As 2025 comes to an end, I look back and realize this year didn’t teach me through big achievements or dramatic moments.

It taught me through quiet lessons.
Through changes I didn’t expect.
Through small habits that slowly shaped me.

Here’s what 2025 taught me.

1. I can be really good at planning, but God who decides

I’ve always been someone who loves to plan. I feel safe when everything is organized, scheduled, and prepared.

This year, I planned a trip to Indonesia. I was excited. Everything was ready.
And then… something big changed. The plan was canceled.

For someone like me, that wasn’t easy to accept.

But this experience reminded me of something important:
planning is not control.

I can plan with excellence, but the final decision is still God’s. And sometimes when He redirects, it’s not rejection — it’s protection, timing, or preparation.

This year taught me to hold my plans with open hands.

This experience has taught me to embrace uncertainty and to find beauty in the unexpected.

2. Healing can start from something small — done consistently

I used to think healing had to look big.
Deep conversations. Major breakthroughs. Big changes.

But this year, healing started with something very simple:
breathing.

I learned to take deep breaths every morning,
before I sleep,
and whenever I feel overwhelmed.

It felt small. Almost insignificant.

But over time, that small discipline helped me regulate my emotions better than last year.
I became calmer.
More aware of my feelings.
Less reactive.

This year taught me that consistency matters more than intensity.
And that small habits, done daily, can quietly change your life.

3. Loneliness is not always a bad thing

This year, I experienced moments of loneliness.

But I learned that loneliness doesn’t mean:

• I’m not worth it
• No one wants to be my friend
• Something is wrong with me

Sometimes, loneliness is an invitation.

An invitation from God to know Him more deeply.
An invitation to sit with myself, understand my thoughts, and face my emotions.
An invitation to become whole — not dependent on constant noise or validation.

This year taught me that being alone doesn’t mean being empty.
It can be a season of becoming content, grounded, and complete.

4. Seeing life through a positive point of view can bless others

This year, I shared my learnings about living in the Philippines.
I didn’t expect much.

But surprisingly, many people resonated.
They felt encouraged. Seen. Blessed.

In a world full of bad news,
where negativity spreads faster than hope,
I realized something powerful:

Sharing a positive perspective — even in difficulty — can give people hope.

When I chose to share what I learned instead of only what was hard,
I saw how perspective can turn pain into purpose.

5. Insecurity is defeated not by perfection — but by courage to start

I waited for a long time because of insecurity.
Afraid I wasn’t good enough.
Afraid of judgment.
Afraid of not being “ready.”

But this year, I decided to start anyway.

I shared my personal stories despite my insecurities.
I stopped chasing views and started focusing on sharing.

And I learned this:
confidence doesn’t come before starting — it comes from starting.

6. Gratitude for stability

More than anything, I’m grateful for stability this year.

Stable emotions.
Stable finances.
A stable heart.

Not everything was exciting.
Not everything was perfect.

But stability itself is a blessing.

As I end 2025, my heart is full of gratitude.

Thankful for every lesson.
Thankful for growth that happened quietly.
Thankful for God’s guidance, even when the path changed.
And deeply thankful for the people who stayed,
reminding me that I was never truly alone.

2025 may not have given me everything I planned,
but it gave me what I needed.

And for that, I’m deeply thankful.