My end of year personal reflection for 2025

My life changed a lot this year so I’m reflecting on what I’ve done over the past year both professionally and personally. Some things have been good while others may be not so good. That’s all a matter of perspective though. Even if something didn’t work out how I wanted, I’m taking the time for a year end personal reflection to think about what I can learn from those experiences. FYI, some of the links below are affiliate links. That means I can make a little money at no extra cost to you. Part of how I’m learning how to make money without a full-time job!

Month by month reflection of the past year

January

This was the last month that I worked full-time as a UX designer. I was laid off from my federal contractor position due to budget cuts. Besides wrapping up my job, I reflected on what’s next for me.

February

Travelled to New Zealand! We had planned the trip before my layoff and didn’t want to cancel. The (non-refundable) flights had already been paid for. I racked up a bunch of points with several travel credit cards that I was saving for a rainy day. What’s a better time to use your points than when you have an upcoming trip to an expensive location and lost your main income source? My points paid for two separate car rentals (one for each island) and a tour to Milford Sound from Queenstown. I also used my hotel card to get early check-in on our first night in the country. We were all discombobulated from the time change and long flight and needed a nap before exploring.

March

Felt reenergized from our trip! Started job hunting while also looking into how to make a living as an artist. I took workshops with SCORE at the library and the Start Up Strategy sprint with American Underground. Launched my Etsy shop. Participated in a live version of Elizabeth Silver‘s class on making marketable art where I drew this beautiful Tea Party collection.

I also injured my foot running or rock climbing and had to learn how to rest. Not being able to walk much made me feel like a real retiree…

April

Took advantage of my new daytime availability with a watercolor class taught by Ryan Fox. One of my favorite pieces I created this year, Pepita the harbor seal, I painted in his class.

Discovered new encaustic techniques from Jamie McPhail and gained a lot of confidence in my encaustic mixed media skills.

May

Participated in my first Colab show! I showed a painting I created back in college for the “Figured Out” show. I have a lot of art that I’ve created over the years. Why let it gather dust?

Started making graffiti with Bad Art Company and learned about different styles, techniques and legal walls to paint on.

June

Displayed one of my favorite encaustic pieces in Colab’s “Pride: We aren’t going anywhere” show.

July

Designed a few greeting cards for Minted design challenges.

Created a mixed media collage for Colab’s theme roulette. My theme was “colors, texture and fish”.

August

Worked my first market: the traveling Pancakes and Booze show at Lincoln Theatre. I thought about what pieces I was ready to part with ( as artists we get attached to our work ), scanned them in, then framed them.

Hand-drew repeat patterns and entered several Spoonflower design challenges.

September

Van life test drive! I explored beautiful landscapes and parks in Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho and Alberta. Now I know what I really do and don’t need in my own van. (More to come on that soon!)

Joined a membership for artists who want to make passive income to learn about different platforms for selling work run by Claudia Orengo.

October

Visited my family in upstate NY for my mom’s birthday. Drew some seasonally appropriate animals including this bat inspired by my trip to the caves at Craters of the Moon.

November

Did the flu challenge! Yes, it is exactly what it sounds like: challenging your body to the flu virus. Don’t try this at home kids! I spent a little over a week in the hospital during the study. The eligibility screening was intense: blood tests, urine sample, physical exam, EKG and a chest xray. They want to make sure you’re not going to get super sick from the flu, just sick enough to have symptoms. Although I lucked out during the trial: I got the placebo during the dosing so I never actually got the flu. I even had some space to draw on a spare bedside table in my room while I was in confinement.

December

Showed my artwork at Peel Gallery. I created an encaustic mixed media collage of a pizza peel to go with their theme of “A peeling.”

Reflecting on my first year semi-retired. What do I want to accomplish now that my time is my own? How do I stay motivated without outside forces driving me? How do I stay organized with my work? I created a lot of work just in the past year.