2025 - A Pivot

I know this may sound like the same old “brand new,” but it’s been a while since I succumbed to depression.

 

I know, I know – “wellness journey” feels like a phrase we’ve all heard a million times. It’s everywhere: on Instagram feeds with matcha lattes, in self-help books, from friends who swear by 5 AM yoga. But this isn’t about that polished, picture-perfect version. This is about the messy, raw reality of what it was like when I succumbed to depression – and how I found my way back, one small step at a time.

 

Depression didn’t hit me like a thunderclap. It crept in slowly, wrapping its fingers around every part of my life. It came with difficulty sleeping – nights spent staring at the ceiling, my mind racing with “what ifs” until the sun came up. Then came anxiety – tightness in my chest, panic attacks in crowded places, a constant feeling that something terrible was about to happen. To cope, I chased that easy fix of dopamine any way I could: binge eating until I felt sick, making bad choices in relationships and money, even falling into addictions that I thought would numb the pain. For so long, I thought those quick highs would save me – but they only pulled me deeper.

 

Then came 2025. I can honestly say it’s been my pivotal era. This was the year I finally stopped fighting the truth and embraced that life is not always fair. It sounds simple, but it was a revelation. With all the chaos in the world right now – wars, crises, so much suffering – I realized I can’t control what happens around me. What I can control is how I see it.

 

I shifted my point of view completely. Instead of dwelling on what I didn’t have or what went wrong, I started focusing on gratitude – waking up each day and listing three things I was thankful for, even if it was just a good cup of coffee or a text from a friend. And most importantly, I learned to forgive myself – really forgive myself – for the mistakes I’d made, for the person I was when I was at my lowest. I stopped punishing myself for being human.

 

Now, when I look at others, I remember: I don’t know what’s happening in someone else’s shoes. I can’t assume their story, their struggles, their pain. The best thing I can contribute to this world is to be kind and understanding – to lend a helping hand when someone’s in need, to listen without judging, to be a little light in the darkness. I still focus on my wellness – not as a trend, but as a way to take care of the person I’m trying to be. And above all, I make sure to love the people I love with everything I have – to tell them, to show them, to never take a single moment with them for granted.

 

So here I am, making the most of every last day of 2025. I’m grateful for every lesson that broke me open and every blessing that lifted me up. I’m not scared of what’s next – I’m looking forward to 2026 and the years to come, ready to keep growing, keep caring, keep living with an open heart.

 

 

 

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