Hey-o! My other annual tradition on the blog is answering these questions as we close out one year and move toward the next. Here we are, better late than never!
1. What did you do in 2025 that you'd never done before?
Traveled to Egypt (!)
Saw Rome, Sienna
Played Pickleball
Breast cancer surgery - central lumpectomy and a month of radiation
Physical Therapy
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
At the start of 2025, I chose a word for the year - selfish. I needed to focus on myself; to stop being such a people pleaser and hone in on what I needed/wanted and when.
While still very much a work in progress I do think I did a pretty decent job of listening more to my still small voice about what I needed or wanted and honoring that. As hinted at above, at the end of 2024 I received news that I had DCIS - stage 0 breast cancer. Very good news that it was caught so early but very bad news that I had it at all. 2025 was a very health focused year.
Now, we’re already more than two weeks into 2026 and I’m just starting to wrap my brain around this new year. There is that old adage that some years ask questions and some give answers. I hope 2026 is a year for answers.
I like the idea of a word for the year and I’m oscillating between joy and truth for my words. Joy in the sense that I’d like to really focus on pursuing what brings me joy and leaving the rest. Truth in the sense of answers and really honing in on the heart of what matters to me, where I want to spend my time in energy. The two, of course, are not mutually exclusive.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, my friend Vanessa had her daughter this fall. My cousin and his wife also welcomed a baby girl in November.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Last spring one of my most beloved authors that I work with passed away unexpectedly. Far too young. He was such a bright light and I miss him still.
5. What countries did you visit?
Italy and Egypt!
6. What would you like to have in 2026 that you lacked in 2025?
Answers (see above) and Clarity.
7. What dates from 2025 will remain etched upon your memory and why?
May 8th was the date of my central lumpectomy. That’s the big one that jumps out.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Navigating the world of a breast cancer diagnosis. Successfully coming out on the other side of surgery and radiation to be healthy and healing now.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I’m going to give myself some grace and say I did not fail in 2025. It was a challenging year on many fronts and I did the best I could.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Ah, yeah. You could say that. I started 2025 with a recent cancer diagnosis and a ruptured tendon in my foot. I wore that walking boot for six months, followed by six months of PT. I am finally on the mend and almost back to my foot feeling normal again.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Italy and Egypt trips.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My friends, my friends, my friends. Man did they show up for me near and far when I needed them this year.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Anyone in the current administration. Pick a name. All of them.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent, life in NYC, medical co-pays, travel, theater tickets.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
A clean bill of health!
16. What song will always remind you of 2025?
The Operation Mincemeat soundtrack - currently my favorite obsession on Broadway.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a)happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
a) Happier
b) about the same
c) richer (not monetarily but in my life, absolutely)
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Riding horses, walking without pain.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Well I wish I’d been able to spend a lot less hours of my life navigating doctors and health insurance and managing all of that but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.
I wish I’d had less work meetings or work related tasks that were unproductive and felt like spinning wheels. Nobody has time for that!
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Woo! 2025 Christmas saw my father, Indy, and me roadtripping from NJ down to GA where we spent Christmas with my Mom and her dog, Tully. My brother and his family joined us for New Year’s. This was the first Christmas in I don’t know how long I’ve been able to celebrate with both of my parents AND have the whole crew together to ring in 2026.
21. Did you fall in love in 2026?
Not romantically, no.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
The Pitt. (SO GOOD!)
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
24. What was the best book you read?
Heart the Lover by Lily King.
Runner ups: Curtis Sittenfeld’s short story collection and The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Operation Mincemeat!
26. What did you want and get?
A clean bill of health.
27. What did you want and not get?
Clarity on some personal things in my life.
28. What was your favorite film of the year?
One Battle After Another (I was SUCH a skeptic before I went to see this movie and I don't want to oversell it but from the minute it started I was hooked and in it for the whole 3 hours. 5 stars, no notes.)
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 46 and celebrated the best way one can celebrate after the year I’d had. I was in Tuscany traveling with some great friends. We did yoga in the morning, took a bus into Cortona for lunch and wandering, toured an olive oil mill, came home and lounged by the pool in the late afternoon sun. I closed the night out with a delicious dinner and being serenaded Happy Birthday in Italian by one of the hotel guests. It was the best day and I felt so loved.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Clarity on some personal things in my life. This feels redundant after question #27.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2025?
Let’s be honest, I didn’t really knock it out of the park fashion wise this year. My main focus was - comfort.
Lots of joggers and elastic waistbands.
Pants wide enough to go over my boot.
32. What kept you sane?
My friends. My dear friends and family.
Yoga.
Meditation.
Getting outside.
INDY.
Books. Movies. Journaling.
The theater.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
The whole cast of Operation Mincemeat!
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Oh God. Who can pick just one?
35. Who did you miss?
My Grandma. Always my Grandma.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
My Physical Therapist. I liked her so much as a therapist and as a human in general. She was so helpful, patient, and encouraging - all the things you need in a therapist. My PT ended at the end of 2025 and I am really going to miss seeing her weekly.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2025.
Do the research.
Ask for help.
Lean on those who offer the help.
Trust your gut.
Take things one day at a time.
Don’t take it all for granted.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Yeah, I got friends around
Plenty of hands held out
But I'm still the one who has to choose
To carry me through
Marin Morris - Carry Me Through
