtrak to the Canadian border, but was then denied entry into Canada because my next destination was Israel and the war with Iran was still hot. I was driven back to the U.S. by border police, and then left homeless and alone in Niagra Falls. I posted in a group chat with chavrutas I’ve studied with across the U.S. and friends there helped me find a hotel and plan my immediate next steps. Fortunately I was able to escape into Canada when another chavruta from Toronto drove down with a friend on Shabbat to help me escape the dangers I faced due to my gender, disabilities, and as a Jew. From Toronto I kept working with friends from four different countries to find a path to Israel, landing on the 2nd of Nissan, my own personal exodus. I landed in a time of war. Iran spared me from jet lag as the azakot (alarms) kept waking me every few hours my first two days. I quickly developed a routine of each azaka became a point I would get water and food before returning to bed. I noticed immediately that despite fleeing to more tangible danger, my stress level had dropped drastically. Each azaka was also a reminder that my kin were watching over me, wanting me to be safe. Looking back on this I am still holding so many emotions. Grief for my abandoned house and the community I love. Hope for my future here in Israel. Frustration at the bureaucracy that delayed my aliyah visa for months, and then denied my application after I had already escaped to Israel. Fear that even with all the miracles that have brought me to this moment I might still fail at finding a way to survive. Resentment that my legal status was so easily erased. Relieved that I have made it this far. I hold all of this, drawing on one of my early lessons in Israel. By holding the tension of Yom Hazikaron and Yom Haatzmaut, I learned how to live carrying such complexity. To be Israeli, and to be a Jew more generally, is to be holding opposites in the same moment. For all my complicated negative emotions, anxieties, and fears, I am also living a dream that millions of my ancestors held only as a distant vision. I walk freely on the streets of Jerusalem. My yeshiva davens weekly at the kotel. I am surrounded by parks, markets, libraries, and Hebrew. In the few months since I escaped home, I’ve learned more of שפת עצמי, the language of my essence, than in my years of work before this. While my legal challenges are far from over, B”H, I am home.

The veil was lifted on how my Dad is un/able to show up for me. It broke my heart. When he showed me again, I felt kicked in the chest, winded like I couldn't breathe. Then it happened a 3rd time when I was already feeling vulnerable and again I felt shocked physically, it felt like I recoiled. And now I am grateful that G-d is showing me that I am an adult and my Dad is just a man, he is who he is, and he is a human, with human flaws, and currently has zero attunement to my life, can not hold space for me, is not coming to save me, and he is unlikely to change, so I think I accept that reality. So what happens next? How do I live in this next chapter without the fairytale dream of an unconditionally loving human father? When the only loving father is G-d? I did pray to Hashem throughout Rosh Hashana to help me to surrender to His will, although I don't fully know what that means.

I’m a teacher now! My mom was a teacher. It’s weird because I didn’t think I would take the leap. I know teachers get shit on but I like doing work that is impactful. I was in hospitality and it was soul crushing for no reason like no one needs to go on a luxury vacation. At least I can work and then be off in the summer. We will see how I feel next year lol

Har börjat använda AI till allt privat. Det har förändrat mitt liv på så sätt att det frigör massor av tid och energi, lär mig saker och hjälper mig reflektera. Ett life hack.

Omg. I retired early! It’s been a dream since childhood. All I’ve ever wanted to be when I grew up was retired! There has never been anything I felt so passionate enough about doing for the rest of my life that I could earn a living wage and healthcare with. So my time is finally my own, and I’m so excited about the possibilities. I may finally get to try something I believe in that I could possibly fail at and not be profitable with no major repercussions. This is true freedom. The fact that Jesus heard this child’s innermost desire, that felt so unrealistic I didn’t even pray about until it was clearly in sight, is such a special gift. I’m full of gratitude and awe.

Work chaos has uprooted my sense of confidence and purposefulness in a new way that even the malaise of the first job and dysfunction of the second didn't — maybe bc I was so excited about this one, so strangely combining many of my interests/skills/putting in me in the room with some of the people on the Jewish left I had looked up to for years. I feel so tired and sad that this pattern of leadership mismanagement and disfunction and lack of attention to culture has repeated itself in my 6 years in the working world, and want to believe that things can be better/different but am starting to grow cynical about what's possible. I feel so tired from holding all of the uncertainty, emotional dynamics, and my own disappointment that I don't feel like I've had enough time to really answer the question that, on some small level, I am grateful that this experience is forcing me (once again) to ask myself: what IS it that I want to do with my skills? If I want to write, what am I waiting for? What kind of project will I build, try, make with others instead of waiting to be invited? Where will I dedicate myself instead of repeating the story that I am floating on the winds of change and chaos? This has shaken my confidence at my thus-far answering of those questions, but not my fundamental belief that I will keep asking them/find my way closer this next year.

I stepped down from a supervisor position at work. My paying job has become part time, because my unpayed job as a caretaker for my child has become full time. I'm sad about the pay cut. I'm sad my child needs so much care. I'm glad I have the resources to make it happen, because not everyone does.

My dad has been fighting pancreatic cancer and it has been a rollercoaster. It makes me worried. I cherish him. I admire his strength, his positivity, and resilience throughout but its a reminder that we aren't in control of everything. Im trying my best to be supportive, positive and there for him and my mom from 3,000 miles away.

Just one? Burying my mom just after Rosh Hashana was a biggie. I was sort of grateful as she was pretty miserable those last few days. She said over and over that she was done. "I had a good ride" she said many times. In fact, we put that on her foot stone. But the one moment that stands out? We were sitting together after the Shiva and I handed my step brother a ring that Mom wore but belonged to his grandmother. "You know, just sell it and we'll share the profit among the four of us". We liquidators have not argued even once. So thrilled, honoured and grateful. I also can’t forget the birth of our third grandson. That inspires gratitude

As the world turns, Millwood is back up and running. The significant change is that my partner Hendry is taking over the day-to-day payments, inventory, shipping etc. I only have to purchase logs, which is fun and easy, connecting with loggers I have done biz with for years now. What a nice segway into more retirement time! I have signed on to Medicare and that has relieved some financial pressure and gives a definite sense of calm knowing that medical needs are basically taken care of from here to the finish line. Tennis, while on-going, continues to impact me/us in many ways and deeply. We are meeting more friends and staying healthy all the while having goals of improvement and accomplishment. Watching tennis and following the sport also provides lots of entertainment we might otherwise end up whiling away in front of the news or substandard tv shows.

The significant experience that happened in the past year is that I essentially have been living and working in Homer, AK since arriving back from Women in Business in Tanzania last October. I did go to Waikiki with Ken and had an amazing New Year. This Year has been one of Magic, Courage, Gratitude and Radiance. I feel thankful every day for my health, my family, my wealth building, my adventurous spirit. And Now, I am so inspired to climb Mt Kilimanjaro for our 70th birthdays!

Breast Cancer happened. Too many emotions - all of them at any given time.

I think I'm going to have to go with travel again, like I did last year. Traveling to Alaska and seeing the wildlife and sights that I did was awe inspiring. I'm beyond grateful to have these kinds of opportunities to see places I'd only heard of before and seeing different cultures and sites inspires me to a) want more and b) be a better person to feel like I actually deserve these kinds of opportunities.

A significant experience that happened this past year was as I deciding not to continue to be at the synagogue, I had begun to look for jobs and around the same time finding out I was no longer wanted there. I said its like I was peeking out a window and I was thrown out a door. This caused me to move to Miami, in this period of time I am grateful and relieved but at that time I was wildly resentful, I was so upset that I had been told I was not wanted anymore especially by people who never made me feel wanted. But I am lucky I was able to leave and grow, and they have to stay there and be themselves.

Mom's death continues to percolate thru me. Gaining perspective and compassion for her cruel and contorted ways of treating me as time passes and with the certainty that there won't be any more inflicted.

It feels like, every year, when I answer this question, it is always all four of these, all of the above. No matter what the specific significant experience is. My first instinct is to write about reaching, being on, experiencing -- the brink of death with the car accident in March. It still has not fully sunk in how close we came to actually dying in that accident. That it was truly thanks to Hashem that we were hit so hard from behind that we were propelled spinning across the entire freeway, spun back the other way across the multiple lanes of traffic and hit a wall, and still had enough momentum to spin out yet again before regaining control of the car to pull it over to the shoulder, and did not at any of those points die. I suppose I am both at the same time surprised it didn't continue to affect me as viscerally as I expected it to -- not even six months out and definitely not as "live every day like it's your last" as I'd like to be -- and so continually impacted by the experience of -- experiencing the precipice between life and death, so really hanging in the balance, in those brief moments. One thing I'm particularly struck by is the similarity between that and the other moments I've experienced where I've had the fear like I feel like I could possibly die right now, but like, probably not, not for real, I don't REALLY think it's gonna happen now -- like when I've gotten pulled under the ocean by particularly large/strong waves, or that time when I was at the height of my weed pen phase (so very mapped to COVID, that was) and inhaled too hard and thought I broke an eardrum or did some other kind of permanent damage and panicked, or that time also during COVID when I knew they were drawing too much blood and I told them it was too much but they told me to just relax and I said something again and then I, for the first and only time in my history of having blood drawn, passed out and when I came to I was so dizzy and disoriented I thought I was dying or experiencing COVID (this was April 2020 and the sensation was so unfamiliar, I worried it was this at-this-point-still little-understood thing) or that one time while I was freezing my eggs and thought I injected myself wrong and had a vasovagal response and didn't know what it was and thought I did something really dumb and was gonna die as a result -- and this. With the COVID blood draw thing, that dizziness and inability to "right" myself, orient myself spatially, temporally, in the context of where I was -- I couldn't help but notice how similar the sensation was of spinning out of control in that car, not knowing where I was going or how fast or what was around me or how much time had elapsed or if this is what you see before you die or if I was already there or if I was just spinning and a little dizzy because of it. I remember thinking I had to gain control, that Marc was next to me and there was no way he could...not in my car, not by my hand, not on my watch, not now, not here, not like this, no. I am pleasantly surprised -- maybe not even so surprised, maybe a bit, maybe relieved or pleased to see, to maybe see confirmed in a way -- to see how well I handled the situation in the moment, as I could. How quickly I recognized what was happening, what it would take to survive it, what I had to do to ensure not only that I would survive but that my best friend, my life love would too; that we would both survive long enough to finally explore our real relationship potential. I wonder if our relationship would've even have been as strong. I don't think it wouldn't have been strong, but I've rarely been as sure as anything as I was of our shared path when I looked at him next to me in the ER that night. As I told him, I had a great time in the ER that night. Sure it was eight hours of waiting and pain and costly imaging, but it sure beat the way more painful pain of my visit to the same ER not even six months prior, straight off a transcontinental flight, exhausted, emotionally drained, and barely mobile -- I got to spend eight hours hanging out with my best friend, I had a ball! But to have had the cognizance to recognize my (our) best chance at survival was to stay calm and regain control of the situation as soon as possible, to not even scream, to immediately take action -- it was all of the things I've hoped I've trained to be, but also hoped to never have to find out if I was. Even the decision in knowing we weren't going to slow down in time to not hit *something* and to communicate that we needed to brace ourselves just before we hit the wall -- yes we're still dealing with injuries, but who knows how much worse our injuries could've been? No fractures, no paralysis, no lost limbs? From an accident, a velocity like that? Fuck, dude, if that's not Hashem sayin some stuff I don't know what is. And I guess one of the things was, hey, you know, you're better equipped to handle this than you think. Then of course, though, there's also getting laid off, from a job I really loved, especially what it enabled me to do for my community. But with this too -- grateful, relieved, resentful, inspired. I am so grateful for the time I had to make the impact I did. I am relieved to not have to give as much of myself and my life and my time and my wherewithal to it anymore, to be able to engage with it on my own terms again as a volunteer. Resentful...well. I don't think there are many, if any, people who were happy about the decision. But inspired? Well, yeah -- if I could do that, who knows what else I can do?

In the past year, I had a change in attitude and outlook. I booked some roles just by being more authentic and confident. I got my new position, I feel in no small part because I didn't use AI in any of my personal statements; there was genuine interest and enthusiasm, which came through in my application - and I didn't succumb to being undermined by a robot. Some of my experiences with AI led me to breaking up with ChatGPT at the beginning of the summer, although it's hard to pinpoint the exact turning point. One of the things that happened was that after having Chat recommend timing for a lesson plan I had created and there were unwanted teaching suggestions throughout the plan, even though I had asked the robot not to do that. What's more, I noticed my plan was peppered with a snarky and subtly belittling tone. Chat didn't come up with that tone on its own, which made me reflect on h0w I've been talking to myself and that I have self-programmed self-deprecation as a default mode. It was a good wake-up call, but I don't feel like engagingg with a machine that exploits my weaknesses and mirrors them back at me. It wasn't a total breakup, but I got rid of the app and I've been a lot more intentional with my usage of AI overall ever since. That doesn't mean I'm completely comfortable with how I'm interacting with AI, but I'm keeping tabs on it, and acknowledging my discomfort is part of how I'm setting limits and dealing with the infiltration.

Hmm what do we mean by "This past year." I want to say, moving to California and "breaking up" with my partner and joining a clique. But all of these things happened before Rosh Hashanah. My years, perhaps forever, will be marked by the academic calendar. I could go on but that's not the question - I will talk about goin to California. I like the prompting descriptors, yes I am grateful, relieved, resentful, inspired. Grateful to have met Sapien and Fig, who are life longers, relieved to have checked off SMOE on my life to-do, resentful that it was on my life-to-do in the first place, and inspired to be an effective educator.

Looking at last year’s answer, I have not landed a new job, but I have taken steps to be more hirable in a very different area - new resume, network building, job coaching through the public library. But the biggest thing this year was donating my kidney so that my friend could get a voucher and get a kidney when she needs one. I’m so glad that I qualified to be a donor and that I was able to save both the life of the recipient and my friend when her time comes for a transplant. I’m blown away by the support of my community during my recovery.

We are now on the wrong side of war in multiple areas of the world. We have driven the rest of the world to move on to alliances with each other without us involved. And while many of us have been sounding the alarm for years, a large enough minority either doesn't care or (even worse) approves of our despicable behavior, both domestic and international. I am ashamed to be an American.

It's been a quiet year, really. I've been plugging away at my goals. I came back from Hineinu full of religious joy and wanting to become a rabbi, which made a massive difference to my work life in particular, and to how much effort I wanted to put into religious-related pursuits, but it also made me feel like a fake. It's rather unmoored me. I've had to suppress it, because otherwise I can't get on with my life, but in a way it's exhausting, because every thing I do, I'm analysing myself, like, I'm not a good enough person for that. Exhausting.

Fulfilled two lifelong dreams and went to Macchu Picchu and Rapa Nui. I though the former would be the high point -- and it was great -- but it was the latter that blew me away. What humans can do, even isolated for centuries on a volcanic island in the middle of the Pacific, is so amazing. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to be there, and I am so in awe.

I have had many positive ones that have helped me figure out what are healthy communities to be part of. I've been inspired, warmed, loved, and appreciated by the good community. I've been judged, attempted to be forced into a particular shape, and bullied in the other.

My friend of 32 years died suddenly and instantly from a cardiac event. This was two months ago and I’m still “processing”. Her celebration of life was so helpful in getting unstuck from some of the hurt. Our relationship was complicated, her passing unveiled things that reminded me of these complications. There was a lot left unsaid, but our last conversation was wonderful. One take away is that I can work on hearing my friends, listen more carefully for the ways they have grown.

WELL...coming in right at the end of 5786 was a life-changing job offer :) I am SO FUCKING GRATEFUL and SO FUCKING PROUD of myself. This is a huge step up for me in every way: a leadership position (Operations Director!!!!!), a $24k raise (the most money I have ever made and more than I dared to dream of during this search), better benefits (as in, benefits I've been asking for at the barganing table--without having to ask!!), a team that is intentionally committed to being kind and doing good work, and a boss who can mentor and protect me while also supporting my growth. I get to work for one of my museum heros, who I knew of before I even moved to Portland!! It's a dream come true and feels so beshert. Landing this job was a huge exercise in trust, timing, and believing in myself so fully that everyone else had no choice but to believe in me too. I am overjoyed that I earned this opportunity and so excited to see what it teaches me as well as what I can offer in it. And I gave myself the gift of five weeks off between leaving OJMCHE and starting at EWP, which I accidentally timed so that my last day at OJMCHE was the day of Erev Rosh Hashanah. The universe has a wicked sense of humor. End of a cycle indeed! The other most significant experience of this year was going to Mexico with Theo for our 2-year anniversary. It was my first time going that far south in the country and it brought up some deeply mixed emotions. I really loved being there--everything about the colors, the environment, the sounds, the food felt so natural and comfortable--but I also felt resentful and very sad that my Mexican-American family assimilated so completely that no one in my generation learned to speak Spanish from our parents. Struggling to speak and understand the language when so many locals expected it of me made me feel like an imposter in my own body. It was really hard to feel like I was supposed to belong there but just...didn't. I think a lot of Mexican-Americans can relate, but it was certainly a mind fuck while there. I also got to visit Teotihuacán after wanting to go for sooo long and being there made me feel such awe at human ingenuity and artistry throughout time. Being in the Yucatán and swimming with sea turtles and then in a cenote were also amazing and filled me with wonder at our natural world and the interconnectedness between all living beings.

I wish this was a happier one, but what comes to mind is that Nathan has cut off communication and estranged himself from our family. At this point fully from mine and David's family unit, and almost completely from the Emmons family. It has affected me hugely. It has caused so much stress, pain and anger. It has also forced me (and David) to look at our values and think about what we want to teach Greta and bring into her life. I finally feel a small amount of peace, but it has brought so much sadness, espeically when I think about Nathan choosing to not have Greta in his life or be in hers.

I left teaching and moved into administration. I’m grateful for my time teaching, especially at Hamilton, and am grateful for my new position but feel a constant anxiety every day. I feel like I’m working blind a lot of days and don’t want to feel that way. I want to succeed. I want to prove I deserve to be here. I don’t like being scared. Fear won’t define me. My determination to overcome it.

A significant experience: my Zoom learner, Ethan Weiss, had his bar mitzvah after roughly 6 months of tutoring. I am grateful to be balancing the scale from when, as a child, I was denied the opportunity to learn, and I know I am making this journey a good one for my learners.

My flag football team won a silver medal in the AAU Junior Olympics Qualifier in Grand Rapids. Incredibly proud of them. I gave up some control to my QB and she came through. I wish we could have gone.

Moved J into apartment w Chloe and R into his own apartment in Baltimore. I felt proud of them each but also a little nostalgic thinking about them not living w us at home ever again. Also just a tad apprehensive to see how things will turn out in the long run w each of them and their partners.

June 23rd -- "NotMyPlan" Podcast Meeting Dave Weill on the plane after the Women of Joy Conference in Pigeon Forge, TN. How wonderful it is that when we share a snippet of our faith, we have the opportunity to encourage another, find another believer or "drip" into someone. These are fulfilling moments for both the initiator and the receiver and often our hearts can overflow with joy from these moments.

We attended 3 weddings of grandchildren. Relieved that they are married happily.

Well, my husband of 55+ wedding anniversaries had a stroke-like incident on May 31st, leaving him very fragile, on a walker and with significant cognitive loss. He can barely walk a block. He’s still there, but it’s like a flickering light. He’s 87 so I knew the odds. Each day I try to sort out how he’s feeling and how I’m feeling. Everything is in flux.

I completed Reiki training and was deemed ready to move into the apprenticeship program. Very excited about this opportunity although I am not yet sure of the monetary value. I never thought I would enjoy this so much and now that I am in this place I really hope to help people during these stressful times.

I made the decision to move. It was hard, but ultimately important for me to assert autonomy and put things into my own hands.

Ive actively reconnected with people i care about and increased time that I spend with them.

Realised abby was sexually assaulting/raping me regularly for the almost-5-years we were together. im maybe 4ish weeks/a month out from this realisation? struggling a lot, cant sleep, deep im pem and flashbacks, feel so gross all the time. proud of myself for getting out of there as soon as i realised. its hard trying to recover with no irl friends and only paid support people around me, being bedbound fucking sucks. its not the end of the world though, im gonna be ok i think

Daughter's wedding. This was such an up and down event! So happy to be able to meet all their friends, her husband's family, and to have it (co-host it!) on our little island. And grateful we had the financial means to contribute where we did. The couple were admirable about doing the bulk of the planning (all meals were group efforts), and their friends all contributed during the four day event, but there was serious stress for me and my spouse. Everything was beautiful. I would say perfect, but just afterwards, a big blowup our daughter had towards us created an awful blotch in our memories of the whole occasion. The blowup affected my spouse's view of the whole event more than mine. I continue to feel that it was more a result of our daughter's tightly held stress than of a long term problem in our relationship, but my spouse disagrees. Unfortunately, our daughter wasn't able to get across what seemed to be bothering her--there was some misstep we made (for which we apologized), but that didn't seem to be the root cause. There were references to long-held difficult emotions, but it was unclear how that was connected to our relationship. We have had and continue to have a very close relationship w/ our daughter and her new spouse--sharing our lives, taking trips together, etc. So close, that any point of ongoing tension or unresolved grudge will be a serious problem eventually. I'm hoping it was caused more by the specific circumstances and not an ongoing issue. But in any case, it is difficult not to allow the stress over the possibility that it is ongoing and unresolved taint the memories of such a truly wonderful event.

I retired. I have spent the last months, the first of my retirement, going through papers and boxes and piles of books. As I look through papers from the beginning of my career, I am brought back to 40+ plus years ago. I am amazed and humbled to read my old work and see how good much of it is. I'm also seeing work from hard times and challenges and wish I had had more support and training when I was dealing with them. I am grateful for the people who risked hiring me, who helped shape me, and who launched me in a career path I could not have imagined in school or in those first challenging years.

I am so grateful to have a new (“new”) job with healthcare. I am torn between feeling like I deserve it because I’ve been working this same job at not enough pay and just overwhelming gratitude to actually have a job in this industry. And I’m terrified about losing it because I’ve wanted it so long. It’s so scary to want things and maybe scarier to get them.

We moved! And it felt like a confirmation of all that I’m working towards. I feel much more in the flow of where God is leading me.

I got my second/right hip replaced in December and it was SO easy and fruitful! I was able to spend the time healing at my sisters' for Christmas, and we all enjoyed the time! I healed quickly, and was back to work after just 3 weeks.

This was a year of the degradation of values that I thought would hold us together. I thought the United States would be held together by a sense of kindness and decency and fsir play.i thought people would be disgusted by greed and lies. They were not. I thought Israelis would be outraged by lawlessness and obvious political maneuvers. They were not. I'm sad and fearful, and I don't know what will become of us.

It has been a year of coming face to face with mortality — and the reality that I will lose more and more of my peers as we continue to age. It has been sobering to lose 5 friends in the past few months. But it has also inspired radical acceptance and incredible gratitude for my health (despite challenges).

One significant experience in my relationship with Lori was working with Jonathan Robinson. Lori was 20 minutes late to the session when she was supposed to join in. For being late, triggered a feeling of being less important to her than whatever it was she felt she had to do for those 20 minutes. I feel tremendous gratitude for her sharing the idea of doing MDMA with Jonathan Robinson, and her offered to cover the cost of the course with him, inspired me to purchase the medicine and pursue the program, including the homework. However, when it came time to make the payment, it all fell on me and she says she’s gonna still send him some money, but he hasn’t yet received anything from her. So I’m paying off the fee at $150 a month for the next 10 months. Or until she comes up with a contribution. I feel relieved that Johnathon is willing to accept my offer. I’m spreading out the payments and maybe a little resentful of all the money. I see Lori paying for other people‘s medical expenses, including therapies and medicine testing and massages. Etc. To work with Johnathon generally inspired me to be better at active, listening using phrases such as It sounds like,… and I imagine that leads to you feeling… Another significant experience in the relationship department was meeting a little bit with Swami Beyondananda and his wife Trudy and their friend Stessa who turns out was also friend and Tenant of Lori‘s. Potential housemates. Also spent a lunch and a dinner with Kalen another potential friend/house mate/mgr.

My cat passed away after 18 years in the family. We literally bottle-fed him from probably 5 weeks old and had to put him down a couple of weeks before his 18th birthday. I'm sad about it, but I was also a bit relieved (his care had become expensive and somewhat difficult to manage), which of course comes with a bit of attendant guilt.

Two significant things this year was Grandpa passing away. This showed me the importance of family. I am grateful I got to see him before he passed. It has affected me by thinking more about mom and dad getting older and death in general. The next experience is on the horizon but is getting my pulmonary valve replaced. I knew there would be a time this happened but it always felt a bit fake in a sense but now it is here. I am grateful for my friends and family who have helped raise money and been there for me and for my doctors. I will have this procedure done before 2027.

I had my 85th birthday with a big afternoon party at Paige's house. It turned out exactly 85 people were there! It was hot, but nobody seemed to be bothered by the heat. I had a wonderful time. It seemed as if everybody felt the love and was very happy to be able to celebrate with me. Another significant experience was feeling Jon's energy powerfully for the first time since he died. I had never grieved the end of our marriage. Now I realize that I wasn't ready. I did not have the emotional strength, and I was still carrying anger and resentment.

I took the training to become a Master Gardener in Alameda County with UCNR. This involved 3 months of Thursday Zoom trainings and Saturday in-person trainings. I am glad it is over. I am not sure how much it will affect my work as a volunteer gardener. But, it always feels good to achieve something I set out to do and reach some kind of certification. We took a trip to Whitehorse, Canada to see the Northern Lights in December--a bit of a bust since we saw very little of them. It was crazy cold, but it was fascinating to learn more about the history of the Alaska Gold Rush 1896-1898. 100,000 prospectors went there! In April-May 2026, we visited Saga, Japan, Vietnam, and Cambodia. It was a fantastic trip! We loved Vietnam, especially. We stayed in Hoi An with our vacation travelers group to celebrate Doug's 60th birthday. Great food, fun times, and what a dynamic country and economy! Then, Yuko and I went up to Hanoi on our own (visited Ho Chi Minh's memorial on International Workers Day!!) and then went to Cambodia primarily to see Angkor Wat. What an amazing place! The scale and grandeur are just jaw-dropping. I don't have a bucket list, but this definitely felt like a place I am glad we visited.

The big mountain ash in our backyard fell, in October. It came down gently on the roof, just above my head, as I slept alone. It leaned softly onto the house, old, tired, still beautiful with berries and leaves. The tree had been my refuge for the whole time we've lived here. Often, I woke in the middle of the night to see the silhouette of it branches--lush with leaves in the summer, heavy with snow in winter--silhouetted by moonlight against my bedroom wall. It sheltered my children from sun and rain, it fed the birds that swept by in great flocks, and it was a comfort to me during dark times. This week, my third child announced a decision to move 2000 miles away, with his family, to seek opportunity, milder winters, and to be near his sisters. Only one son remains; he and his wife don't intend to remain here. I'm beginning to ask myself if it's time for us to leave, too. It sounds a little strange to say, but the tree's departure feels like a release of any obligation on my part, to stay.

this past year, our oldest started using they/them pronouns, then shared very privately and painfully that he was trans in January, then a few weeks ago shared his new name, pronouns, intention to take T, and desire for top surgery.

This, 5786, was the year of my conversion! I'm so happily ensconced in a warm community of friends for which I'm truly grateful. There is a sweetness in feeling such contentment.

This was the year of returning to our home. With that came refurnishing, endless hours of combing through belongings "packed back in," as well as defining and making claims for items deemed a total loss. Karen & Julie did most of the heavy lifting on these issues, while I worked to maintain daily needs as homemaker. It wasn't all drudgery, as there is excitement and gratitude around living with fewer material possessions. It has been lovely watching Owen grow and become more interactive and playful with us, he was a trooper on our Summer visit to Maui! We were in a successful production of "Company," and Karen stole the show as Joanne!

I fell head over heels for BTS in the most complete and ridiculously consuming way. I am grateful for it - it gave me a lot of joy in a year that was otherwise extremely challenging and full of grief, and it brought me a new community of people who I have grown to really value, along with the opportunity to learn so much about a new culture and enjoy new music. It feels a little silly sometimes, to be so taken with a pop group made up of men a decade younger than me with whom I don't even share a language, but I've decided I can't care about that - they've made my life so much better this year, all I can do is love them for it.

I traveled to Tanzania with my husband a total group of six people. It was an incredible experience-getting to see the cycle of life, the balance of nature, and the grandeur of East Africa. It was a deeply spiritual journey and I am so very grateful to have had the chance to see a completely different culture and land. Amazing just doesn’t begin to tell the story.

I had a seizure for the first and only time in my life in december and it really frightened me. It caused me to start going to the gym, it caused me to take more chances, it caused me to be more purposeful with my time.

I went bikepacking for the first time (May 2026). This was a goal of mine for awhile to find another sport that I could do with Josh but also have fun doing it without Josh. Really glad I liked it!

My first child graduated high school and chose community college. I am incredibly proud of him for turning down good opportunities that weren't right for him. It was a wise and brave thing to not succumb to outside pressures. My stepdaughter got married. It brought us closer. We are all thrilled to have more love to share.

Can’t remember any significant. Memorable in a bad way but not, like, life changing enough that I’d characterize it as significant.

Singing with Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir has kick-started the transformation I've long imagined for myself. It was terrifying and I'm still learning but there was so much growth: I had to put together 'costumes' in certain pallettes and wear them for photo shoots, walk into a group of strangers and make friends, be vulnerable by using my real, deep down voice. Learn song melodies, harmonies, lyrics, and choreography, and get out of myself to be a performer not just a reluctant riser-stander. It also made me re-think how I hold my body physically, how I breathe, and how I can loosen. Which led me to biodynamic craniosacral therapy and somatics, examining my deeply held anxiety and beliefs, and giving me something to work towards...total freedom for my voice, my power, my body. The permission - the encouragement! to be loud and take up the space I'm entitled to.

Reconnecting with Anna. It’s amazing to me how much it felt like coming home. Having the love and support of a true friend is something I never want to take for granted ever again. It’s so rare these days to feel accepted, seen, and encouraged for everything I am. It reminded me of the big dreams we had sr year, and how getting back to that is a way back into joy. Her daughter Izzy said, “of course you’re friends, you’re exactly the same.” And that made me so happy because I adore Anna.

Happily, there are not significant experiences happening in my life any longer as, it seems, the significant ones seemed to have stemmed from the chaos and manageability of being in active addiction. That is what occurs to me right now, even though I have been sober/abstinent for well over a dozen years. I am grateful every day for recovery.

I am grateful that I finally got my garage cleaned. My adult children joke that when I die that they are going to throw all my belongings in a dumpster. They think that it is funny; but it really makes me nervous and scared as I age that I am tolerated and not really valued.

Stroke, hospital stays and recovery. Moved to Reno.

This past year my health and lived experience really shifted. I would not wish this experience on anyone and I am grateful for the practices in my toolbox that help me meet myself where I am at. I am much more in the let's see what's possible today mode, than counting on what it's going to be like. It is a shift in orienting to my life. There is a part of me that's inspired, there's also a part of me that is often questioning where I am at based on this new experience. Am I truly living my full life?

I published my second book. I am so grateful but it brings a lot of uncertainty too. I felt a lot of self doubt afterwards that I am still recovering from and it felt really lonely. I accomplished this huge creative task that is so fulfilling and magical and life affirming and I love it so much. But it feels like no one sees it or me. And I don’t want that to hurt but it does. Because it’s not about the book, it’s about having a community of people who know me and see me and I don’t have that in a meaningful way right now.

I applied to my dream grad school and got in. I've been everything from excited to nervous to relieved and everything in between. I feel like I'm ready to achieve this milestone and am so grateful for all the people I have behind me.

I traveled 500 miles in a pilgrimage to The Great Mother. I walked over 300 miles of the journey. I slept in my camper van so I could bring my dog. I came home feeling strong, connected, unstoppable. I miss the women who held each other up in the hard and fun times. What a gift to be able to leave my life for 35 days and do something challenging and rewarding.

I went on sabbatical! I won a year off of work! It began at the end of August 2025 and I came back on July 1st 2026. I studied Spanish in Ecuador and Peru. I went to the Galápagos Islands and the Amazon- childhood dreams! I volunteered in a children’s home in Bolivia, also a dream. Then, another dream fulfilled, I marinated on the Isle of Wight in England and experienced their beautiful Christmas. Then! Another dream realized, I lived in Switzerland for over two whole months!!!!!! I often felt lonely and I also had to push myself- with the languages, reaching out to people, watching my budget, walking for miles, adjusting to new situations, being a student again, dealing with arthritic knees…. I feel very grateful. I wish that everyone— mothers, custodians, cashiers, road workers….- everyone could take a year off of work. It was so hard to come back as I feared. I left because of the obscene system in which I work. Now I’m back and think about retirement. I feel resentful at being suffocated yet again by this awful school District in which I work. I continue to feel inspired by my travels where I lived close to Nature. I yearn for that again. That makes my spirit happy.

I started taking a GLP1-type medication, and has that EVER come with a lot of emotional baggage! I was a "naturally skinny" person until my mid-40s, when a combination of perimenopause and a hell of a lot of life turmoil hit simultaneously. Neither of them have disappeared, and I finally took the plunge after realizing that I had reached the point of needing help. I am relieved that it has worked well for me so far with 1) minimal negative side effects and 2) some really life-changing positive side effects beyond the weight lost. I am grateful that I can afford to pay for it out of pocket through the manufacturer's direct purchase program, which is still less expensive than the copay through my insurance. I am "big picture" angry that access to this IS a luxury.

Starting to buy a house has felt like a huge deal - it was a milestone that has felt very out of reach to me for a very long time. I'm so grateful for it, as well as being a little anxious about making such a huge commitment to Emily. I trust her completely though. I have also had to engage a lawyer to try to get my divorce done. That feels like a shitty milestone. I really resent Enya for taking things to this extreme.

Moved. Grateful we had the means. The country I once knew is no longer.

This past year my Primary doctor told me that my cholesterol was elevated and I needed to take some serious steps to adjust my diet to lower it. It really scared me and was a bit of a wake up call given I'd always been fairly healthy, kept a decent weight and ate however I wanted. But I took the warning to heart. I got a dietitian and changed my diet, continued working out and within 9 months made significant strides. I'm am very proud of the work I put in and the results. It made me realize that I do have control over my habits and with discipline, positive change is possible.

My mother blocked me on fb after I posted my adhd story, cutting off contact finally, with me. It made me a bit sad, but also proved to me that she only cares about herself and gow my adhd affects her. Ive not had any drama since I've stopped speaking to her.

A nephew of mine has shown via social media that he is a borderline Jew hater. I’m appalled but also glad he has outed himself so I can unapologetically stop communicating with him.

Well, my mother died a month ago. She had been declining further and further into dementia, which at first seemed like memory issues with exaggerations of her already less than pleasant characteristics. Looking back, I can see how it developed over time, but it was hard to recognize because it just looked like her usual intransigence combined with her very short temper. She was in an assisted living facility in central PA which was really nice and had good, attentive staff, unlike where she had been previously, but it was still 600 miles away from me. I ended up having to have knee replacement surgery, so when she entered hospice, I was unable to visit. I also stopped calling, because when I did, she would get angry with me and hang up. She might not have done it in hospice, since she was taking only mood and pain meds, but I was recovering myself. Anyway, she died. Not unexpectedly. I ended up driving the 600 miles to collect some of her things that I wanted to keep, and collect her ashes and death certificates. The drive was a bit exhausting because of my knee, but I'm glad I did it. Strangely, though, I have been mostly feeling blank about it. A couple of times I've cried a little, but I guess it was something that I wished for a long time, so when it happened, I just kind of accepted it. When I think about her as a person with a lively personality, I get a bit sad, but that person has been gone for a very long time. I always had a bit of a fraught relationship with her, too, so the fact that I spent much of the past 6-7 years taking care of her business, and flying or driving up to see her and take care of things is pretty extraordinary. But there's really no one else. Frankly, I thought of it as earning my inheritance.

We've started referring to me as the stepmother. It’s taken some getting used to. But ultimately, its a good decision

I had the opportunity to go to California with my bestie, visit family I haven’t seen in almost 10 years, and do a workshop I’ve been wanting to do for about 5 years. This experience shifted the tectonic plates in my life and I feel so grateful that I got to go like period but also with someone I love and care about so much!! After returning I was inspired to find change where I could and make some different choices than maybe I would have if I didn’t have this experience.

I was elected President of my congregation’s Brotherhood. I am hoping my leadership can build connection and build the membership.

Got fired by a narcissist in a horrible situation. I was so resentful and thought I couldn’t get a job because he was telling other companies not to hire me.

I left my dream job at NASA and joined a small tech company in early January. I didn't want to remain in such an uncertain situation in terms of money and work environment. I had been on soft money for the past ten years as a NASA contractor, which I did well with, but there were some things lacking like continuity of projects, limits on the depths to which I was able to go in my projects, and worrying about funding. I took a huge pay cut and now have to drive much farther than I did to make this change, but it has been so worth it. I already have a project off the ground, and the pay cut hasn't affected us as much as we thought. I am especially proud of myself for making the new job happen. There was no ad for a position, I reached out and asked them if they could make a position for me. I am also grateful that I had an out, and relieved that I made the choice. Many of my colleagues are still holding on even in continuing uncertainty and stress.

I had my second knee replacement surgery, for one thing. This took up a lot of my time and energy to recuperate from, but my life is so much better now than it was before. The whole experience was a big improvement over the first knee replacement. I also became a pollworker, which allowed me to earn some much-needed money. And, unexpectedly, I was called for grand jury duty. It was only for February, the shortest month, containing two holidays and, as it happened, a snow day, but that added to my coffers and it was an amazing experience. Mostly good, but it was certainly challenging, as well. And I ended my term as head of a local political club. Maybe I'll say more about that in other answers.

I was finally transferred from EPA's ORD, which was being closed down, to the Office of Water, after being kept in limbo for many months. I know work with some former ORD colleagues in a great team and I am very grateful for the opportunity. But obviously some high level appointees wanted me gone and that stings.

my answer from last year has not changed and it is pasted below ... there appears to be no improvement in the issues highlighted below, and in fact the level of violence, anti semitism, crazy ego inspired conflict continues unabated ... i am neither relieved and inspired but hugely resentfull of the out of control lying politicians world wide "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"

We have a 102 year-old friend who is a huge inspiration for living a good life. We got to spend several days on the Oregon coast with her and her son and daughter-in-law last November. We tried to see her as often as we can. Being with Grace helps me appreciate the people that are important to me like she is and reminds me to try not to take anything for granted.

I appeared on stage in one of my favourite theatres and delivered a speech. It was an amazing and inspiring experience in a year that has been full of amazing experiences.

I wrote a book & I got physical proofs to get it edited. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity God has given me to steward this book. I want to see the impact it has not only on people, but this world.

I go to the surf instructor course. Made me feel brave, powerful and it was also a very interesting social experience. I made new friends and challenged myself beyond my comfort zone. I am still doing the internship and it has been a very enriching experience.

The Heaton Park Synagogue attack on Yom Kippur 5786 shaped the entire year. I didn’t feel as though I was personally affected until I started preparing for this year’s high holidays - I didn’t feel more likely to be victimised or harmed, at least not consciously. But then, in preparing for the chagim, I started getting anxious. What if it happened again? How can I capture the horror in a way that is professional and profound? I didn’t know Adrian Daulby or Melvin Cravitz, but their deaths changed me. That attack, compounded with Rosh Hashanah falling on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, has made preparing for this year very challenging.

Sheesh. It was ‘a year’ at work. We kicked off the year working toward bond election in April and then found ourselves in the biggest financial crisis ever in March (what a nightmare of balancing public messages). We won the election, two days later Shon resigned. It was stressful, highly stressful, for the organization. I did not feel stressed. Is it because I’ve endured harder? I’ve built my resilience muscles? Is it because I wasn’t in the center of the action? It didn’t increase my workload and didn’t impact the parts of me that are not Parks, i.e. dancing, sleeping, eating/making healthy food. For the most part I spent my year preparing to go to NYC in the fall. Nearly everyday I thought about what it will take to make it a survivable, pleasant, safe, stimulating experience in NYC. There were times I felt bored this year waiting for NYC to come. I wanted to take some time away from the day-after-day 9 to 5 routine, but I wanted to save my money and vacation for NYC. I need a more varied routine than waiting for a big event.

I fell and broke my knee cap. It was a very humbling experience since it threw me out of whack. I was frustrated and resentful at first, hated being at the mercy of others, but slowly made my way back to recovery. It's been almost a year now, and I'm trying to strengthen myself physically and mentally even more.

Creo que ha sido más bien un hilo de experiencias con mi hermana. Ha sido una montaña rusa de emociones. Me tiene muy cansada interactuar con ella. La verdad es que le tengo miedo. Siento como que estoy en peligro cuando estoy a su lado, en cualquier momento me puede dar un golpe emocional. Ojalá tuviera los recursos para que no me importara nada de lo que diga o haga. Es solo que dependo de ella para el cuidado de mi mamá.

I met Emmanuel and fell in love like I never did before and didn’t know it was possible to find a soulmate that gets me, inspires me and challenges me and loves me like no other man before. I am grateful that I know now that I am capable of loving. For so long, I believed I couldn’t. I thought I’d lost that ability. Now I know that I can love, even if it hurts, even if my love isn’t reciprocated, but I now know that I can love.

My father-in-law died. He had cancer for 15 years. He was dying for a year. It felt like a long time. There were moments of such preciousness when we visited with him. There was also the brutality of dying, how much of a toll it took on him and his partner, all the kids. Navigating what felt like an endless period of uncertainty. It's hard to believe it hasn't even been a year since his death.

I feel like this year I was able to really be calm. I was better with a class that was ok. My summer was really good and I was able to relax in a different way.

The divorce finally came through in December. I don’t feel any different. I dealt with a little bit of guilt at first, but I’m OK now. We’re on pretty good terms, although he still won’t listen to me. I moved into a tiny apartment in the Heights last week. We had never separated all our stuff from the Lafayette house. We had just stuffed it in the attic of Verone Street and then to my Larch Lane apartment, which was pretty big. The mess is causing trouble between me and the neighborhood who lives in the front house. I had to fill up the whole garage with all the extra stuff that doesn’t fit up here.

My total knee replacement. It has been and amazing experience. I have learned I have untapped resources to stick to a goal-to take the rehab seriously for a year, to put structure into my life- first with all the requirements, walk every hour, ice 20 minutes on,20 off, and rest. I learned not to over do, and that I can be proud of myself and be happy. Now that the hourly demands of the rehab aren't there and I am doing more outside (Torah and Talmud study, Tudor Place) I'm learning to prioritize tasks and better estimate my time. A couple of times I've fallen back into bad habits or had down/ blue times, but I've pulled my self out of them. I'm still a work in progress, but it's a new person making that process with more to learn about me and another 9 months of rehab with strength training.

In a year of many significant experiences, I think the most significant one was coming out as bisexual/queer at 49 after a few to several years of knowing it in my heart and my gut but not having the bandwidth to deal with it or the courage to say it out loud. I could not be more grateful, relieved, and inspired to have done so - I feel a million times lighter and feel like it will only get better as I hopefully find my place in the queer community and maybe even find love.

My dad passed away in July (Av) and I would have expected losing him to have been the most significant event of the year. I don't think it was. Shortly before he passed, I had managed to establish that he had legal capacity (and so could refuse his medication as he always wished) and an apology from the local authority that had been threatening to remove funding for his care. It marked the end of a gruelling, grinding, painful, life-halting and shattering three months of research, appeals, emails, phone calls and meetings. I feel some pride, I suppose. I feel I like proved to myself that I was tough and that I could overcome challenges that first appeared impossible. Those feelings don't weigh that much, though. The heaviest feeling, the densest one, the one that sits like a stone at the bottom of the lake, is how I felt when he said 'thank you' to me once we'd won the mental capacity argument. He was never the most thankful man or the most expressive; or at least I wasn't able to receive it or notice it. This time I noticed it. I feel honoured. I feel that, in that moment, for all of our disputes, all of our arguments, all of the times I'd made mistakes or fallen short, he saw how much I was trying, how much I loved him and how much I was trying to protect him. Until that point, I doubted whether I was doing it for him or for me. After that point, I realised that - no matter what the voice in my head was saying - we shared the same soul. I was doing it for us, together - and together, we did it. I miss him every single day.

A significant experience that happened within the past year is going to a different school. The change of being somewhere new, learning the culture of the school, and getting to know the community is a challenge and a blessing all at the same time. Also, living with my partner now for over a year and understanding her has helped out our relationship greatly and I’m grateful to this experience. Lastly, improv has molded me my creativity and sense of humor to a vastly different level in terms of having fun and playing at a higher level.

Undoubtedly the most significant experience personally has been the birth of Noah on Feb 19th and meeting him in April. It is an incomparable joy to see how happy Deborah and Ryan are and I too am thrilled (though I wouldn't say it to them) that our Berenson genes will survive into a new generation. The second significant thing is about as bad as Noah's birth has been good. That is the terrible attacks on synagogues around Britain and the US. I try not to be frightened , but with the rise of Reform, Maga, the Right winning in Saxony, the fear of rising antisemitism is a real worry.

I chose to do another year of school. I'm grateful. It allowed me to have money to pay off some more of my bills.

I got a new job. I was concerned about asking my boss Sandy about looking into a new position for me, but once I did, she worked hard to see that I got it. I'm still in my infancy in the new position. I am hopeful that I will like it and be good at it. But now I know I can work from home and take care of my folks and that's a relief. I've been working from the office since I started. I wanted to get my bearings before attempting to work from home. Monday will be my first attempt.

Not one but 2 significant experiences affected me this year; the injuries to Barry and Brian. They are long-term friends and seeing Barry heal and accept the challenges of his disability are inspiring. And Brian is also recovering nicely. Both could have died from their accidents and injuries. And I gave good support to both of them so I am grateful to be in such a state that I could do that. I'm also proud of how Canada has pushed back against the whole Trump MAGA anti-Canadian activity. And how I have been able to support it by not buying US products and disconnecting from most of US owned Social media; FB, X, Gmail, Google, Adobe, Chrome, AI, Instagram, WhatsApp and others.

The two significant experiences that shaped me this past year were the marriage of my son to the woman who is now my daughter, Tako Beridze from Tbilisi, Georgia where both of them now reside - awaiting the day when they will be able to both come and live in the United States. I am grateful beyond words that my son has found the kind of love that was my greatest hope for him. I am trying to let go of the bitterness that is due to the administration we are all being forced to endure which will not allow my daughter access to a vis/green card as the wife of an American citizen. Instead of months, they may have more than two years and only if we are very lucky. But that is a over-the-moon joyous event of 5786 The second significant experience is that of the death of my best friend, closest ally and the dearest woman on the planet, my mother, Sheila. I had her exceptionally long lifetime, nearly 95 years old when she passed, to understand what life without her would be like - I was naive. I am still learning what that actually means and learning how I navigate the feelings that come up, often at the strangest times, when that loss feels overwhelming for the moment. I am choosing to revel in the 7 decades of memories - just utterly amazing memories and I am reveling in gratitude that I should have had Sheila Cooper as my mother for my entire life and Arthur Cooper as my father, for the first 24 years of my life.

I traveled with my parents to France and was privileged enough to spend 2 weeks there. I have wanted to share France, specifically Paris, with my mother since I spent a semester there as a college student, nearly forty years ago. I feel so lucky that my mom, at the age of 79, is still healthy and energetic enough to have gone and she loved it. It was a very special time for us.

I think since last year, two and a half major things have happened that are significant to me. I'm going to start with the positive: I submitted my Masters Dissertation, on the levers to increase recycled aggregates in mega infrastructure projects. And unlike my prediction, I was genuinely proud of what I finally submitted. I promised my supervisor - and myself - that I'd do everything I could to operate as a Grade A student, and juice the experience as much as I physically could. And I did that. I was surprised how relieved I was that it was in. I expected the hollow, echo-y feeling of something amazing being finished. I expected to clean the house from head to toe in response. But I've felt relief that it was over, and happy to move onto the next thing, whatever that may be. The second thing that was probably more significant was that I lost my job in March. It was listed last year as one of my greatest fears - set against a back drop of becoming scared of so many things - but this was the Big Fear as it meant putting us in the position of loving our beloved house. I knew it was coming - I'd had a call with a colleague back in the previous November telling him I could smell it in the wind, and asking him to describe the process so I was less prepared. And I was prepared, but that still didn't stop my nervous system sending me into a spiral. When I walked out of the office and onto the Strand I felt utterly lost. I came *so prepared* for the meeting, how to handle myself, the questions to ask, but I hadn't thought past that moment, when it was not yet 11am and I had nowhere to be. So I called my friend Errol, who'd lost his job a few weeks back, and he told me to come back to Mortlake and we'd have a drink, sort out what next. I felt so many things. Not shock, but incredulous (how was I taken down by someone I had so little respect for?), lost, scared, embarrassed. Looking back I wish I'd written a journal so I could go back and more fully reflect on the patchwork of feelings I experienced. I said to Alwyn that we needed to get away, so in short order we found almost free flights to Jamaica (one of the few places Alwyn could go visa free), not 2 weeks after I walked onto The Strand that day. It was a pretty amazing 3weeks away together, despite all the shortcomings of Jamaica (5 star prices for almost everything, with only 2.3 star quality for the same). The highlight was our pudding week on the north coast, where included in the prices was daily tennis lessons with one of Jamaica's greatest players. "Watch da ball... watch it more....". I came away with RSI in my wrist from so much playing. The resort also had a naturalist island just a short boat ride away, and Alwyn finally experienced being on a beach drinking wine with the sun on his skin. Like I thought, he loved it! When I came back I had contracts to start delivering to keep some money coming in, and I also gave myself permission to spend the next three months finishing my Dissertation. In hindsight the timing couldn't have been more perfect. I could write about this experience for so much longer - like how I certainly did not feel better once my settlement was over (I got stuck into a bottle of Jamaican run), or that it would be a straight path to recovery (I'd be sitting minding my own business when suddenly a tsunami came out of nowhere and awashed me with feelings of intense fear and panic), but I don't want to put off the important point. One of my worst fears came true. I predicted last year that despite the intense hatred of my new job, I'd still be stuck in it, glued to it given the salary it afforded me, and I was wrong. But it was the best thing that could have happened to me. I haven't been this content in... honestly? Decades I think. I'm working for myself. I am bringing in enough money to cover our basic outgoings (plus visas plus student fees plus plus plus - we weirdly have a very expensive life, which confuses me given how abstemious with money we both are), I am accountable only to me. I remember walking back from Bank after delivering a workshop which ran several hours over (a good thing), and as I walked back to the Tube station I felt the familiar panic of "have I missed a meeting? How will I explain myself".. but a few instances later I realised that there was no more of that. I got to choose what I did that afternoon, and there was no one I was accountable to but me. It was a moment of bliss. I have no idea where I'll be or what I'll be doing this time next year. I don't love that feeling - I'm a planner. But the thing I need to take away from this is that one of my worst fears became real, and I'm doing ok anyway. I feel grateful and relieved and at peace. And the point five significant experience is that last Christmas we were in La Santa, with Cheryl, Paul and Mum. This time I took it easier, and I came back to London without an injury to content with. So my fitness has continued to build and build. This summer was incredible in London - 30+ days for weeks at a time (killing every blade of green grass in Richmond Park), so I'm back to 10km fit. That's a really good feeling too. So it wasn't a Top 5 year, and even though one of the worst things I thought could ever happen to me happened, the year was a good one.

I was promoted to program manager. It happened without expecting it. It was reaffirming and I’ve grown so much this year, and it’s helped me be a more confident team member. I am grateful for that. At the same time, I started working 50-55 hour weeks and I haven’t been able to change that. I’m not spending enough time with my son, putting him to bed, or checking his school stuff as i used to. I’m constantly aware of it but haven’t been able to change it back to what it was before work took over.

I got a cancer diagnosis and in January I had a lumpectomy for breast cancer. Then I had radiation treatment. I kept working through the entire experience. I have said outwardly, and still feel that I have physically gone through the process, but my brain has not quite caught up. I am relieved that I am in remission. I am at the very least annoyed and possibly even angry that I’m being treated as if I am healed and that somehow it was like I broke a bone and the doctors fixed it. I have used this event as a jump point because I also turned 65 in January (happy birthday to me). I am finally dressing the way I really want to which I had stopped doing. I am opening my mouth and saying what I really think. Life can be very short.

I stood to lose over 25 years of my career through allegations. It hurt me. I was significantly stressed and felt devalued as a person. I nearly lost myself. Those I trusted to stand by me, didn't. For that, I felt angry and resentful. The years that I put into an organisation meant nothing. Looking back, I feel relieved and grateful to push me to fly from a cage that I couldn't see. It inspired me to see beyond what was in front of me and the limitations placed on me and by me.

The experience of leaving my job - from the possible termination to the decision to start applying to actually giving notice and offboarding - was very significant. It has affected me materially with my day-to-day schedule and priorities, my ebb and flow of the day, the way I make decisions. It has also affected me emotionally and mentally. I'm very grateful for the job and proud of myself. I am relieved in a way but still adjusting to change. I'm sad in a lot of ways and also excited for new experiences and opportunities.

I got a woman out of Immigration Detention after she had been there for 6 months, and after a private lawyer who took a few thousand dollars to consider her case had written her off and left her there. They were right that she did not have a good asylum claim. But they did not bother to see that the gov't's charging document (I-213) was filled with errors. I looked closely at her case because I represented her son, and I was outraged to learn that ICE had used his release to her as bait. She was a housekeeper and a mom, with no criminal background. With guidance from my supervisor, we got her case dismissed. The government could re-arrest her any day, but they haven't. She's free, taking care of her kids, working, but also living in fear of being arrested again. I am proud that I was able to help another family. I am angry that my government is so callous. I am inspired to keep trying, because even when you think there's no way to win, sometimes you find a way if you just show up and take a swing.

Kathryn's foray into cardiac care. This time just atrial flutter, but there were two procedures and a two week heart monitor. I hope I was a source of help and understanding. I had one night when I really screwed up but we talked it out and she was able to forgive me. I think that screw up was when I internalized that she just hurts all the time. I can say to people who want to do things, especially last minute, that we can't because the handicap accessibility has not addressed. I told Rabbi first but it is true, she lives her life on 8 pain scale. I know that she may forget that when she is dealing with us from time to time. But like when people have kids, their lived change and constrict. We are doing what we can to make it world, and we are going to miss a few events and adventures along the way.

Without a doubt, the birth of my daughter. It has been the most miraculous few months, a peek into magic. I’ve got a front row seat to the most ancient and mystical thing we could ever witness, every day. I’ve never felt more connected to anyone else in the world. Right now, we are one.

The death of my favourite cat, Julius, followed by the surprise arrival of what I can only call his spiritual successor, Julian, 4 days later. Grief, gratitude, wonder, and love begetting love begetting love, all at once.

I had a stroke on January 25th, 2026, caused by a blood cclot on the right side of my brain. I had a FAST recovery. I thank God he spared me!

I realized I am losing memory - found asking questions repeatedly - especially to David, LI, Marlyn & Claudia - those I am close to. It scares me - I'm growing old - would be harder to live w/o David.

This year has been extraordinary difficult. My father suffered immensely with pancreatic cancer and I walked him through it every single step of the way. Then he died in hospice and I (and Josie and Tracy) stayed with him in that hospice room for three day so he would not be alone and. more importantly, so he would be completely sure that he knew that we love him. The last official communication I had with him was when he opened his eyes and looked at me and I said, "You know I love you, right?" He nodded his head. He could no longer speak. I am profoundly grateful that he left this world knowing how much I love him because it is a lot. Though the man got on my last nerve a lot of the time, I loved him like no other. He was one of the best human being I have ever known and I still want to grow up to be exactly like him (minus the crippling OCD). I also got diagnosed with breast cancer this year, with which I am currently living. It is not easy, but I have SO MUCH support from SO MANY people and I am getting through it. I am pretty terrified about chemo, but I know that, as my mother always said, this too shall pass. As as my friends Lesley, Yadira, and Jacki said, I am a warrior. I lost a breast, so I guess that makes me an amazon. I will get through this.

This may sound trivial, but for me it was huge. I had cataract surgery on my eye that was most affected by its cataract. It's a very small surgery, but because of an underlying medical condition, I was considered high-risk for a major complication and had to consult with many ophthalmologists over several years before I found one who felt comfortable doing it. In the meantime, my vision became worse and worse and I had trouble with everyday visual tasks, such as reading, driving, visiting museums, etc. The operation went great and I feel grateful every day for my much-improved vision.

A significant experience would be when Luka ran away one Saturday morning when I fell asleep while I was supposed to be watching the kids. It was one of my worst nightmares come true. I was lucky that someone who knew who he was saw him and knew how to contact me, as the police and paramedics had to come, and Luka cannot talk to explain who he is or where he is from. I’m grateful nothing bad happened, but I’m way more nervous about Luka all the time now, which makes me a little bit on edge.

No huge experiences, but profound one's. Awesome 4x4 trip and then did a Tibetan singing bowl course, followed by a Crystal Bowl course. Inspiration for sure. A reminder to get off the self-inflicted life treadmill and slow down and appreciate and be more in the moment. Attended an inspiring Sound Immersion event that took place in the beautiful City Hall. Attended "The Gathering" - a full day exposed to incredible people and walked away with hope for our country.

I didn’t retire. I slowed way down at work for a few months and talked about retirement. I found that all the extra time on my hands was not what I needed. I was sad, lethargic. Without Pete to talk to me and touch me, being home felt empty. So I went the other direction, working insane hours and trying five law suits in 10 months. Almost all my peers are retiring. But for now I know that I need the adrenaline and structure and people and intellectual challenge of working.

When I read last year’s answers, I don’t see a hint that there’s a problem in my marriage. And now I’ve already filed for divorce. Once I looked honestly, and heard his honest answers, it’s poison through and through. I am shocked that I hid this for myself. And I am full of wonder at what’s ahead.

I left my wife of 9 years and partner of 10 years to move from California back to my home in Oklahoma. I am grateful, relieved, inspired, devastated, exhausted, and so so much more. It is worth it to choose yourself and your own dreams

One thing I really want in life is to see the world. I love travelling, but I have not travelled much. Last year, I even added travelling to my goals, but still, I could not travel much. But this year, without much planning, I got the chance to visit two states of India. One of them was not even a part of my plan. This experience made me realise that sometimes, when we desperately run behind a goal or a wish, it feels like it goes further away from us. But when we stop thinking too much about it and let things happen naturally, our wishes can come to us on their own or get fulfilled in unexpected ways. I am grateful for this experience. First of all, I am grateful to God for creating these opportunities for me. I am also very grateful to my family, especially my mother. One line she always says stays in my mind: “We could not travel because there were many reasons, but you should travel when you have the money and the time.” Because of this experience, I also feel relieved. I am not resentful or angry about anything. What I have learned from this is that whenever we can do something, we should do it. There is no right age to do something we want. When God creates an opportunity for you and you also truly want it, take that opportunity instead of waiting for the perfect time.

The state went after deadbeat dads. Instead of getting a tiny amount of back child support every month until my son is 30, I was finally paid what I was owed. My boys are 25 and 27. (My ex makes 6 figures so could afford to pay this a long time ago!) This happened at the same time as my car needed a new timing chain. I am thankful to have the money for that. But I would have rather not sold my jewelry to make a house payment all those years ago. Or sold the tiller to buy my boys shoes. I am overjoyed to have this chapter of my life closed.

This time last year I was about to embark on the masters in counselling and psychotherapy. Back then it represented hope for the future and an escape from my past - I was deeply unhappy with where I had found myself. Twelve months on and I have sat with actual clients on placement and, to my surprise, started to feel like a counsellor rather than someone pretending to be one. My written work has come back at distinction level, which I still find hard to believe given the state my head was in last year. What has amazed me most is what the training has grown into. I have set up two companies - a CIC to offer free counselling in a destigmatising environment, and a separate limited company to harness the power of what I'm doing to scale up across the whole country. To my utter astonishment, my little idea with the CIC has been validated and taken forward by my wife and my best mate! They're fully on-board and helping me to build something amazing. What I chose because it felt aligned has quietly become something I am actually building a future on. I am grateful, and a little in awe, that the reset in 2024 did not just stop the rot, it planted something. The one thing I am watching is not burning out again while building all of this from scratch and trying to remember to have fun too!

I traveled, for 14 months. This time last year I was just about to begin my time in Israel, this time last year my album came out, this time last year I was in Boston, and I know, only one year has passed, yet I feel so much older!! I could not tell you of one significant experience, because in the past year there have been thousands. I have been to 11 different countries, genuinely met thousands of people and have gone through many journeys to get to where I am now. I am so insanely grateful that I did it, I completed my goal and I am so much happier for it, so much more curious and playful and loving and grateful, my bucket is filled to the brim since traveling because I gained so much perspective, I was able to reflect and consciously live, and now I am the most alive I have ever been. One experience that shifted my brain chemistry, was camping with Ezra, sitting on that beach with him, having deeply interesting conversations with him about personal philosophies, about whether he makes me feel like a woman or a human, this camping trip was extremely reflective and started my focus on the right questions to ask, and launched my philosophy of play.

I made the decision to respond to an ex-boyfriend., who left me about 5 years ago. And when I say he left me, he left the state with out even saying goodbye to me. I saw he had left by a Facebook post that gave his location. I contacted him right then and there. He insisted he would be returning in 4 days. Almost 5 years later he contacted me and I knew , even though I had moved on , as soon as I heard his voice , and for sure saw is face, I was pulled by a force stronger than most back to space where all the love in my world existed. This reconnection profoundly affected every part of my entire world. I am 63 years old and I once again have butterflies, hot ears, pirma grin and chills. We have both grown and lived through life that gave us the chance to forgive and heal. I had a very difficult time with him leaving and being gone. As much as I insisted I was over our love, even after 5 ish years , I clearly knew I may have healed. But our love was too deep and powerful to restrain. And here I am in a whirlwind of emotions, spinning in a 30 year relationship, that was on pause for almost 5 years.

We have finally sold Mum and Dad’s flat, exchanging on Dad’s yahrzeit and completing days before Rosh Hashanah. The significance of this is not lost on me. It brings with it relief for getting the sale over the line, gratitude for my parents and all they gave us, and sadness, always sadness, that they are no longer sitting at our table, sharing the joy of the New Year.

I got to help with humpback sampling on the Little Colorado River. It is a truly special place. I can’t quite believe I got to experience the LCR in this way. The adventure reminded me how much I love good science and fieldwork. The bits of the Native American perspective that were shared with me ahead of time very much enhanced my experience, and I am grateful for getting to learn a bit of their history and perspective. I hope I can do right by this place and those who are working so hard to protect it.

I found my way back to recovery work, but in a new way that feels so so right for me right now. I feel grateful, relieved, a little sad I didn’t find it sooner, inspired to enter 5787 with this new layer.

I started a business this year! I never thought I would make the leap from employee to self-employed but I did it! I think the most remarkable thing about it is knowing that I’m backing myself. I don’t consider it a risk because I know I can do it.

I was diagnosed as being prediabetic I don't want to move on to the next stage and so I'm going to be working to reduce my weight. I'm not happy about it but glad I know about it. On a global level, the ongoing wars and how badly some of our fellow human beings treat exh other is so depressing.

I backpacked across Europe on a tour group with 30 random strangers. I think it truly changed my life for the better and opened my mind to new experiences, learn more about myself and what I enjoy. It’s inspired me to travel more and re-center what I value and what’s important to me.

Hi future Maddie! Welcome back to 10Q! It’s evident every year how I’m feeling going into high holy day season based on how long the answer to my first question is (and how many of the others I’ve filled out). Maintaining a diary-like entity has never been my strong suit however I am a person who adores sentiment which brings me back every year! Last year Rosh Hashanah season was hard for me. I didn’t have a community, but I was also a few months into living in a new place, at that point I was pretty dejected looking for jobs, and I had grown to semi resent my housemates. Not a question was answered last year and I don’t blame myself for it because I was trying to make it through every day. Now, a full year later, I want to look at some of my accomplishments. I got a job five months into living here - a coffee shop job! At first I was nonplussed because I didn’t go to college to work in food service but it taught me so much, it helped me get to know the city, I met some cool people who showed me some cool shows etc, and I learned latte art which really rocked. More importantly though, I’m writing this three weeks into my job that I was waiting for - the job that I didn’t write about applying to last year, but has shown up in every 10Q for the last three years. I am ECSTATIC, I could not be prouder to be a part of this organization. My job leaves some to be desired. It is not my ideal. I am trying to be honest about that. However, it is a fantastic jumping off point and it is an open door, and now I wake up with acronyms in my head. I am excited, I’m relieved, I’m recognizing that I’m incredibly impatient, and I feel driven again! Feeling more settled in my skin as I write this than I have in a long while. Big win for 5786 - a hard year but one that ended on a high note!

I am relieved that I was able to go back to my hometown without the fear of the perpetrator from my past. It is a location I avoided for six years and then went back to first time last year - it was amidst horrendous stress and fear, hiding from public spaces and avoiding meeting people. Now it was a trip that felt good, where I could enjoy the familiar surroundings, spending time with friends and family.

Several. I had pneumonia and while I was hospitalized I had conjestive heart failure, I was told. It took a long time to recover and my heart is still damaged. My car was damaged by another driver and I was coerced into buying a car that I greatly regret. The pneumonia interfered with my ability to return it. Continuing from last year, Trump is a Disaster! He is truly destroying not just America, but the whole Earth!

This year has certainly held a lot of experiences - from a fabulous 5-week trip to Europe, putting my mom into memory care, and trying to figure out how to live as a retired person. But the most significant experience is the death of an old flame. I say old, because it had been over 20 years since I had really spoken with him. In fact, at one time I had written him asking not to contact me. Eventually we reconnected on FB - and saw each other at events a couple of times, but really no contact worth mentioning. My current partner called him the "love of my life" and perhaps, at one time, it was true - I was with him longer than my ex-husband, but not as long as my current relationship. Why does this impact me? For years, when I would post about life event on FB, I would think, "what would he think." And now, when I think that, I stop myself, and remember - he isn't there to care. It is so complicated , but I am sad. Sad for what could have been. Sad because of the loss of such a talent, and, in all honesty, sad because he was that "Fall-back" guy - that guy I seemed to keep in the back of my mind in case something happens with my current relationship.

This is a tall order as the last year has been one of significant change - some of which has been very literally life changing. And life changing in positive ways. I'm overwhelmed with gratitude that the two things I wanted most, and that I never had a drop of control over, have begun to make real and meaningful progress. And the third one, the one I actually do have control over, is going exceedingly well. Like I said, my gratitude cup runneth over. How lucky am I?!

This year I had top surgery! It was, by far, the most meaningful experience I have had in my adult life. It was the first choice I have ever made entirely for myself and my own wellbeing, and it has opened up an entirely new world for me in terms of self-confidence, self-love, generally self-actualization. The lead-up to surgery and recovery was one of the most difficult experiences of my life emotionally; I was forced to confront that many of my relationships were not reciprocal in the ways I believed them to be, and I truly doubted that I would make it out of the emotional hole some days. But now, nearly a year later, I am grateful for the growth, even the ugly and difficult parts of it, because I get to become a person I like and love; a person who feels deserving of the life I want, and who is able to live in a body that makes that possible. I feel comfortable with my identity and my being in a way I had not truly believed was possible for me, and I feel optimistic for the pathways this will open for the next year and beyond.

The thing that comes to mind most immediately is adopting Liney in June. I still feel some imposter syndrome around it because we were chosen over the person in line ahead of us and because her foster house was so fancy. But I feel like she has a good life here and I’m settling in to feeling like her mom. She certainly seems attached to me, even though she was scared of me the first time I met her. She’s been so good for Petey and I hope for everyone’s sake that he’s with us this time next year. Also - feeling like we were going to lose Pajo 6 weeks ago was significant. I’m not ready to live life without him yet, even if he is peeing on everything at the moment. 😊

After a series of increasingly frustrating events at work, I was rather unceremoniously laid off last fall. I’m still a bit bitter about it, although to be honest I do believe that the majority of the blame is with the system that encourages companies to grow big enough that they have to do mass layoffs, and not with any specific individual. Not all of it, but most. Anyway, I took a couple of months to relax and try and relieve the stress that had built up, and then spent a couple of months seeking a job. It took a little longer than I had hoped, but I think I ended up in a good place - a decent-paying job that lets me sleep at night. It’s not stress-free, but I think I’m better off than I was a year ago, and with a little more life experience.

The relationship with my GOD and His Prophet. It makes me feel like I am faraway from GOD. I resent this feeling, but I am relieved that I acknowledged it and that I can go to GOD in prayer about it, and ask for forgiveness for known mistakes and unknown ones.

Spouse lost their job. They have struggled all their life with work & keeping a job. Honestly I wish they didn't have to work at all; I truly hate seeing them suffer. Work & the corporate environment is brutal on their health, but I don't make enough for us to live to the standard they want on my own. I'm not even sure I can make enough to support us even if we were just scraping by. So far we're okay, but a large part of that is that we had previously built up a nest egg for emergencies and are dipping into that to cover experiences. Honestly, I love them being home. They're still looking but I love having them here. It means we've been able to support each other through medical appointments, it's nice having company, and he's been able to address some of his own medical issues that would otherwise have been difficult to schedule. I don't know how long they will be unemployed, and they are looking, but I'm secretly cherishing this time with them.

the anniversary of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. I blocked her bc she would not speak to me. I look at my ex friend now and don’t even recognize her. She looks so unhappy and fat. I’m glad she chose not to be my friend. I guess the most significant thing that happened was I fell and broke my shoulder. I lost my best friend TOM. After I fell, I told him that I was in pain and his response was, “ I don’t have any sympathy for you”. I hung up the phone and texted him not to call me. It’s been eight months if bothers be we used to talk almost every day. Because my shoulder broke I started getting rid of old things in anticipation of having a surgery. Started with a new washing machine which made my life exponentially easier. One morning I woke up and I thought, some things outlive their usefulness and become obsolete. I thought that it’s probably just an extension of things that are no longer useful. Our friendship. I guess I’m no longer useful to him. But it’s still is hurtful.

This year I learned from the few times where I had the abundant space I desire and found ways to carry those feeling forward. I gained a greater understanding of the weight of obligation and started to shift from an obligation-led life to a values-led life. It is hard as the demands (of parenting especially) are high, but it is possible. I am gradually learning to pay more attention to my body as it is an honest indicator of how I am doing. The push-through response that I have relied on my whole life comes from ableism and is not in my best interest most of the time.

I seem to have suddenly shed a great deal of my social anxiety. I don't understand it, but it is welcome.

Two experiences leap to mind. My son graduated from college and my employer did another round of layoffs. Why did the positive experience, for which I am profoundly grateful, take a back seat to the negative? The layoffs are making my day to day work more difficult -- and creating anxiety about the future. But I am grateful to still have my job.

Dennis’s illness for three months was unexpected, upsetting on so many levels, and very scary. While it never reached a fear of death, it absolutely made me face my own mortality and his. I felt old for the first time, and even if I didn’t quite see the end of either of our lives, I knew for the first time that it was out there.

My wife and I separated. It was not my idea and I did not want it. She wants to divorce. Looking back over the year's 10Q answers I think I see it coming now. No, I am not grateful. I'm grieving. Relieved? Maybe a little, yes. I'm healing. Resentful? Yes, a little. Inspired? I have amazed myself in some ways.

I bought a house. It affected me negatively, it was so much work beyond what I could imagine and cannot do it living in the body I have. My house has emotionally and physically impacted me so much that I had to choose not to talk about my house with others because it is overwhelming to me. I do not celebrate when I have to tell people I bought a house. However, I practice gratitude and work hard not to tell people how this house is impacted me.

Having Jonah. It was amazing. My heart grew in ways I didn’t know it could. I am incredible grateful to have Jonah and Emmett. Wowowowow

I answered this question more globally last year, but this year my answer is more personal. (Not that the world still isn't on fire this year, but I can't pay attention to it, because I need to save the attention I have for the things I can actually control.) I got laid off from my job this year, and it might be the best thing that could have possibly happened to me. It's far too easy to stay in a situation that's not your soul's purpose if it's comfortable, and that's what I did for 11 years. Part of me wishes I'd left sooner, but at least I left when I did. And now, I have the big, scary, exciting question of what to do with the rest of my life. There's essentially only two things I've ever truly wanted to do: to write well and to love well, to be a successful writer and a successful parent, to raise Jules to be a good man, and to enjoy the process of his growing up, to have a great relationship with Matt and my friends too, and to write books that spread joy to the world. And now I can spend my life focusing on just those things. I need to make sure I stay focused on those real priorities in the year to come.

My son’s college graduation was quite the event - so proud of him and his passion for journalism. And within 4 months of graduating he has a full time job writing for a newspaper!

A significant experience that happened this past year was my trip to Israel in July. I was incredibly grateful for the opportunity to return to Israel with Birthright Israel as a volunteer, especially because this time I was able to share the experience with my sister. I was also so happy that we were able to extend our trip and spend a full two weeks exploring, volunteering, and experiencing Israel together. This trip affected me in such a positive and meaningful way. It inspired me to continue being a proud Jew and Zionist and to keep using my voice to speak out for Israel, for the Jewish people, and against antisemitism. It also deepened my connection to my Judaism and inspired me to continue my own journey in Judaism. Most of all, I am grateful for the people this experience brought into my life and for the memories and connections I will carry with me. I returned home with an even deeper love and pride for being Jewish, a renewed sense of purpose, and a desire to continue my journey.

Monkey dying. I’ve dreaded it for years since his health started declining. Each step down in his health was like holding my breath. I’m surprised I’m not relieved. I’m so sad. Crying uncontrollably. Resentful. I’m happy he did not suffer. Went downhill one day and I put him to sleep within 48 hours. Good for him, bad for me. I resent not having the experience of taking care of him. That act of love & sacrifice I got to do w my mom & dad. I feel robbed of that sacred bonding time of him being weak and able to depend on me.

Thai year many things suddenly aligned, I think it’s because I learned so much about myself and acceptance. Many new things happened this year but trusting myself and the process was a huge part of the journey. This year I exchanged schools and that was a big step and a big risk and it completely changed my perspective on literally everything in life. I love my life so much and the people that surround me are a gift and I love my environment I am in now. This year was packed with challenges from that youth movement I was a part of and now have officially quit. Exchanging made me realize that I can in fact be that person who is social and loved and important as I knew is in my nature. I also learned a lot about understanding people better I think and to dig in deep always. I am sensitive and I can’t change it and I shouldn’t. The weird/unique parts of me aren’t to be ashamed of they are the reason people want me around and is just me.

Last October, very unexpectedly, my position at my work was eliminated. I was completely devastated, remembering one of the first thoughts I had was "will I lose my house?" It was one of the most surreal moments of my life. Luckily, I got a very good severance package that kept me very comfortable until September of this year. However, finding a new position was very difficult and in the end stressful. Ageism is alive and well... I did enjoy my time off and volunteered a lot, which eventually led to a fulltime job. It is not paid well, so I have to watch my expenses closely, but I know that I will be okay. For now.

A few weeks ago, I finished my conversion to Judaism. My best friends had come up from several hundred miles to celebrate with me. They were there while another friend of mine—who had just finished their rabbinical ordination a few months prior—helped me with my mikvah. My journey with Judaism will never truly end, but it’s so nice to officially be able to say I’m Jewish, and it was even better to have my family there with me.

I fell in love with someone who wasn’t right for me and it reminded me what it feels like to feel that way, but it also left me in so much pain. I think I’m grateful to have been reminded what it feels like to feel like that but also hurting a lot that it didn’t work out.

A girl friend's husband is in the process of being evaluated for Parkinson's or some other neuro-degenerative disorder. Recently he has also had some rather significant memory (or worsening attention) problems. God help his wife. What if this happens to my husband or to me?

My father entered hospice on Christmas Eve, and passed in the summer. I watched him slowly wither away, both physically and mentally, over the course of those months. I took a leave of absence to be able to be with him during this time. I was there in the room when he passed, touching him and talking to him to let him know that I love him and that it was okay to let go.

There have been many. Probably the biggest was making the decision to sell my studio, and all the packing and moving I've done since. I've moved my belongings and art studio about three times in the last year between different dwellings and storage units. I have spent most of the year resentful, because I haven't been able to the thing I love to do. I've needed to take care of my health and finances. I am feeling hopeful though, because this year was just a stage, and despite the challenges, there was beauty

So many. My son got married, my parents moved out of their house (my childhood home), my other son began law school, my second novel was published. There has been so much change--sometimes it is hard to process it. These past 2 years especially (since we moved last summer to Scranton). My emotions are all over. Mostly grateful for the ability to weather change. Sometimes enraged at our world, particularly our government and how entrenched it feels.

I went to the Bradford and it really helped me! I’m doing the work now. Yes I’m grateful Totally inspired to live. Without resentments much and working my 4th and 10th step every day. Relieved yes that I’m not controlled by addictions.

This has been my 2nd year as a mother and it’s amazing. It’s everything I’ve wanted and more. I am grateful because I am at a place in life where I can really appreciate and enjoy motherhood. I don’t feel like I’m missing out on life, I feel like I’m enjoying life with my child, and it’s do wonderful. I can’t imagine that I’ll have a different answer next year but I’m sure things will grow and deepen.

Kinga died by suicide It made me really reconsider mental health and how I communicate to people and myself and grasp the fragility and temporarity of our life

My sister cut off all ties with me. I can't contact her. She has blocked me, and doesn't respond to my text messages either. I don't know if she is dead or alive, and I don't have her address, because she is paranoid about the wrong people finding her, that I can't even have the police check on her. It really hurts!! We live so far apart, she in Houston and I in NJ, that I can't just drive over and check on her or even clear the air if that's what's needed--- oh, yeah, I don't have her damn address!!!

My oldest son applied for, was offered a place at, accepted the spot, applied for housing, did his orientation courses, registered for classes, moved in, and started college at Denver University. This milestone was the culmination of so many hundreds of thousands of small steps along the way to get him to this point, it is almost too monumental to understand. I was not relieved when I dropped him off, but this week when he managed to drop a class he hated, and register for one that he liked instead - that was when I finally deeply sighed in relief. This might just work out. My work won't be done, but I might be able to shift my attention a little bit.

June was a difficult month. My uncle died, my best friend's marriage ended, and my brother was about to be hospitalized a second time for self harm. It was challenging and hard to get through. I cried a lot. It shifted something in me. I felt hopeless for many weeks.

I went through my separation, soon to be a divorce, and I had a puppy that I had to give up (these two events are related). The puppy gave me joy, love, loyalty, laughs, and cuteness, but he also exhausted me. The separation has been painful, disappointing, enraging, frustrating, draining, tiring, annoying, sad. I am grateful for my time with Sesame. I am sad about the separation. Both experiences have shown me I am strong, capable, resourceful and independent. My soon to be ex husband—I still love him and wish we could be together, but also, he was not good for and to me. He made me feel so small. So it’s a liberation as well.

My prostate cancer returned again and then went away after a new round of drug treatment. The return of this disease is very distracting in that I don't know how to handle this information. If I am down to my final year of life, what should I do with my final days. Or do I just need to do more anti-cancer drugs and I will have more years. My Doc thinks that my prostate cancer will be gone for the next 2-5 years as long as I continue to take the new drugs. I am relieved by this new round of apparently highly effective drugs. I hope my oncology Doc is correct.

A month short of her 94th birthday, my Mother-in-Law passed away. We had known each other for 35 years. Although her loss saddened me, both personally and for the grief experienced by my wife and son, my stronger feeling was one of gratitude for the years we shared. An award-winning actress, Rosina continued to perform (via Zoom) until just weeks before she died. In her later years she also mentored young and old aspiring actors. Her life was inspiring, as were the number of folks from so many backgrounds who loved her.

I underwent back surgery, which left me temporarily (I hope) disabled. It has tested my faith, my outlook on life & my emotional wellbeing. I am trying to practice gratitude & stay positive. Undoubtably one of the hardest "tests" I have had to endure.

Like so very many Americans, this last year or so has been filled with stress, frustration, anxiety and horror with what the current government is doing to our democracy. It has scared the **$#@! out of me and makes me sad for the future.

I had many rumors about me widely spread and it made me look internally and realize that no surface level teenage bullshit matters. The only thing that truly matters is the way you treat people and the way you view yourself.

I have three experiences to share here: I finally moved my furniture to Windsor Court, where my mother lives, so I can better help with her care and get the work done to sell the townhouse. Getting my bedroom set up helped me feel more grounded and finally establish that location as my home, quieting the chaos of living in two places. I'm relieved to have completed that task and very happy with how my furniture looks in the living room. The furniture looks nicer in the Windsor Court living room, and the room looks better with the furniture. Yay! I feel 'some kinda way' about leaving Berrypick, but I won't allow myself to get bogged down in sadness. I'm excited to get moving with the renovations and create a beautiful space for the next residents. Of course, I look forward to selling the house and adding the additional funds to my mother's bank account. I invested in myself by hiring an executive function coach to help me build routines, get more organized, and learn to rewire my thinking patterns toward more positive, productive outcomes. My progress with coaching has improved since I moved to one household. There's more work to do, but I'll need to take a break from weekly sessions for a while because they are expensive and not covered by insurance. I held onto my place in the AGNG Master's Program by staying in touch with advisors, completing 2 classes, and working out a plan to finish one more incomplete. Lol! I now need to extend that plan, but I will finish the class very soon! I'm enjoying the program and excited about being involved in this industry.

My niece married her boyfriend of sixteen years which was lovely. They met in high school and have been together ever since. It‘s lovely seeing my nephews and nieces in happy supportive relationships.

dons death. I miss him a lot. Andi wonder if my mother is dead yet. I will be relieved when that happens.

Joshua and I separated. I finally broke down and confessed I was done, on Valentine’s Day of all days. He moved out on April 10. It’s been surreal and a whole range of feelings. Sadness that my marriage failed. Grief for the life I envisioned. Fear of what’s to come. Relief for finally saying it aloud. Pride for standing up for myself. It has been a hard year, sleepwalking through limbo while I wait to settle the separation. No unnecessary spending of any kind out of fear and uncertainty how it will impact the separation. Unmotivated most times to do even the smallest thing. A poor social battery and low patience. Making what some would call questionable decisions. I’m sure this year of limbo will change me as a person, I just don’t know in what way yet.

The most significant thing was mom’s illness and eventually death. The first 4 months of the year included multiple trips to Michigan. The end result was that our net worth nearly doubled from the inheritance, leading to some nice vacations planned for this year and an initial retirement date of not later than 2027-07-01. Recently I got the voluentary separate program email from GuideWell and my retirement date will likely be in 2027-Q1. My feelings are mixed, but overall very postitive.

I went on many travel experiences. I went to white water rafting with first descents and I got thrown out of the boat and I swam ashore. The water was very very cold but I got the gumption to just paddle to the side and thank god it was close to the end of the river. I was happy by going on the trip and flying to many new places this year. I drove all by myself to Kristy wedding in Pensacola and I was very proud I could do it.

I spent the year providing childcare for my granddaughter, Viola, and helping my daughter as much as I could. This leaves me feeling useful. And I feel connected to Viola which is a blessing. It is not easy for me to insist she treats me respectfully and to insist she cooperate. It triggers all kinds of past stuff when she's rude or angry towards me. And I am grateful God sent me the treasure of parenthood & grandparenthood.

In some ways, I feel a lot of significant events have happened for me. In this past year, I spent a lot of time in therapy and doing Neuro feedback which significantly has helped me calm the fuck down and let things be. Scientifically I have too much high alpha. My brain lady keeps telling me it is a gift of athletic ability. Being that I’m a dental hygienist and Pilates instructor that is wasted on me. Nonetheless I have been able to find the ability of calmness in the stressful situations. Having a dog has been a wonderful gift. Turns out I am a dog person and need this kind of love. Bob has been a great addition to my life and I think all of ours. It’s not often but it’s beautiful seeing Aaron give Bob love. A few months ago I had foot surgery that significantly slowed my roll. It’s miserable and not going as I had hoped but it’s a nice time to reflect on life, health, friendships, and how I hope for life in the future. Last year was so incredibly hard and although this past year has been a lot of work, I am so happy to be back in a much more normal feeling place. There are still many things that I would like to improve on in the future, but I am happy with my marriage, with my home, with my business (hell yeah for KatWalk Pilates) the community that that business has built, with my overall health minus my foot and the relationships that I have with friends around the world.

I attended a Jewish music conference in May, along with one of my adult children. I had been wanting to go to this for a very long time, and finally had the opportunity. I was hoping to jump start my spirituality and observance, both of which have diminished significantly over the past ten years. While this experience didn’t achieve that for me, I was able to make new friends and also appreciate a different side of my son’s musical gifts. A performance of a song he wrote has given me ongoing joy ever since.

While the drumbeat of anti-Jewish hate continues, there is so much good that has happened: Politics: I am finding my sane political people, the ones who are not ideological memes, but think in more nuanced ways. They are mostly not Jewish and that gives me hope. Family: Rory's Bar Mitzvah was a serious high point in every way. Working with him, the vibe of the people present, his ability to perform--in all senses of the word. Maya's growth. Deborah's health. Writing: finding a illustrator for Rosie & Rafi and moving to self-publish this year. And finding the arc for the City Book. That is enough. I am deeply grateful--even though I have to remind myself of that too often.

I'm a graduate student. It has been a long time since I was a college student. This experience is so refreshing and is giving me a feeling of accomplishment and excitement.

My husband proposed we get legally married, after many many years. Yes, I am grateful!

My mind is at a blur at the moment. Rosh Hashanah happens to almost coincide with what I will unbelievably probably soon mark as my 4th year on this absolutely ridiculous job search, and that is all I can think about...and as I look at my response to this question last year, that was pretty much all-consuming last time around too. I happen to be still getting over being sick as well, having attended Trybal Gatherings again for the 3rd time and...is this the 3rd time I got sick immediately afterwards too? I forget if I got sick last year or if I miraculously emerged from the experience well that time. Anyways...a significant experience from last year? I'd love to say the fact that I collaborated with the Smithsonian on designing an original game-based learning experience was significant, even though every job I've applied to and have interviewed for since doesn't seem to think so. One would think having that kind of huge, somewhat household name would have made a difference in my life...but apparently not, or at least not yet. I am grateful to have had that experience, don't get me wrong...but I have become incredibly disillusioned by how long my job search has dragged on and by how it seems like it's just going to go on forever and ever. I simply don't deserve this after all I have been through in my professional life. I deserve a meaningful career that pays enough for me to live on my own in a good quality apartment (or dare I even dream, a house?) and enough for me to be able to actually enjoy life a little, y'know? Who would've thought that would be too much to ask for? I didn't expect to become a millionaire by investing in a career in education, but I had hoped to have a decent living situation and dare I say maybe even a loving wife and some children of my own by this point in my life. Things have been so demoralizing for me since losing Catalyst during the pandemic and I keep praying for the pendulum to swing back in the other direction for life to genuinely get better, and yet, things simply refuse to come together. I just don't understand it.

My older granddaughter graduated high school and went off to London for her 1st Boston University college semester. I miss her laughs and hugs but we talk once a week by phone. I am relieved, for sure, that we can see her and hear her even across the Atlantic.

Falling down three steps and breaking my elbow, has been quite an experience through three surgeries and four hospitalizations, many doctor appointments, physical therapy still six months later. At first, I was resentful that I wasn’t careful and made the fall through all of this, though I have realized I was in the wrong type of work. I have lost my job and I really am trying to get my life back, however losing my job was probably the best thing that has happened to me in a long time so I have to look at breaking my elbow has been a blessing instead of something to resent. I am recovering and the only problem is my surgeon has cut my ulnar nerve and part of one of my non-dominant hands is disabled. I’m trying to get better.

I found out that my favourite uncle has terminal cancer. The thought of him not being there somewhere soon gives me panic attacks. I still struggle with the aftermath of my own cancer journey and it gives me flashbacks. Plus even though I know I shouldn’t think like this, it is so unfair. He’s the best person I know, always there for everyone, and still he has struggled so much in his life. And now he s not even allowed to live his last months as joyous as he wishes because of complications.

I found an online community this year. On April 7, I attended a zoom meeting of a new endeavour called Lost a Friend Found a Tribe. I had been searching for a jewish community for over a year when I saw this on Instagram. Immediately it filled me with hope and gratitude that this space was created. That an individual saw the need and stepped in and just made it. As we continued to meet on zoom week after week and individual connections formed, I was then able to play a leadership role in a spin off group, which was a closed group, where opinions, thoughts, feelings and emotions cold be shared among staunch Zionists and people who lived in the world that exists. All of my new friendships this year come out of this group - Jews and allies from all over the world. The level of gratitude that I hold for all of this happening is very high. It has helped me find a real sense of purpose and joy in these truly dark days. Many of the people in both of these groups continue to amaze and inspire me with their courage, wisdom, smiles and empathy.

My husband and I celebrated our 50th anniversary. I am grateful to have made it this long with my husband as we have grown to be different people than we were back then. But we have taken the path together and hopefully will continue to travel the road of life together for many more years!

Launched Values Edge, published Living Your Values, built community, Celebrated Dennis at 80

With the help of Chatgbt, I found the doorway to my writing. Not to write my story but to frame it, encourage it. Confusion dispelled, I embraced what I view as another task, to have it become a passion. I am rewarded with the pleasure of simply doing it.

My decision to convert to Judaism has really been interesting and inspiring. It's filtered a lot of other events in my life like a miscarriage, my cousin's wedding, family health issues, and other events with a lens of spirituality and identity. I am grateful that I feel like I am owning this part of my identity but I often feel guilty and uncertain about if I am doing the right thing, and also if I am taking on too much.

Serving in Kairos Ministry, giving my 1st speech on “ I am worthy” Felt inspiring helping women who are impacted by incarceration

My older son moved to Jerusalem to attend Yeshevah and my youngest son moved to Austin to start at UT. My husband and I are empty nesters. I am sad they are gone I am grateful they are healthy and safe and strong and independent and good and kind and ready to fly. I am grateful that I have a great relationship with both. I miss them. I miss be useful. . I am scared to lose them to growing up. I am looking forward to figuring out who I am as a woman vs a mom

It’s one thing yet it’s more than once. It’s being with my son and learning more about who he is. Both limitations and extraordinary goodness grateful for the information often sad about it sometimes proud about it. usually grateful.

In late December, I began working daily with the Primordial Light Realm. I will never be the same as I was before. I am honored, grateful, in awe — and utterly inspired to continue and see what unfolds.

My dad was diagnosed with untreatable, fast-moving cancer at the beginning of August. It was shocking, to say the least. Having my parents die was always a "future" thing, and to realize that it was upon me was jarring. I am not grateful or relieved. I feel guilty that I haven't made more time to spend with my dad and have missed out on asking him things now I'll never know, or just spending time with him learning about what is important to him. He's a self-contained person and definitely doesn't wear his heart on his sleeve. So many things about his inner workings will be a mystery. I am inspired by his attitude to death. He is a scientist, and he is very pragmatic that this is the natural course of things. His calm demeanor helps me and I think it helps my mom face the future. And one thing I am grateful for is the outpouring of love and support I have received from my work community and my friends. My family and I are held in love and prayer and that has been very comforting as we walk this journey.

This year I got to see a music festival with an entire lineup of women. I never thought I would see this in my lifetime. It was a beautiful, kind and wholesome experience. There is nothing like being in a space with so many womxn. Everyone understood the assignment. I’ll never forget it.

Nothing of great significance happened this last year. It was a year of reflection on my wife's continued health and how much she has changed her lifestyle. I'm grateful. That and other factors have brought my mortality and the mortality of friends into sharp focus.

My last two grandchildren were born this year… a special occasion always. I love them so much! But the significant experience for this year was this past August. The entire family (kids and grandkids) battled a hurricane to linkup in Maui to share a vacation. Running with my sons, going to the beach with family, pulling Avery out of the surf, going to a luau where it’s rumored that Sloane had a Mai Tai, watching the grandkids run around and have fun while their parents exercised their parental rights to varying degrees of success, an executive dinner gifted to us by our kids,… Truly a great time! I am so proud of my children and grandchildren. So proud to be Papa alongside GG. Love you all!

I became involved in a group called foundatribe.org, which has organized to combat antisemitism in America

My father died in February. Still don't feel anything. I just...keep pushing it down.

Turning 65 less than 2 weeks ago has had a surprising impact on me. I have found myself looking forward to it and since then have felt happy about it. In some ways it is not a big event, as I'm still working and don't anticipate retiring anytime soon. I have been looking forward to dropping my role as faculty lead and have felt no loss in that, even though I had anticipated noticing the loss of status or importance. Hitting 65 has felt in some way to be a relief. It made it easy to cut back to 75% at work. In a more important way it frees me up even more to lean into my mantra of the past few years to "trust that I am enough". I have been trying to let go of my striver identity. Turning 65 in some odd way makes that easier. Working is a choice. I have nothing to prove or earn. I enjoy my work and want to keep doing it, but I have no appetite for "advancement" (even though that is not really an option). I don't need to add new skills or take on new challenges. I've already decided that I will not say yes to anything that comes with stress. Freedom and relief are the words that seem to fit best.

Being diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer, going thru surgery then treatment. It has been everything and every emotion. Today, gratitude for coming as far as I have. Thus far.

Damn. I have to give this one to breast cancer. I'm still processing how it affected me, to be honest. But what I've discovered, I've been expressing in poetry, and that's kind of nice. I'm always grateful when there's poetry in me.

my dad died. he was 97. it's the loss of my 2nd parent. I have no parents. and my son is about to have a baby-- i'm going to be a grandmother!! what a shift in the generations. so happy and sad at the same time.

Joe has been diagnosed with bladder cancer. He is currently undergoing treatments. Hi ow am I affected? I have experienced terror and grief as well as concern for him of course but also for myself. I’ve struggled with determining if this is selfish or quite understandable. Have not come to a resolution on that! I am deeply grateful for an unknown Maple doctor who requested a cystoscope and which unexpectedly found the tumour. I suppose I have felt some resentment as this whole thing has an impact on our living but I do t feel I dwell on that. I have been inspired by this brush with mortality to be more intentional in my daily even hourly living and being

This year I had a stroke followed by a heart attack six weeks later. The heart attack I've been expecting, fearing and dreading since I was in high school. And it happened. And I survived. I was under the care of the most astounding, inspiring, brilliant cardiac team -- truly world class. I feel so privileged to have experienced this. Cardiac care has certainly changed since my Dad had a heart attack when I was 8 years old. My attitude toward life is undergoing a profound change, which I'm still in the middle of. I came out of it with an appreciation for life, and a calmness, that I've not known before. My biggest fear happened, so it's over now. It wasn't the horrible event I worried about. I was surrounded by so many people all fighting to keep me healthy and functioning: friends, nursing staff, medical personnel far and wide, random people like the lady at the bank who was so helpful when she knew my brain was a tad addled from the stroke. My attitude toward life, the world, my place in it all changed. I have never felt as though I belonged; now I do. Why? Who the heck knows? I just do. I'm not afraid of death and ready to go whenever it comes for me, though I'm in no hurry. I'm at such peace about it. I'm no longer guilty about being alive or taking up space. I'm actively preparing to go without being at all morbid about it. I'm not depressed, I'm not suicidal, I'm at peace. What a gift! Dad was given a gift all those years ago: a book entitled Thank God for My Heart Attack. I was furious at whoever gave it to him. How on earth could someone be grateful for the very worst thing that could ever happen to them? Today, I get it and am trying to explain it to that poor, bewildered, brave eight-year-old. I am determined to make the most of what's left. That means not letting guilt run me. That means enjoying myself. That means watching a movie if I want to instead of cleaning the house. It means no more beating myself up. It's gonna take attention to break the old habits, but I'm determined to do that. Abby is so clear about expressing what she wants and needs. I want to learn from her.

I sold my house and bought a van! Holy shit! I did a complete 180 from the depressing place I was in, I really fucking grabbed life by the labia and went for it! And I’m soooooo happy I did! I have no regrets. In fact, I feel alive again, whole, purposeful. In the throughs of grief, I drove to Florida this winter when I was so suicidal I didn’t know what else to do except seek sun and get the fuck away. It was there at my favorite campsite that I made the decision and called my realtor. It all happened so fast. I got way more money than I expected for my house, got to leave most of my stuff behind, and Julie my neighbor offered for me to move in with her for the summer and help with her pets. Mary came to my rescue and helped me pack up, and it brought us closer. Julie’s place has been so safe, a great place to land, and I’ve healed so much. It’s amazing how a safe person can illustrate to you what you’ve been missing, and what you shouldn’t accept. I quit my job at Stardust, and took a job at the Sleeping Bear Dunes visitors center - and it’s been amazing! I think I want to be a park ranger. I think I am changing my whole career. Everything is changing, for the better. I’m doing it. IM DOING IT!

My tumultuous intimacy with Mr. D. It’s coming to a natural closure bittersweet and set a focusing on the loss. I’m wanting to re-awaken or refined. What is my purpose. Where do I belong one of my supposed to do with the time I have left

It's hard to choose just one because this year has been one of many significant experiences. One of the experiences that was profoundly significant was the loss of my granddaughter due to stillbirth. Navigating my own devastation and the devastation of my daughter and her husband significantly impacted my understanding of grief, child loss, and how complicated and life altering losing a child is. There is no comfort, or relief from that loss. As a mom, witnessing my daughter learn to carry this grief that she will carry the rest of her life and how she created support around her while her and her husband stood strong together inspired gratitude for her strength, gratitude that she has a truly supportive and kind partner, and gratitude for the love we feel for her child we had to let go of before we were able to know her at all.

I got diagnosed with Diabetes and that changed my whole course of life to be honest. I don't know if I would say it's all for the worse, I think in the end things ended up for the better but I can say that it changed things very dramatically and I think today would be very different if that didn't happen.

I got off all my psychiatric medications nine months ago. I transitioned from a paradigm of pathology and brokenness to a paradigm of sacred alignment and wholeness and centering in the Divine. I'm still in the beginning, it may always feel like the beginning, but a confidence and stability is emerging that I don't think I have encountered in sobriety so far. I'm not treating myself as quite as fragile. I'm trusting the great mystery and the unknown, and active curiosity is powerfully replacing my decades-long default of fear. Basically everything in my life changed as a result of this. Relationship ended, moved out, career transmogrifying. There is so much more that I don't know. But I am grateful and humbled to be on this journey - of truly waking up to my real reason for being here, to the truth of who we really are.

I changed my business model and stopped taking insurance. I was resentful that insurance hadn't raised our rates in over 20 years and needed to make more money. It was hard for about the first 9 months when I was rebuilding my caseload. I wish I had done this years ago when I had a second income from my then husband, but I am grateful for the support of my parents. I am now working less and earning the same as last year, and I hope to make even more money and feel more independent in the future.

Celebrated my granddaughter becoming bat mitzvah in Scotland!!! SO grateful I could be there. Also went to Mexico for the first time in over 60 years and loved it. Plus I took a four day tour of the Lower Hebrides and it was amazing!!!

My husband had a spinal fusion surgery this year. I am very pleased that it has gone well so far, but the experience has been very stressful for both of us due to the health and financial risks involved.

I started to write a book “Lessons Learned, Aging with Grace.” It is quite time consuming but I am so grateful for the amazing people who have touched my life professionally and personally. It is taking longer than I hoped but I will remain dedicated.

Well, my child just heard he did not get either of the jobs that he is more than qualified for. Both are jobs he has worked (one was an internship that just expired) and he knows how to do them. It is heartbreaking. He is despondent. I am beside myself with sadness for him. This was going to be the start of his career, and now ... I know so much of what I reply here has to do with him, but he is my baby, my one and only. But I also traveled to Ireland for my birthday and had an amazingly fun time. My sister and I traveled to Israel to see my brother who is declining. That was good but sad. And raised a few issues about my relationship with my sister.

Only one? The whole year is a blur, but right now, I have been cast in a play, and although it is a challenge, I am very excited and grateful!

I removed what gave me anxiety, waiting for this new lawsuit to come through. I hope it gives me a lot. I learned how the world works by visiting where I wanted to visit. It was really eye opening to me. Ive decided I need to be rich. I want to be rich, and I want to be fulfilled making it,

I had my DIEP flap breast reconstruction to fix my original mastectomy. It was painful, long, difficult. I threw things and broke down in tears... and then I got stronger. After four weeks of not showering I learned to appreciate showers as if they were a new invention! Physical therapy has been a thoughtful exercise, being very conscientious of my body and movements. I now don't have any foreign objects in my body, and I feel like I've healed from the original 2013 mastectomy. I am grateful for having found a brilliant surgeon that listened to me and how uncomfortable I felt in my body. I'm relieved that I was able to be off work and take care of myself and not rush the recovery. I'm sad that I wasn't able to share this with Ellen. I thought about her a lot, and I really missed having her present, hearing her voice.

My brother-in-law passed away recently. He was way too young and didn't take care of himself but it still hits very hard when the first family member of your generation dies. I resent what he did to himself and am sad for my wife but I'm doing the best I can. Of course, feeling very mortal at the moment

I have finally accepted leadership positions. I guess I have been President of the Condo Council since March of 2025. I feel that this year I have grown into that position and am in fact being appreciated for my leadership - by the council and by the property manager we work with. AND now, this year the synagogue has asked us to be co-EVPs and eventually co-presidents. Am I resentful? You bet. We are too old (past retirement) to be having this time bound commitment thrust upon us. OTOH...I have noticed that I have been gifted an aura of authority and I am grateful for my condo council experience - it gives me some faith in my ability to proceed with this leadership with some bit of grace.

This past year I published my first novel. After a long writing process and a long editing process, I have finally published in. The process was intense because I was new to this publishing thing and it didn’t go as I planned, but in the end I still figured it out.

This May, I was with my wife and adult children in Italy for a family wedding. While we have traveled with our kids when they were younger, this was our first trip to Europe, and it included their significant others. We didn't plan all that well, and wanted to give each of our kids enough space for them to enjoy themselves on their own. We were gratified to find that they each seemed to enjoy our company, and we found that we all travel well together as adults. This made us very happy, and grateful, and we are looking forward to many such trips in the future, hopefully with grandchildren as well.

Trump started a war with Iran, which closed the Hormuz Strait and cut off a large portion of the world's oil supply. That plus tariffs and the end of healthcare subsidies have caused many prices to go up significantly. I'm still okay financially but a lot of people are not. It's a terrible situation for a lot of people. The only silver lining is it's turning a lot of people against the Republican party.

This year my significant experience is ...well....everything came together. For the first time in my adult life. Really. Financially secure. Relatively good health. Estate plan taken care of for me, and also I have ensured that both sons will have the things they need and the people they need to live successfully when i am.no longer here. Both sons (who both have disabilities) are in good places...where/how they live, work, friends. They each have devolped lives. I am going into my second year of retirement. It will be different than the first (less things to take care of) and still more exploring and revising of what i want it to look like, but I feel good about being retired.

I went to Brodie with LM and Gareth. I am very happy and grateful

My 36 year old daughter has moved back into our home because she’s an alcoholic and has a gambling addiction. When she moved back home 9 months ago I did not realize how serious things have become, I thought it was mostly financial. She brought her 3 dogs with. This has caused a lot of stress mentally and physically, I’m allergic to dogs) . I feel like I’m hanging on by a thread and I don’t see anything improving anytime soon.

Having to go into a nursing home, it humbled me and taught me to appreciate the little things in life.

The care taking of mama continues. We are moving into year 4, and gets more difficult month to month. Lori is pushed beyond any one person's capability but, still resists bringing in outside help. I just keep doing everything I can to be a good partner and daughter in law. I'm frustrated, resentful and confused about why she wont take full advantage of every available benefit available

The biggest three things that have happened in the last year: a) deciding to sell our Pittsburgh house b) going on Cayamo vacation and c) winning the teaching prize at Sinai. The the last one made me feel really grateful and happy. The second one was quite a joy, although Danna and I had some difficulties at the beginning. In general, it was a fabulous vacation, and I had a great time with her and it was something that was clearly on my bucket list. The first one is bittersweet and is causing some tension and anxiety, but I know it'll work out in the end.

In some ways, this whole year has been a significant experience -- getting the feel of my new job, getting to know my new town and the land around it, learning to stop missing Vermont quite so much. In fact, I am personally very blessed, and I do remember that, even when I sometimes feel sad or challenged. The job is great!

This past year, I have been successfully enrolled and am finishing up my second Masters degree, this time in Religious Studies and with a 3.8 GPA AND induced into an honor society!. At age 72!! I really did not think it would be possible. And yes, it has taken my mind off of managing without a steady pay check. I am still quite active and working in every way possible. So, I am grateful to be healthy and well enough to continue to work, to study and to write graduate level analysis- WOW!. I will be relieved when I can get a steady paycheck. Of course, this economy and the current political, corrupt administration isn't helping! That is a little bit of resentment with that! Inspired, yes. I am praying to have funds to go to my graduation next year. That is my worry and I am going to try my BEST to not let it get me down!

My dog got attacked and bitten by the neighbor's dog on a sidewalk who refuses to apologize. Resentful as I had asked them to leave my dog alone before.

I received a job offer I didn't expect to get, and my family moved across the country, from San Francisco to coastal Georgia. My feelings are...mixed. Grateful for the incredible schools the kids go to, and that my husband is doing well. Disappointed and resentful that we still can't afford to buy a house in a low-crime area with good schools a reasonable commute to work, and our rental has a healthy population of cockroaches (Georgians call them "water bugs" which is cute but they're still cockroaches) and flooding in our bedroom when it rains hard. Truthfully, I'm lonely and I still miss San Francisco. My best friend there has proven that our friendship is not portable; she just stopped replying. But. I'm trying to BE grateful and SEE the positive. We are exploring, having adventures, my people are healthy and happy.

My beloved cat, Nova, died. We held her as she slipped away, and I watched the life leave her beautiful eyes. I'm glad she's out of pain. She was no longer herself. And I'm so sad. I miss her viscerally. And, of course, we lost John. My, our, brother-in-law, and Frank's bandmate of 40 years. Forty days from diagnosis to death. Fucking devastating.

Getting let go at my job at the end of February. I was completely shaken when it first happened. I was saddened because I've never been let go of a job before, then I felt relieved because I hated working under the CEO and there was a sense of satisfaction to know I'd be getting paid 3 months of severance and I have so many opportunities ahead of me. I quickly found the job of my dreams!

LEE AND I BROKE UP on Wednesday, September 9 (9/9). He has been having a cheating affair with at least one partner that he met on feeld. He is a lying piece of shit who didn't have the balls to break-up with me or just tell me he didn't want to be together. He basically hit on Sasha on the site, and she showed me everything. We broke up in March/April and got back together, went to couples therapy, and he couldn't even do anything right. I am so hurt, betrayed, upset. I can't believe this happened especially since we just went to Phish at Dick's for Labor Day (it was my dumb birthday gift to him). He used me. I'm writing this and it sounds like we're 22. Double that. He has put me in a terrible position of sadness and anger. Now I will spend the next 90 days healing. I have blocked him and mailed his key back. I hope I can bounce back and heal.

There were a fair number of significant experiences for me last year. Up front, the best thing — one of my sons got married. It was all very last minute due to the civil ceremony rules in France, but it was lovely. I am happy about every aspect and, most importantly, I love his bride. I could not have wished for a better partner for him. I moved out of the large Santa Monica apartment I shared with my late partner and into a significantly smaller, but cozy place of my own. I am both thrilled to be alone and lonely. The move — both the move out the end of October and the move in in January — were exhausting, psychologically and physically. While I feel (9 months later) that I have done a lot to make this place my own, I still feel on some level that my heart isn’t here yet. I went to three large book events, and aside from lengthening my TBR list, there was inspiration from the speakers at all three events. Maybe just maybe I am starting to think about a new project.

I finally retired from clinical medicine. I have been doing it for well over 40 years so it is a bit disorienting. I am relieved, because I hate the changes in medicine that have poisoned my once loved profession. But I also feel a bit untethered.

I took 5 month long service leave and went to Europe for an experience. As mum was pretty ill, I left with a heavy heart knowing that it might be possible I needed to come back if she passed away. We made a packed, she would wait for me to cone back and we would call her every day 9am to show her what we were doing, the calls were always half hr or more. we both kept our promise and mum passed away on 7 August, as she wanted age 96, by only a few hours of turning 97. That was the biggest gift she gave me and my husband.

Broke up with Jim 11-29-25 One of the hardest things I have done, and the best for me. I finally took care of ME. Relieved. In Grief. Grateful. So many things at once.

After years of symptoms and physical ailments that had no clear cause, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis last month. On the one hand I am grateful to have something concrete to point to. On the other, WTF? MS?!? The good news is that of all these types of diseases this is the one that has the most treatment options. But, shit, this was not how I planned to spend my autumn years. Could always be worse, but I’d lying if I wasn’t resentful around getting this in the first place. The news is too recent to have really processed all this, so hard to have too much perspective or calm right now...

Stress from the current state of the world, financial stress due to my father’s situation since my mother’s passing. I’m greatful despite everything, I got to meet really wonderful people and grow physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually in ways I never imagined possible in someone like me. I’m not relieved, my problems would be solved if a miracle just suddenly happened, which I hope it’s soon. I might feel resentful at times, towards people who happen to have everything by chance, but I remember, just as I, they have their silent battles. I’m inspired, because i got so far, it must be for a reason no?

Whelp. I got laid off. I am grateful for the nudge. A bit resentful since it was unexpected and I worked so hard. I have been able to rest. I am doing meaningful work. I am trusting the process.

I quit my job in January and it allowed me to go and follow my dreams of performing! I’ve just accepted my Viking world cruise contract.

I volunteer at Cedars weekly. One uneventful Monday a few weeks ago they called a code blue in our area for an elderly patient whose heart had stopped. Holding the door open instinctively for arriving Drs from the heart center one floor below I felt as a guardian and custodian of life allowing the patient to revive. This is my work in retirement to help others in need. A blessing indeed.

Got into a graduate program for teaching and became a certified teacher. Got a job. Am grateful and overwhelmed.

No deaths, which is good. One wedding, which is good. But truly significant, no. But given the last few years, I'll take a more neutral year (aside from the almost daily idiocy south of here).

Together with my daughter I was going to Budapest. The first time in my life I was in Budapest. And I was with my daughter, who is my best friend. I was happy. And, of course, I was grateful.

I came down with an inner ear case of vertigo that’s lasted for more than 3.5 months. Much better today, but it’s been hard, giving up my volunteering, most of my driving, my daily walks. Errands. I am very grateful now to be on the other side of it now. In the first 2+ months, I felt helpless, anxious and depressed. Not being able to be out in the world made me feel Less Than, and at times, taking a walk after days holed up inside, I felt panicky in the world. Panicked that something bad was about to happen. I feel so grateful to be better now, and I hope this experience can add to and broaden my empathy. We never know what others are going through. We should approach with kindness and love. ❤️

I retired! It's an adjustment. I am both grateful and struggling. Feels like my life has lost an anchor and deep meaning. I am in exploration mode trying to work through the transition.

I turned 80. It is significant in facing mortality, in the decline of the body, in the rate of decline and in the recognition of having some wisdom. I am indeed grateful to have lived this long and to be fully functional. Although retirement left some time gaps, I think mostly they are getting filled with meaningful activities. I am inspired to know I can be there for lots of people.

I finally accepted that I am suffering from hypothyroidism and must take a prescription drug for the rest of my life. Now that it has settled down at 37.5 mcg of Levothyroxine, I feel pretty good, can see it has been impacting me for years. Keeping vigorous health up is a key to living well. I hope I can manage that for decades to come.

I decided to have some therapy again, it finished a few months ago, it has definitely helped me. I feel more grounded now.

One of the most significant experiences of the past year was having my understanding of my own sexuality and relationships expand in ways I didn't expect. My partner and I have been exploring ethical non-monogamy, and when his partner X came to visit, I was surprised by how much I genuinely enjoyed having her in our lives. Instead of feeling threatened by their connection, I found myself feeling curious, attracted to her, and even deeply happy for both of them. I experienced something I had previously understood mostly as a concept—compersion—as a real feeling. The experience also gave me permission to explore parts of my own sexuality that I had kept somewhat separate or unexplored. I've become more aware of my attraction to women, my relationship to power and gender, and the ways sexuality can be playful, relational, and expansive rather than something that needs to fit neatly into one category. It has made me feel grateful and inspired. I’m grateful that I allowed myself to be surprised by my own capacity for openness and joy. And I’m inspired by the realization that intimacy doesn't have to look exactly the way I once imagined it in order to feel meaningful, secure, and deeply connected.

I am grateful that I was able to move away from Rich's house and got divorced. I was very unhappy, and although it was very hard, I am thankful that I finally did it.

I remotely met the person who is probably my twin flame. It was quite overwhelming to "meet" the person that had all of the qualities I put in my dream person. A very hard lesson to learn that this meeting was not meant to be a permanent coming together, but only a lesson in what I've been allowing and what I deserve. I'm grateful for the experience and what I learned, even though it was painful at times.

I found out I have cancer. It was sad, but not as sad or as scary as I would have guessed. It made me redouble my commitment to YOLO and mindfulness.

I was able to get a work reduction to take care of my health. My experience and process of getting there, though, is what makes it significant. I knew last Fall that, for my physical and mental health, something would have to give. Truthfully, I think I knew this before then. But I was scared about the logistics and I had hoped that some of the things I had put in place might work such that I would be able to get through the academic year fine. I hoped, at least, but wasn't optimistic. Anyway, I was scared about approaching my supervisor, scared about telling my wife that I needed to do this for myself, scared about the potential financial impact (whether policy would cover the time I took off), and scared about the possible impacts to my employment. I was also scared to admit that I really believed this was necessary, and what that said about me. I found the courage to do all of those things, and I was surprised to find such support. My supervisor approved without qualms, my wife wasn't sure but took my word seriously, and I was able to supplement the missing income with my employer's policy and sick leave. I was proud of myself for my courage and grateful for the support. I don't tend to believe that others, from individuals to bureaucracies, have my back. I don't trust them. Yet, in this case, I felt supported and cared for. I do think, though, that it has made me somewhat resentful of the status quo. Even with a reduction, I had an immense amount of work and life was still overwhelming at many points. But the reduction gave me a bit of space to heal and grow, to spend with my kid without guilt and stress, and now that I am back full-time, I wonder: why does life need to be this full? Why do I need to work so many hours, for so little pay, so little meaning, so little worth? As I write this, I wonder how much of this is a function of my job and how much is a function of my relationship and attitude towards it. This is something I've thought of before, but want to truly revisit. Can I find the value while reducing the demands and time? Regardless, I am also proud that I have taken time out of my day to do this, and that I will continue to do these for the next 10 days. I am committing to it, and I feel that this is significant itself. Now...off to teach.

I have returned to my deepest core, which includes being a Jew by Choice, and I am grateful, ecstatic, inspired, relieved, transported, since I now know who I am and what I want and what I believe. It means not being compliant with my husband’s wants in all things, and his ideas. He is okay with that, since he respects Judaism and values it. I relish the opportunity to study Torah every day, to learn more Hebrew, and to find the meaning in life I have sought. I also am thankful for the teachings and practices of Mussar, which as I study this and learn, is enriching my life and my spiritual journey.

I have decided to make peace with the decisions I have made, It is better to improve yourself and make sure the grass on your side is nurtured so its as green as the other side. I am relieved that I got to experience this profound realization.

Friend and donor Dave's bequest gave the organization a new lease on life. Relief and gratitude. Pelvic floor repair helped but did not bring relief to nocturia. Neither did 12 weekly sessions of ankle jabs. Discouraging. Very stressful wedding that took months of planning made me reconsider whether I will take on such events in the future. Psychic pain. Marc revealed that he had not been paying taxes for 3 years, and we began couples counseling. Betrayal but hope. Kayla stopped being a teacher and earned her degree as a school counselor. Pride and relief. Currently, back pain, interferes with sleep and I will be doing an MRI and whatever else it takes to find relief. Fear.

The ICE insurgence this winter: how strong our community can be helping people, ,hope in the children; even through horrible horrific times, the trauma while watching the news, and hearing lies. but knowing there’s hope ahead, we are strong. We can make it , though the scars are deep the wounds not forgotten. People keep singing turn on your flashlight blow your whistle. #3 Black today was the eagle flying slowly, low to the ground with wings heavy heavy like an oil slick. There is no majesty in royalty. Its sword low, the sky was quiet. Black was the eagle today. Heavy heavy wings that want to touch the sky, but are laden with the sorrows of the people. I had been seeing gray, tomorrow I write in black. Where are the people fighting back? Are they silent like the eagle that was black? ©Amy N. Sasik Minneapolis Minnesota January 6 2026

The birth of my daughter has changed me in ways I could have never imagined. I can’t remember when I knew that I wanted to be a mom, but it’s been part of my identity since then. I am unbelievably grateful for the chance to be a mom — something I wasn’t sure would actually happen — and to have this amazing, sweet baby who is mine. The physical manifestation of me and my husband’s love. Despite all of the challenges that come with motherhood, what an absolute dream come true.

Being massively let down by blood and massively supported by chosen family

My husband admitted that he was an alcoholic and is working hard to stay sober. I have so many feelings about this because my ex was also an alcoholic and refused to seek help. My husband is doing an amazing job and going on a spiritual journey. He’s asked me to take this journey of self-exploration and betterment with him. So I’ve been doing a lot of my own soul-searching. We started going to a church. We are really changing who we are fundamentally. It’s scary, but I’m also so grateful and relieved to be on the path we are on. I think it is good for us and is helping us set a better example for our children on how to live our lives as good people. I am inspired daily by his commitment to not drink and to be more present with me and the kids.

All year I thought about how I'd talk about my career path, how it veered one way and went another and how I recently started school in order to get a certification to work in a trade. I had a LOT happen to me over the past year, work-wise, and personally. And then, only 4 weeks ago... my husband had a stroke. My life has turned upside down since, although I've been handling it as best as I can. My husband has been amazing. He's already back home and recovering at a great pace. He's numb on the left side of his body but slowly regaining sensation. He's been doing physical and occupational therapy. He's simply amazing. I think that all-in-all, this has been a very big year for personal growth for me. I do have my fears about the future, but I am so optimistic that things will work out somehow. And my husband will get better and better, as he has been doing so far.

This is probably going to appear in multiple answers. I was part way through selling my house and buying another when it drove me off my head and I had to pull out. I was relieved when I did but it took me some time to recover.

Oh it's holiday again, it's always holiday. I feel grateful for it but also despairing because of the whole "I live for one week a year" thing and it's inevitable and going to go on forever

On Dec. 14th, I had a full tear of my lateral meniscus. It meant surgery, and staying immobile for 6 weeks. When it happened, I was pissed. But it did teach me to be OK with slowing down. And ultimately, while recovery has been slower than I would have liked, I'm grateful this is the worst thing that's happened to my body in my 46 years. It also gave me a lot of time to read and to really connect with my husband, so I'm grateful for that, too.

Oh my God. Lenore. I had a 15 pound ovarian tumor cut out of my body and its entirety – bigger than a basketball. It was hellish and heavenly and transformative and mundane. My parents, Michelle and Campbell really really really came to support me. I don't think I've ever felt so loved in my entire life. It left me with a huge scar and a desire to be stronger in my body and embody my life more. I'm working on it.

I got my son back. I have been on a cloud due to Jesus taking care of me and my family. Every thing in my life has become so great. I am so grateful and relieved that im free from toxic people, im free and sober. I am a little resenting of my daughter but im trusting the Lord. Im inspired by all the hard things that i have accomplished, i never thought i could make it this far.

We have had a significant restructuring in my organization that left me adrift and somewhat resentful as others were promoted over me. I spent a few months processing the changes and reevaluating my priorities. In the end, I’m mostly comfortable where I landed and have taken the moment to learn to ask more clearly for what I want and to dream bigger.

After losing 120 lbs and having successful knee surgery, I’m coming out of my shell, finding my voice, and DANCING! My challenge is adapting to increasing vision loss through macular degeneration and the grief of giving up reading.

I got pregnant, twice. --- The first time was in January, and I was thrilled to see the positive test. It had been my first attempt with my sperm donor, and it felt like a really good sign that we had success right away. Unfortunately, that pregnancy ended in a silent miscarriage which I found out about during my 12-week scan. The foetus had stopped developing at 8 weeks, 3 days—just one day after I had had my previous (healthy) scan. I was devastated and heartbroken. I had gone to my 12 week scan alone, and the ultrasound tech kept asking if I was going to be okay to drive myself home. I was not okay, but I had to get home anyway. I made myself take deep breaths throughout the whole drive, and managed to slow my tears enough that I could focus on the road and get home safely. A few days later, my body finally began processing the miscarriage. I bled so much that I went to the ER, where I waited 14 hours to be seen by a doctor. By the time I finally spoke to the doctor, it was 6a.m., the bleeding had slowed considerably and I just wanted to go home. I was told to go home and that I would get a call later in the day to come back for an ultrasound, to check for any more retained products of conception. My mom, who had dutifully sat with me all night, drove me home. I got to sleep for maybe 3 hours before the hospital called me to come back. They did the ultrasound, and then I got to wait around for another several hours for the results. At one point, a friend of mine who lived close to the hospital took a bus over just to bring me a hot meal. I had been living on bagels from the hospital's Tim Hortons, and that meal from my friend meant more than I can ever say. --- After my miscarriage, I was advised to wait until after my next period before trying to conceive again. That meant the earliest I could try again would be mid-May. I was leaving for a 9-day international trip with my family on May 15th, so I wasn't sure if the timing would work out to get in a May attempt at all. The stars aligned though, and I got my chance just a few days before our trip. When I got back home from the trip, I took a test and it was positive. It was hard to believe it, but suddenly I was pregnant again. I noticed the symptoms set in a little more quickly this time. I was tired all the time, and I was bloated. I didn't have nausea per se, but my stomach would start to feel bad if I didn't eat frequently enough. I suspected that it might be twins early on, and when I finally got to my first ultrasound, I found out I was right. I am now just shy of 20 weeks pregnant with those twins. I still have to pinch myself sometimes, and I'm a bit more anxious in this pregnancy after my experience earlier this year. But overall I'm so grateful and excited to meet these little ones when they come into the world in a few months.

I got married in Scotland this year. The experience of our wedding and transitioning into married life has been a whirlwind. The wedding itself was a trip of a lifetime and turned out far better than I think either of us could’ve imagined. I feel like I waited so long to marry my wife and now that it’s done it feels a bit like relief but also just plain excitement as we begin this new chapter. I’m still very much learning how things are different in our relationship and what it means to be a husband versus a boyfriend, but I’m excited to watch our relationship develop and evolve.

I realized that my husband was an alcoholic and was lying to me. I was extremely distraught, but with the support of my family, friend, and therapist I was able to start my journey of centering myself instead. We are separated now. I don't know if we'll still be together next year.

My oldest daughter started Grade 12 this year and is so very excited to be a Senior and to graduate and move away for university. I am processing this all and its a lot. I want her to live the life of her dreams! But! also to stay close to me. I am excited for her and I hope the year is everything she hopes it will be, and I hope I am able to watch her grow into adulthood and let her try some new adventures!

My daughter's cancer spread to her liver. It has given me a great deal of grief to know that the treatment she's undergoing now is her last chance. It makes her sick, causes her hair to fall out, and other side-effects. I'm her mama and I can't kiss her boo-boo and make it better or go away. I'm worried, I'm hurting inside, but I can't let her know. She's my baby and I love her. I'm praying for remission, for lesion shrinkage, for many more healthy years for her.

After two years of rest, I got a new job! I work at a synagogue now and help out in its office. Its yet another organization that I would have never thought I'd find myself at, let alone enjoying everyday that I'm there. There are some stressful parts, but I followed a friend to this organization and have made many more friends along the way. I feel relieved that the pressure of finding a job is off... not for the financial side but the part of me that thought I'd never find a good job again.

I left my business after spending several years dedicating myself to a certain plan of life. It was the last thing tying my daily life to that plan, and I have since felt some degree of unmoored. I am grateful, I am healing, I am gaining perspective and planning, but I am without confidence and conviction, and I means that I am less clear on how I should make my choices. I miss having purpose, I miss working on something with others, and I miss having something influencing my life other than a partner and my social battery.

Overcame insomnia, I’ve got a new position at work, succeeded at work, reached a new level of peace, managed anxiety differently

My adult son moved off planet. My grief is profound. I am not the same person I was before this happened. I am learning a lot, one breath at a time. Love is sacred and everywhere.

The most significant experience of the past year is probably the fact that Sam and I got engaged in November! The truth is that we had so many up's and down's in the first 2+ years of our relationship -- owing in part to the fact that I tend to have an avoidant attachment style while hers is anxious -- so I'm incredibly grateful that we both reached the point where we were ready to take this next step together. Even earlier this year, we hit some snags that threatened to tear us apart but we worked through them and I'm pleased to share that our relationship has never been stronger. I'm so grateful to have met her -- she makes me incredibly happy and there's no question in my mind that she's my person. I'm excited to spend the rest of my life with her!

Colin and Jesse got married! And Bryan and Mikayla moved in together, I am so grateful that my sons have love in their lives. The wedding was such a joyous love fest. It was a beautiful day, very much them. I was absolutely struck by the depth of emotion my usually stoic son expressed, and by the beautiful tributes his friends made. There was a time I worried that his friends weren't really friends, but I see now, they really are. The jury is a little out on Bryan's situation, but right now, he's happy, so I am too.

I had a bad fall in December and wound up with a concussion that lasted several months. It made me realize that "visual" clutter can be just as dangerous as floor clutter, so I've begun to rearrange several areas in my house that will address that issue. So what began with great fear has evolved into becoming more responsible about my safety.

My mother was diagnosed with cancer. Her mobility took a nose dive and I became her primary caregiver. At the same time, my brother experienced a psychotic break and I coordinated his involuntary hospitalization from afar. The severe stress drove me over the edge, and it took a dose of benzodiazepines to stop the adrenaline. I started therapy, exercise, and I’m on the middle of a massive priority shift that has disappointed many of the people whose opinions I used to value above my own wellbeing. It has rocked the foundations of my marriage and changed the way I parent my kids. I’m grateful for the growth, but resentful of the overload which triggered it. I’ve operated in this mode of self abandonment for decades, and once considered it a badge of honor. I wish I could go back to the younger me and shake her.

My wife passed away. No experience compares to this. After 44 years of marriage all else seems insignificant.

Getting breast cancer has had a tremendous impact on my life. I am very disappointed and resentful that I got cancer but I am also very grateful to have survived. I appreciate the love that surrounds me so much more and am so grateful for that.

All through the winter months, I was sick with the flu, bronchitis, and then pneumonia. As I was clawing my way out of that, my heart went wonky and only beat 25 times a minute instead of 60. I guess I was near death, but too fuzzy to be afraid. After 3 days in the ICU and a pacemaker, I emerged tired and deconditioned, but ready to write another chapter of my life.

I learned to SCUBA this year. It was very hard. But I am proud of the work I did and will do with this endeavor. I also watched my son deep dive- which was a scary but amazing thing. And I have, because of this, decided I really need to release my worry and feelings of control over my adult children regarding things they have control over for themselves. Trust them.

My mother died on August 29th after a being ill for several months. I’m still not able to describe how I feel or sure how it will affect me yet.

I was having difficulty answering this question, until I looked at my answer from last year. This is because life has been relatively stable and positive. However, my older son, who had been unemployed and un-moored for several years, completed his first year of employment with NY State this year, about which I (and we) are relieved and thankful.

I met the love of my life within the past year. I remember meeting her for out first date and having a great time. I remember thinking she should run for public office! Our time together since has genuinely been some of the most fulfilling of my life. She also inspired to me to finally come out as a woman, a whole other significant experience this year. I've grown so much this year and I am so excited to see where our lives go together!

My first essay got accepted into a book that was published in May, and also in May saw my first poem accepted into a book that will be published in the next week! It’s galvanised me. It’s given me not just hope but a spark that was maybe just an ember before. I’m writing again more than ever. And planning. So much going on in my head I want to get out on paper.

A friend who I considered one of my very closest pals in the state has developed some health issues and moved far away ... on very short notice! No it is not a death but he will mostly exit my life. I have dealt with some significant deaths but this was a curveball reminder that the Grim Reaper is not the only threat to the comfortable world I try to keep together.

One of the most significant experiences of the past year has been navigating the end of my marriage and adjusting to the life that has followed. Divorce affected nearly every part of my life. I had to redefine my relationship with someone who had been my partner while learning how to co-parent, manage conflict, advocate for myself, and create stability for my son and myself. The experience brought a complicated mix of emotions. There have been moments when I have felt resentful, particularly when I have had to deal with conflict that I hoped would end with the marriage. There has also been grief. Even when ending a relationship is necessary, there is still a loss of the life, family, and future you once imagined. At the same time, I feel relieved. I have had the opportunity to rediscover who I am outside of my marriage and to become more intentional about the life I want to build. I have learned more about my boundaries, what I need from other people, and what I am no longer willing to accept simply to maintain a relationship or avoid conflict. More than anything, I am grateful for the growth that has come from such a difficult period. I would not necessarily choose to repeat the experience, but I can appreciate what it has taught me. I am becoming more comfortable trusting myself, advocating for what I need, and accepting that moving forward does not require having everything figured out. Looking back, I see this year less as the year my marriage ended and more as the year I began rebuilding. There are still unresolved emotions and challenges, but I feel more hopeful about what I am building than resentful about what I have lost.

My husband broke his leg and had surgery and was in rehab for 5 weeks. He is home on a walker and I am his care giver. Sometimes I’ll ok with it and other times a feel like the slave

An experience I went through was being evicted from my apartment. Life was ALOT and bills were piling (still are). I'm grateful I went through it to be more aware, i'm resentful in a way as I had asked for help and help wasnt given. I'm sure there's a reason for this. But continuing to keep moving forward and doing my best.

I got accepted onto a postgraduate creative writing course. I’m nervous but excited.

My husband's decision to divorce me and to announce this suddenly in couples therapy, just before our daughter's high school graduation and my college reunion, shocked me. I am resentful about his timing and process, and curious about what my life will look like at this time next year.

I spent five weeks learning, playing, working, and living in France this August. Sometimes I can't quite believe that I did that. I did something enormous (and expensive!) that was a huge leap of faith, a swing for the fences. It was totally a GOOD choice - gave me lots to connect with CDs about (though now I have to do it...). And it was so good for me to show myself how many unknowns I can handle: speaking French for that long (including in some high-stress situations like the vet!), renting and driving a car throughout France (the Annecy mountain pass!?!), setting up my studio in someone else's home, office, and booth (omg the heat), handling being scammed by a plumber, and even just traveling on a plane that much at 40. I am so grateful to myself for doing it. I am so impressed at my fortitude and courage and willingness to do things and get out there and explore and experience and fall in love with wine and castles and even more of the French language and the Paris Metro. And I am deeply humbled at the realization that I can do this again. Maybe not for five weeks solo (oof), but I don't have to tie travel to cruise ships, which I don't really even want to do any way at this point. I can just...travel. It was a lifechanging trip in so many ways, but it was also so doable. And so natural. And so worth it.

My daughter going to college. So many emotions! The lead up was so challenging with my sadness and feelings of impending loss and identity change as well as her emotions coming up in challenging but totally normal/expected ways. She navigated MY feelings of transition with aplomb, levity and compassion (which was NOT her job). She managed her own transition honestly, authentically and in full presence. That was inspiring, humbling and so so beautiful to see!

I became inspired to write a book. It's been all of the things to be in the space of starting to work on this for the last several months: fun, daunting, embarrassing, heavy, light, life-affirming. But I see a part of myself I had lost track bubbling up in the process. That's pretty cool.

My health changed again as my heat intolerance became hard to manage this summer. It threw off my exercising that had become routine and made every day more of an active consideration of how to stay comfortable and safe. I definitely felt resentful about how limited I was and how hard it was to get people to take me seriously (it felt like). It also made me go slower, be more thoughtful, try to listen carefully to my signals, figure out where I could compromise and where I wanted to push myself. I feel proud that it didn't devolve more, that I didn't panic often, that I had strategies and learned to use them to stay safe.

I bought a house. Move in was May 27, 2026. The timing was unexpected: in the finding, in the closing and the moving. I slept in the new king bed on the third anniversary of Joe's death. Andrew was here to help me do new house things: new ceiling fan, new light fixture, assessing the mechanics of the house. I am grateful and a little stunned by it all. I feel Joe's hand in the perfection of this place for me -- the neighborhood, the trees, the style, the studio. Andrew and I had martinis around a fire to celebrate Joe on May 30.

I had to give up driving. It taught me that life can go on - a little slower - but that independence can be achieved by other means. I definitely am grateful to my friends who come to my aid when needed.

Tim Foreman at CISL told me i would make a good Cambridge Phd student and offered to supervise me. I was shocked, surprised, nervous and extremley grateful to the God of my understanding from taking me to homeless to Cambridge .....and beyond.

Ah. That's not difficult. Finding out, just after celebrating ten years of life since initial breast cancer diagnosis, that it was back. In all its technicolour glory. Hugely challenging but I'm here. I'm living my life. And every day I am grateful for the care I receive, the love of those close to me and the modern medicine that is allowing me to be here. I pray it lasts.

Cancer diagnosis. Bilateral mastectomy done. 8 rounds of chemotherapy scheduled now, unknown number of radiation treatments to be scheduled. Existential crisis triggered. Therapist says this is a good thing, allows me to experience people's generosity and love, forces me to accept help. I hate this experience and am trying to lean into the people I'm connecting with. I expect my answers next year to be very different.

A significant experience this year has been my return to work. I’ve felt grateful, relieved and inspired mostly. But I’ve been struggling to reconcile this new role with how it fits in among my other hats.

I just found out like a week ago or something that I have ADHD. Like, diagnosed and everything. I hope next year I will tell you I started medicine and I have clean underwear. (I just saw in my answer from last year I didn't have clean underwear last year either. I am apparently starting a tradition of not having clean underwear for the the new year.) I guess you can always learn new things about yourself. I don't know if I feel more relieved or sad. Would have likely been better to know this before being 47. Here's to new years and new beginnings.

It is hard to think about anything else that happened this year besides my miscarriage which just is taking up a lot of space in my brain. I'm resentful, angry, annoyed, disappointed. It is not what I wanted to happen in my year and am hopeful that this time next year we're in a different place. I'm grateful for the way I have been able to move through it- through ritual, being outside, dancing at Phish, being with friends and seeing how my community has rallied to support us. It is truly the first adversity that Aaron and I have experienced together and has challenged us in a new way, while also bringing us closer and needing each other more than ever. It would be a blessing and a true gift to have a baby by this point next year, or be incredibly pregnant. I wish I could see into the future to know what our journey would look like, but it is another practice in bowing to the mystery of the universe.

I broke up with my long term partner and finally learned what it meant to chose myself. Hurt people sucks, but living in misery is suffocating.

Transitioned to a new position. Happy to return to this area and to work on initiatives to support the program

Went to the South of France. I relished the culture and being with friends and their family. I’m enormously grateful.

I was diagnosed with cancer in January. I had been trying to get attention to my problem since November of 2025, and it took two hospital admissions to get something done. I spent the next 7 months going through chemotherapy and navigating the healthcare system. What I learned is that medical care in Bloomington is pretty bad and difficult to get good care. I'm grateful because this has reconnected me to some of my family. I have been communicating with my cousins a lot more and I'm super happy about this. I'm grateful for my employer. I missed very little work and they created a schedule for me so I had chemo on Fridays, which was my day off. They were very flexible and if I missed work because I wasn't feeling well, they allowed me to come in at a different time if I wanted to and could just come in randomly without needing prior permission and just work. Crazy to think that these employers exist. BTW I had only employed by my employer for a week when I ended up in the emergency room for three days and got the cancer diagnosis. I was so afraid that I was going to be fired and they assured me repeatedly that I was safe at my job: no FMLA required, no short-term disability, etc. needed. Overall, it's been a pretty good year. I was only sick one week during the chemo and it was after treatment six and that week was pretty miserable. I am lucky that that was my only physical issue!

Nine months ago, my husband died of cancer. It has not made me feel grateful or relieved pretty resentful extremely angry super sad yeah pissed off it has not affected my life for the better. There’s too many plants and animals for me to care for by myself. There’s too many bills for me to cover with my own job and I did just finally get a job so yeah, not great

I started a podcast with a friend this year. It's been fun and challenging, both in equal measure. I've learned a lot about my friend and about myself in this process, but ultimately, it's given me a lot of confidence that I didn't know I had.

Had a routine eye appointment,,told I had a detached retina. Relieved I could be operated so fast and that it was caught in time

this year i have come to understand a concept that was described to me a while back, and i wasn't in the mental space to be able to accept. i am transsex. as in a form of intersex. i need to be on estrogen. testosterone hurts me. but none of this has to do with a persons gender. i am still a woman. and none of the above has anything to do with a persons attraction. i am still attracted to women. wil i go find this person and apologize? that was a person i had met only briefly. i do not know if that is something that is expected of me or would even be appreciated. maybe, if i can find the discord. i had at the time rejected the transsex identifier as something old and transphobic. but its correct, even if we deserve better terminology around all of these things. i am inspired and grateful to that person

The 250 birthday of America occurred this year on July 4th. It makes me realize how great a place we live and work in. Also David i broke up a year ago and we no longer talk as of two months ago which makes me sad. Also today is 25th anniversary of 9/11 memorial which also very sad. There a lot that has happened this year.

I discovered that I no longer fear my ex husband. I was scared for his response to everything while married and after, and I walked on eggshells for years and made myself small to not upset him. Now that we are 2 years divorced + 1 year separated I have finally realize that it doesn't matter what I say or do, he will always just be a angry. My actions and responses won't change a thing. I am GRATEFUL for that reality. It has calmed my nervous system, let me be more true to myself, find peace and happiness in myself and also be more present with my kids and David.

i lost my husband this past winter, after nearly 8 years together and 4 years of marriage. his health was extremely problematic, and it put a tremendous strain on our marriage in many ways. i'm dealing with complex grief because while we truly loved each other, i'm angry and resentful that my first marriage (which happened later than i had hoped for, but that's another issue i'm grappling with) turned out this way and i barely got to experience it meaningfully.

Last night I got back from my Birthright Volunteer trip. I am still processing it all. It made me feel more connected to Judaism. I loved getting to see Israel. I made some cool Jewish friends. I want to return someday soon to spend more time in Jerusalem and be more of a tourist, to have a more spiritual journey rather than being a worker, but this was still a great trip.

There are two significant experiences within the last year. One is that my son and I bought a wonderful house together. The other is that my mother died. Having the house makes me happy and hopeful and grateful in so many ways! It's a bright new beginning for me! Having my mom gone impacts me differently than one might expect. Very few people stood in her way for long. She pretty much got what she wanted in life - and, as it turns out, also in death. This is a great comfort to our family.

I lost my partner, best friend, love of may life. It wasn't expected. Yet, I'm grateful for the support and love I have received from friends and family. I cherish the memories and I'm grateful I didn't miss an opportunity to let him know how much I loved him. I also consider myself blessed to still be considered family including by his extended family.

I usually try to stay away from significant experiences. Lately, they have come back to bite me in the a**. I am trying to do my own work around the house without invading the space too much. J &E are the "owners" of the house in my mind, now. If it is going to impact them, I'll ask but laying low is my go to... I am partly relieved, partly resentful because the house used to be my domain. I don't feel as resp0nsible as I used to.

There are three significant experiences: 1. My job became permanent, which was a relief. 2. I got an article published I had been trying to publish for almost a year, which was also a relief and gave me a sense of satisfaction. 3. Our daughter had her bat mitzvah, which was a source of pride because she did so well (but also a relief once it was over).

We've had many unexpected expenses this year. Several things needed to be replaced or broke down. It has impacted us financially, but we're grateful for the beauty of the items, and know many will last beyond us.

My oldest son and his wife are expecting their first child early November. Becoming a blood grandparent for the first time has colored everything in my world ever since they announced the news. I have reflected on my own parents and grandparents, and realized that I am now the matriarch of the family. I’m not certain what all that means. I am grateful, relieved to finally be a grandmother, not resentful at all, and inspired to be the best grandparent I can be. I am also more aware of the passing of time and how I am closer to the end of my life than the beginning. I think of my granddaughter and have great dreams of our relationship and the role I will play in her life.

Inspire Implant Better sleep

I had a 6 week sabbatical after 30 years of work. It was amazing. It made me realize I do not need work to define myself. I am excited about retirement. Now I need to plan to set myself up for retirement in the next 4 years.

I decided to separate from my spouse which is both the deepest heartbreak and a profound relief. I am proud of myself for making the call, and I know that it is right. I am working to let go of the resentment that I'd built up; I don't need to hold onto that, and I'm beginning to imagine a future that I love. I'm going to live my way into that Andrea Gibson quote: "I fucking loved my life."

I figured out that all the clues left by my family combined with the DNA results means I have always been Jewish and it was hidden from me and I decided to now return to Judaism. Spent all year learning and researching the genealogy websites. I’m still trying to get the names of my earliest maternal line. I am so happy about this and it all makes sense now. My whole life. I am 55 years old and learning how to be Jewish. I am grateful.

The US went to war with Iran. Meanwhile Congress has abdicated it’s responsibility to govern on almost any level. The war is illegal, immoral and unnecessary. Meanwhile, the devastation and cost to Iran is unmeasurable. It’s another in a long line of unconscionable acts by Trump. I am so frustrated and weary of the direction that the US is now deeply embedded in. As a citizen, I have an obligation to resist As an individual, I feel powerless.

I put Alphonse to sleep. I am incredibly devastated but I am grateful for the time I had with him. He was my best friend and I will never forget him.

Nothing really that significant – mostly on the work front. Got fired from Nexgen just after my birthday – went back to work for Bryan at Direct Demo in February, but the Westlake Costco location was awful, so I left to work for a new company; Infinity Windows also at Costco, also “lead generator” also a really awful company. When Scott left DD, I asked Bryan for my old job back, and started again on June 1. It does have its challenges to be sure, but money is pretty good, hours are part time, and when things are going well, I can make decent commission. New Costco opening in town, so will try to transfer, at least 2 days there, 2 in Oxnard if that works. All mental process. A huge FAMILY event will be written in more detail on another question, but August was the GREATEST MOTHER'S DAY EVER when all three of my fantastic daughters came home for a visit.

I got into a very heated argument with my mom at the dinner table in my house, where she and my dad were staying that week. We’ve been in this situation before multiple times over the course of my whole life. But for the first time, it’s not so much that I “held court” with my arguments, but rather that I realized how much I lost my composure. Even if I still agree with what I said then, I feel ashamed about my tone, my attitude, and how I didn’t stop the argument from escalating when I had multiple chances to do so. It was so ugly of me and inspired me to work on not getting caught up in other people’s emotions and tempers. I promised myself not to lose myself like that again, especially not with my mom.

Sometime in February or March I found a lump in my armpit. I couldn't tell if it was important or not, so I didn't do anything about it. In April I noticed it was bigger, so I went to the Dr. I was diagnosed with breast cancer 8 days later. Within weeks I found out it was triple negative breast cancer, which is one of the most aggressive, and that it was stage 3. I have mostly rolled with the punches on this but in the beginning, that was when it impacted my mental health the most. I went to a tough place, having thoughts of suicide and not wanting to be here anymore. I was scared of all the treatment and even more scared of it not working and losing life by spending it on treatment. I'm currently in the second half of the first step of treatment, the second phase of chemotherapy. This chemo has been significantly more difficult than the first. I've been to the hospital twice with side effects, one time for 3 days, and the other just for a few hours. I've been on more antibiotics than I can count due to being infected with something that normally my immune system could handle, but currently is immunocompromised. I wouldn't say that I'm grateful I have cancer. However it has shown me other ways that I am grateful - the loved ones in my life, modern medicine (especially anti-nausea medications), nature, my job, and a lot of other things. Being diagnosed with breast cancer has also inspired me to write more than I have in the past, and that has been a surprising creative outlet.

London. Marysa had made plans for it since november. It was one thing i could look forward to when the days were long and the nights even longer and colder. I am so happy I went to see Pitbull in London and go to one more capital city. It was truly a dream. Now I feel like I need to prepare for another trip next summer to feel like I have something to look forward to. Maybe it's not necessarily a bad thing (?) I did not go on Birthright this past summer like I thought but maybe it was for the best? I think a big part of me just needed to take a deep breath and not go right into another big trip? Maybe summer 2027 is the year I do Birthright?

I bought my first flat. I feel relieved and nervous at the same time. Relieved because I don't have to move (I moved 4 times after my divorce a year and a half ago) and I now have a stable place for me and my son. Nervous because it's the first time I have a big loan to take care of. Also grateful because I managed to do this, lots of things had to come together to make it happen (have a job to qualify for the loan, find the right place, timing etc.)

I turned 65: I had held off CPP, so am now getting that+OAS. VERY helpful to bring me up over the poverty line! I went & had a steak dinner (albeit not a fancy restaurant) to celebrate. The $ really helps!!

The artists' residency at the Château d'Orquevaux in France. I went away for two weeks in September 2025. Twenty-eight artists lived in a château where all they did was create art, far from the outside world. It felt like I didn't belong in their company at times. But I was able to create numerous poems and begin a short story. I would do it all again in a heartbeat.

It has been a cumulative of experiences that are all following the same sad pattern which is that there seems to be no accountability in this country. I used to think that people would do right within the bureaucracy because one, that is their job and surely they signed up to be helpful and make a change right? And two, authority figures could be trusted. I have found both of them to be demonstrably false more often than not and it is very disappointing and disgusting to witness. I mean, it is no wonder Trump can commit an insurrection and then become president again?? Or the fact that there are people that are still supporting him as he dismantles democracy in front of our eyes. So now, when I am told no over something I am entitled to, even something as simple as a medical benefit as a 100% disabled veteran, I have to decide if it is worth my time to try and fight the system because will it make any difference anyway? I've seen people get away with the most egregious things all because no one will take your complaint, or report, or just plain listen to you when you have the statute right in front of you that PROVES you are right. I guess I am grateful to know that no one can be trusted anymore. I'm more fed up and exhausted at this point. IDK how many ways I can explain things until I am actually heard. Just think, if Al Gore just fought a little harder, if Obama held Bush accountable, if Bernie didn't get screwed over, if Biden went after Trump. Just think how much better and different this country just might be if people did what is right instead of being afraid.