If you’re going to take some time off during the holidays and need an excuse to have some alone time – making a review of this past year can be it. When we go through what has transpired during the year, it both makes us feel more accomplished and helps us see whether or not we’ve reached our goals and in which areas of our life we’d like to improve and set new ones. Overall, are you content about how your 2025 has been? What would make you feel more content?

To make a review of this year, you can do it in two ways. Either you go through month by month and make a timeline with your achievements for each. Or you can make two lists with Measurable (such as how many hours) and Immeasurable (such as what you’ve learned) things you’ve accomplished. And you can of course do both!

Here are mine:

I started 2025 in January by getting cataract surgery on both my eyes. It for sure became both a literal and symbolic eye-opener! My physician couldn’t understand how I’ve been able to cope for several years at all, how bad they were. And now, I don’t even need to wear glasses! I also got a nice set of professional photos taken both wearing a suit and wearing a dance tunic.

In February, I won in court against the Swedish welfare office and got to keep my old business name Balansfokus without their interference and got the denial of welfare for two months reversed. I also received damages in another case, where I had filed a complaint against a psychiatrist delaying a diagnosis and surgery of Malignt Melanoma in 2022. I went to see a new physician and got a new certificate of my health that I submitted to the asking authority, who approved in September.

In March, I therefore set out to renew my wardrobe, which I did. I focused on taking care of myself by getting a much needed lomilomi massage and of course continued with my job applications and took part of Storytelling in a local Meetup group.

In April, I began participating in a coaching program for unemployed with Manpower here in Stockholm, Sweden, much to see how they are conducting it, since I want to preferably run my own coaching practice, where in Sweden the job agency finances this for unemployed for a period of six months.

In May, I focused on job searching, attending webinars and did a phone interview for a remote position as a project manager for a new launch of a reading app in Europe, but was relieved to not get it. I don’t want to work solemnly remotely.

In June, I thankfully received another grant from the Swedish House of Nobility, because of the many denials of social security, so I could both pay due rents and buy myself a much needed new cellphone and computer, and pay my website host. I also sent out several pressreleases about my new book about creativity.

In July, I loved going down to the little lake where I live, to get tanned and take a dip. I also decided to postpone my planned travel to San Francisco due to the increased ICE-raids and not having enough funds. I finalised my books with some updates, as well as my personal website. I had a meeting on Zoom to collaborate with the Joy+ app, but had to wait due to lack of funds. I attended a Master class series in how to make a TED Talk and outlined my proposals and sent in applications.

In August, I continued making more content and went down south of Sweden to visit my dad and my younger brother also came with his two sons, whom I’ve never met and not met neither my brother or my dad for more than 10 years! I wrote an article about creativity to a magazine and sent in, and attended a full day workshop with a British author event. I tried working with AI-editing Swedish translations through One Forma, but only to once again discover bad practices.

In September, I registered at a Swedish university to redo my Master’s degree exam paper and finally after 20 years of waiting (!) received proper feedback to know what needs to be reworked and edited. I finished the Swedish job coaching program at Manpower, edited my resumé and increased my number of sent in job applications. I also attended a 5 day coaching program online with a British gal. I’ve began posting on Substack in an effort to try to get paid subscribers to the content of my books, as an alternative to buying them.

In October, I wrote a short story and submitted to an Australian competition. I focused on job searching including contacting my own preferred companies to work with. I also attended some ACMP Changemaker webinars and tried to rest a lot, given I hurt my ribs at a fall in a staircase.

In November, I got my final (hopefully!) exam by my skin doctor without any new signs of neither melanoma birthmarks of more swollen lymph-nodes after three years of continuous check-ups. I attended a lawsuit that I initiated, as well as appealed another against the yoga studio YogaMana, whom I believe took the word mana out of its Hawaiian context from my blog many years ago, besides being denied social security again and having to appeal those decisions too. I made several power point decks for my outlined talks and posted on YouTube as a practice and appetizer. And I sent in information about my passed-on grandmother to the Polish Institute of Remembrance for Holocaust survivors, as well as asked for any information they might have on her.

In December, I’ve concluded my year and finished more recordings of powerpoint decks and have had to continue to fight for my survival financially.

Measurably, altogether in 2025, I’ve applied for 228 jobs, I’ve recorded 59 coaching tip videos and posted on my social media, and then a couple of other reels and dance videos, besides regular blog posts and updates. I’ve practiced 27 hours of yoga, 29 hours of Isadora Duncan dance, 17 hours of Qigong and 12 hours of Hawaiian Hula, at home. And I’ve went for at least 100 walks in the forest.

Immeasurably, I’ve learned to make little reels and overcome some of my self-consciousness about speaking in front of a camera, as well as taken note of ways to conduct webinars.

When we’ve tried our best, we’ve done what we could. Now, how has your year been?