Kelly KleinIt’s that time of year again! It’s time to reflect on the lessons I’ve learned in the past year, and what goals I have for the next year!
What I Accomplished in 2025
- I finished the first draft of a non-fiction book about solitude
- I put up a few products on my website
- I got a promotion to merchandiser in my day job
- I was put into an editor’s schedule for my fiction trilogy
- I restarted the Passionate Quill newsletter…I encourage you to sign up and receive a free ebook!
- I learned to love myself
Lessons I Learned in 2025
- Love. I am worthy of love. If the people around me don’t show me love, I can’t control that. I can, however, control the love I have for myself.
- Lesson repeated until lesson learned. I keep having the same things happen to me because I haven’t learned the lesson that presented itself.
- I work better on my own. If I am left to my own devices, I do a better job. If someone is breathing down my neck, I don’t. This is probably why I think I’m better suited for entrepreneurship.
- I attracted the life I have. Despite trying to be positive, I tend to dwell on some negative things, and I tend to spiral downward.
- I can be an independent adult. I don’t need to depend on others.
My Goals for 2026
- Publish my trilogy. This year for sure. I want to share the romance, and action, and journey of Aurora Knight.
- Publish my nonfiction book.
- Add 10 products to my shop.
- Write and blog full time. Retail is not for me. I want to get out of it and pursue something I truly love with the freedom I need.
- Get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. I was skinny until motherhood. I’m not happy with house out-of-shape I’m in.
- Cure my depression.
- Grow my emotional intelligence.
- Cure my social anxiety.
- Have a weekend of solitude away from everybody.
- 10 items on my bucket list.
- Become a better parent.
- Achieve a monthly income of 3000.00+.
Of course, my goals are more detailed – I made each of them into SMART goals – but I didn’t want to bore my readers with the details.
Habits I Need to Start in 2026
This is copied from last year because, while I worked on each of these, they never became full fledged habits. Same with the behaviours below.
- Cleaning. I know I need to be more organized and clean regularly. I know I have it in me and clutter bothers me.
- Exercise daily. I used to be in the habit of dancing daily and it’s something I enjoy doing. I know it would put me in better shape. Hoping to take a dance class at some point.
- Writing daily. I enjoy writing, but often I put it off to do “more important” things. But writing should be a priority to me.
- Reading daily. I am used to reading every day but haven’t been making time for it in the last year or so. I love to read romance novels, self-improvement books, books on writing, among other genres.
- Random acts of kindness. I do what I can, but now I’m going to work even harder at random acts of kindness and paying it forward.
Behaviours I Need to Change in 2026
- Complaining. I know I rant and complain too much. This needs to change. This includes commenting on every bad driver I encounter (my son doesn’t believe I can be quiet about the drivers!).
- Positivity. I need to work on being more positive in thoughts, words, and deeds.
- Speak well of others to them and behind their backs. Also point out the good things I notice them doing.
- Compliment others. If I notice something then I will tell them. I try to do that with customers at work, if I like their shirt or necklace or whatever.
- Active listening skills. I sometimes interrupt when I don’t mean to, but I think that comes from me never being able to get a word in edgewise because I’m so quiet. I often have to jump in or risk no one hearing what I say.
- Respond to situations with a cool head instead of react with emotion.
My Words for the Year
I have three key words to live by that have been my words for several years.
- Believe – Belief in myself, my abilities, a brighter future, and belief in other people.
- Transformation – Transforming into a better person like the caterpillar, to the chrysalis, to the butterfly.
- Freedom – Always working towards being truly free. Freedom is my main goal in life – freedom financially, freedom to pursue my passions, freedom to travel, freedom to live my adult life the way I see fit.
Encouragement for Others
I hope reading this post you are inspired to work on your life and become a better person. Reflect on your accomplishments in the past year, the lessons you’ve learned, and the events you experienced. Reflect on the future, the goals you set for your life, and what you hope to achieve. Only you can make your future a good one.
What goals have you set for 2025? I want to hear them! We can cheer each other on!
This is your year!
You Got This!
Be awesome and may your life be passionate!
