As 2025 comes to a close, I do what I usually do: I pause to reflect and take stock of the past year. Across the new things I tried, what I accomplished, and the highs and lows, themes of travel, cycling, work, and resilience stand out. Through it all, I’m grateful for the experiences that shaped 2025.
Travel Highlights
This year’s travels took me to Atlanta for a personal trip to visit friends (read Reconnect and Revitalize: My Atlanta Adventure), to Kansas City for work (my first time there), and on several cycling‑focused adventures.
Cycling Milestones
My cycling journey continued to evolve and expand. I completed my second Five Boro Bike Tour in NYC, ventured into gravel riding (see The Road to Growth on Two Wheels), and competed in two gravel races (read The Harvest 50: Gravel, Growth and a Personal Best).
The year also took me to Indiana for the Tree City Rolling Tour, where I completed a solo metric century, and to London, Ohio, for my second full century ride at the Strawberry Bicycle Tour. Then, I took on a four‑day Underground Railroad–themed bikepacking adventure from Cincinnati into Kentucky and back.
By year’s end, I logged more than 2,900 miles, surpassing last year’s total.
Work in Progress
My work trip to Kansas City included touring two impressive plants. I coordinated a refreshed format of our sales training program and planned additional activities to support it. With the company’s continued growth, I took on new responsibilities, including procuring furniture and signage for the company’s second location. I even made it to my first Reds game thanks to a company outing.
A Season of Song
After years of watching from the audience, Alex and I finally joined a new choir and performed in the Christmas concert we’ve attended for the past three years. I loved learning and performing the mix of music we sang. I also sang in a small‑group performance at a retirement home, which was a meaningful and memorable experience.
Challenges and Loss
This year held its share of disappointing and difficult moments as well. I began grieving the child I’ll never have (read Childfree by Choice or Childless by Circumstance?). My attempt at completing the Huffman Classic century ride was unexpectedly cut short when I crashed (read Not Quite a Century: The Ride That Was and Wasn’t).
My brother‑in‑law (Alex’s younger brother) unexpectedly passed away in July. And after five years, we made the bittersweet decision to step away from our longtime choir to try something new. This year also marked the 20 year anniversary of my father’s passing.
Looking back, I’m grateful for the experiences that shaped this year. Whatever the next chapter brings, I’ll meet it with curiosity and gratitude.
