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As the year comes to a close, we often wish one another a better year ahead, fulfilled dreams, improved health, and new opportunities. Perhaps that’s because, in the moment before transition, we focus so much on what held us back and what we hope to overcome. I think of each year as a scale. On one side sit the challenges we faced; on the other, the highlights and positive moments. We assume the positive should outweigh the negative, yet it often feels as though the challenges are heavier and unbalances the scale. That isn’t because there were more difficulties than successes. It’s because our attention naturally lingers on what went wrong rather than on what went right. Struggles demand our focus, even when the positive moments quietly balance, or even tip, the scale in our favour.

For me, 2025 was the most difficult year I’ve faced in terms of health, and that alone could weigh the scale down significantly. Added to that were cancelled trips and the health concerns of people close to me, easy, visible burdens that could easily consume my thoughts. But then I pause…intentional pausing…because that is not the whole story.

When I look more closely, I see the incredible people who surrounded me (all of you reading this) that brought me joy, the meaningful work I was able to do, the simple daily joys and the growth and realization of important projects. And then the metaphor becomes clearer. You can pile what looks like a visible and massive bale of feathers on one side of the scale, but a single pound of gold on the other can still tip it. Not everything that matters most is loud, heavy, or immediately visible.

As you look back, take the time to truly reflect on what the year held for you. Yes, acknowledge the challenges, but don’t let them overshadow the positives. Think about who influenced you, who showed up for you, and the moments that brought you joy in 2025. Recognize what you accomplished, no matter how small it may seem. These are the golden moments that carry real weight. When you place them on the scale with intention, you may find that they balance the year more than you expected, and remind you that even in difficult seasons, there is value, meaning, and hope worth carrying forward.
Take a moment to answer these questions:
• What moments from 2025 stand out the most? Why?
• What did you start, work on or finish this year? How is it going or went?
• What did you gain personally from any of your experiences?
• Who made a difference for you this year? How?
• What brought you joy this year?
• What are you ready to leave behind in 2025? Because?
• What did you learn this year?

My final words as we close out this year are this: each of us carries a light within. Protect it. Nurture it. Keep it burning bright, because the world truly needs what only you can offer. The New Year is not a reset or a replacement of who you are; it is a continuation of your growth, your learning, and your progress. Step forward carrying all that you’ve become, and let your light lead the way. You are the pound of gold!!!