One Small Practice Changed My View in 2025

With three weeks to go in 2025 I was NOT feeling especially positive about the nearly completed year..

I was thinking about the things that didn't get done, the less-than-shiny moments when I didn’t show up the way I like to, the missed opportunities and more. And I'm a little tired. I suspect many of you might be feeling something similar. 

And then I had an idea…

What do my meaningful moments from 2025 actually reflect?

Every Sunday night I challenge myself to jot down three meaningful moments from the week. These are short, brief statements like “I visited Belgium for the first time.” 

As I started reviewing the doc I realized I completed the challenge 42 of the year’s 49 weeks to date. I then took those 42 weeks of meaningful moments and asked my favorite AI agent for a summary. What came back surprised me:

“When you zoom out across nearly twelve months of moment-by-moment meaning, a powerful story emerges — not of random highlights, but of a life lived with intention, connection, courage, and presence.” 

What struck me wasn’t the wording — it was a powerful reminder that we don’t have to work for the negative. We do have to work for the positive. 

The best part of the feedback? It allowed me to shift FROM how the year felt TO how the year actually was.

An Invitation (Not an Assignment)

If you’re feeling reflective as the year winds down, I want to offer two simple invitations. No pressure. No gold stars. Just invitations.

Invitation 1:

Look Back — If You Have the Space

If you have an hour (or even 20 minutes), try this:

  • Open a blank page

  • Write the heading: “Meaningful Moments from 2025”

  • Jot down anything that comes to mind — moments, people, conversations, trips, hard days you navigated, quiet wins

Don’t worry about chronology. Don’t aim for completeness. You’re not writing a highlight reel — you’re collecting evidence.

Then ask yourself one question:

What do these moments say about how I actually lived this year?

You might be surprised by the answer.

Invitation 2:

Look Forward — One Simple Practice for 2026

If you don’t have the space right now (and many of us don’t), here’s an even lighter lift:

Starting in January, once a week, jot down three meaningful moments from the week. They can be small:

  • a good conversation

  • a meeting that went well

  • a first time experience 

  • a moment you stayed grounded when you usually wouldn’t

Put them in your notes app. A journal. A document. Wherever is easiest.

This isn’t about positivity or productivity. It’s about giving your future self a more accurate record of your life. Because when December rolls around again, you’ll have something powerful to look back on.

Why This Matters

When we don’t capture meaning, our brains default to what’s unfinished and imperfect.

When we do capture meaning, we create the conditions for:

  • perspective

  • gratitude

  • momentum

  • excitement for what’s next

That’s the shift I experienced — and it’s one I hope you get to experience, too.

Ben Kiker