Day Learning Design

Kicking off my 2026 by taking a look back at some personal highlights of 2025.

• Read 143 books across all genres. I took a special interest in books written by and featuring autistic individuals, but also read lots of nonfiction, historical fiction, mystery, fantasy, and romance. Fantasy/sci-fi was my favorite genre of the year, with some amazing reads by VE Schwab, Octavia Butler, Fonda Lee, Leigh Bardugo, and Becky Chambers.
• Started walking dogs at the Lifeline animal shelter in Atlanta. I volunteered 75 hours over the course of the year and walked around 125 dogs. I even took extra courses and got certified to handle dogs that require a specialized skillset. 
• Choreographed a show for the Atlanta Women’s Chorus. We took the show to Atlanta Pride AND a women’s prison to perform with the incarcerated people, so those are really special memories. This year, we go to a queer arts festival in Belgium!
• Got a car AND paid it off. My beloved 2011 Prius died and I wasn’t quite ready to pay cash for my next vehicle. Bought a lightly used car, put down as much as I could, and worked my butt off to pay off the remainder before the end of the year. I now have the title!
• Ran to Buffy on my treadmill consistently. A single Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode is the perfect duration for a 5k with a cool down at the end. In 2026, I ran around 200 miles and shaved 20 seconds off my pace per mile. I also got into weightlifting and did ~35 sessions in the latter half of the year. With lots of additional hiking, yoga, paddleboarding, kayaking, etc. I kept active!
• Adventured my way through New Zealand on my dream Lord of the Rings honeymoon. We went to the Misty Mountains, Hobbiton, Mordor and Mt. Doom, Gollum’s Pool, and the Weta Workshop. It was magical and perfect.

There will be some surprises in store in 2026 and I’m not totally sure what the universe is going to throw my way. But I’ve got a good foundation to control the things I can, and be open to opportunities as they present themselves. Here’s wishing you all a happy New Year, and looking forward to things to come!

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