2025 has come and gone. It was, without question, one of the most mediocre years of my life. Not in a negative sense — it simply wasn't a defining year. It was as if I flipped on autopilot and just let it ride.

Reflecting on 2025, there wasn't anything particularly negative and there wasn't anything particularly positive. I did very little in the way of planning, goal-setting, and establishing my identity and theme for the year.

I recently listened a podcast with Jesse Itzler (who I originally saw back in 2018 at a conference), and he had said, "people need to plan their work around their life, not the other way around." I was a model example of the other way around.

Don't get me wrong...I love work. Building is more hobby than what others would consider work. But it's mentally exhausting, and it was my only defining identity. When the lines between hobby and work get blurred, you don't watch your pace. It's had to find energy and purpose outside those lines.

So I'm pivoting this year. Doing the vice versa. Focusing on my life, planning my year, and figuring out where work fits inside those edges.

With that, I was inspired by my buddy Brandon's year-in-review and how he bulleted some highlights each month. As I sit to plan my 2026 and be more intentional about how I handle the next 365 days, I took some time to go through my photo library and pull out memories of some of my favorite moments.

January

Celebrated the New Year at the Space Needle where the largest structural firework show in the western hemisphere takes place (weird flex).
Started volunteering at the Issaquah Food Bank, a tradition that slipped the remainder of the year, but I plan to pick up again in 2026.
Snowshoed for the first time up at Snoqualmie Pass. Your legs hurt.
Saw the Caps play in Seattle, then Vancouver. My first time in British Columbia.

February

Saw my first bald eagle in Washington.
Went to Whidbey Island in Washington and stayed at this old-school log lodge for Micah's birthday.
Hiked my, now favorite in Washington, trail: Ebey's Landing. Something about the water hundreds of feet below and the ridgeline. Saw my second bald eagle in Washington.

March

Flew to New Zealand solo. Visited Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington. Drove seven hours in the middle of the night to Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and hiked the most insane trail up to a glacier lake. Possible highlight of the year. Also learned the kiwi is my new favorite bird.
While on this trip, took a small boat out on the Pacific to see dusky dolphins. Only dolphins in the world that just randomly do backflips in the wild. You won't believe it until you look it up.
Also while on this trip, visited the "World's Coolest McDonalds" in Lake Taupo. Not sure it's something to brag about, but it is official and I can say I've been there.
Visited my buddy Brandon in San Diego who took me on some epic ocean hikes. Visited Encinitas for the first time and found this beautiful meditation garden. We always somehow squeeze in a ton in a short period of time.

April

Went to see Role Model in Vancouver. Not my favorite, but good show. Important preface because it was on this trip, while watching in a hotel, Ovechkin broke the goals record in Long Island.
Went to a Google conference in Vegas. Nerded out.
Visited Mount Vernon for the annual Tulip Festival in Washington. Never seen so many tulips in my life.

May

Saw elk in-person, in-the-wild, for the first time ever. Just hanging out in North Bend.
Found this insane hike with spring flowers in the Wenatchee National Forest. Never seen anything like it.
Flew to Virginia to take part in our annual friends trip to Smith Mountain Lake. Always something I look forward to — it's been five years running. This year rented jet skis for the first time (and my first time riding).
Got nose surgery to fix a deviated septum. The most miserable week of my life (but I survived, so all is well).

June

Started living again, and went to Orcas Island and camped at Moran State Park. Brought Ollie. Incredibly peaceful, nice small town, awesome hikes. Ollie enjoyed the ferry. He also did surprisingly well in a tent.
Loganberries were back in-season at the farmers markets and I got an ungodly amount. Highlight for sure. These are really only grown in Washington and are a raspberry hybrid that's sour and sweet. Only around for two or so months in the summer.
Went to my first MLS game.

July

July 4th was a good one — went to the Mariners game, saw fireworks on the lake, and kayaked.
Hiked up Mount Rainer (not the full thing obviously), and came to a lookout tower. The highest spot I've been in the park. Chipmunks were way too friendly and kept trying to steal our food.
A new coffee shop opened in Issaquah that is actually good. A nice little coffee shop is a great way to start the day.
Tried baking my first pie from scratch, a loganberry pie. Came out like soup. Will try again in 2026 or just leave it to the professionals.
Took Ollie back to Ebey's Landing. Found out he doesn't like bees.

August

The Blue Angels came to Seattle. Hands-down one of the coolest things I've ever witnessed in-person. I was kayaking on Lake Washington during the show and also lost my bracelet in the lake alongside my hearing.
Went to Scandanvia with my mom. Highlight of the year for sure. I flew from Seattle and my mom from Virginia. We explored Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. Fast-paced ten or so days, but saw a ton and felt like we traveled the entirety of all three countries by train. Taking a ferry through the fjords of Norway was peak.
Flew to Virginia to meet up with some friends and spend a weekend in an Airbnb, watching IMSA racing. Life does not get better or simpler than this. Convinced a guy to let me sit in one of the cars.

September

Hiked within The Enchantments for the first time, doing the Colchuck Lake trail. Tough, but so worth it. Water was freezing cold, but the view was incredible.
Hockey was back, so went up to Everett to watch a Kraken prospects game. Took a walk on the water pre-game and found a guy flying a 40-foot octopus kite.
Flew out to Oak Island, North Carolina for my buddy Connor's bachelor party. There were at least a dozen of us doing nothing but shenanigans for four or five days.
Random weekend trip down to Oregon where Micah and I visited Crater Lake (and hiked the only trail to the water which is now closed). Went to a pumpkin patch, the Tillamook factory, the ocean, and our car was upgraded to a Land Rover.

October

Participated in a 5K. Met Bouy (the mastcot for the Kraken).
Attended Salmon Days in Issaquah, celebrating the return of the salmon to the stream. If you live in Issaquah and don't attend, it's against the law.
Hockey is back. Enough said.
Visited T-Mobile Park to watch the Mariners on TV (they were away, playing the Blue Jays). Cool to hang out with thousands of other people and watch. Never really a baseball guy, but the Mariners playoff run might have converted me.
Flew back to Virginia where my family and I (mom, Karen, David) visited Emerald Isle. Nothing better than doing nothing. Here I saw the best sunset of the year and bowled my best game ever, despite not playing a game of bowling in at least five years.

November

Flew to Richmond where Micah was running her first half marathon and absolutely crushed it. Had an early Friendsgiving with some friends (hence the name). Shoutout Connor and Emily for hosting.
Ended up getting sick the remainder of the month, brutal time to spend Thanksgiving and my birthday. But Micah made me cinnamon rolls on my birthday and decorated the kitchen, so it still felt nice.
Picked up our Christmas tree for the year (a small one way in the back, as is tradition).
Micah also got a new car and got rid of the Blueberry (her Honda Civic with 335,000 miles). Not a highlight for me particularly, but a big life event nonetheless.

December

Flew to LA to meet my buddy Austin on the Caps roadtrip. Sat right behind the Caps bench in LA, we drove to San Jose (and met up with Brandon) to watch the Sharks, drove down Highway 1 to Big Sur, back down to Anaheim, went to Knott's Berry Farm, and watched the Caps play the Ducks. What a fun time and roadtrip. Highlights were the long drives and just talking along the way.
Went outside my comfort zone and solo'd a "wellness block party" in Seattle. A few hours, 200 people, yoga, cold plunge, sauna. And just hung out. Felt great. And a super cool concept.
Started with a personal trainer again. We're full sending it in 2026.
Micah and I started playing Stardew Valley on Playstation. Not sure what it is, but we're into it and it's becoming a ritual to work on the farm.
Flew to Virginia to see my mom, my grandma and other family, Micah's family for Christmas. Then drove up to New York to see my dad, where Micah flew and met me. We drove back to Virginia before flying out the next day.
Headed to San Francisco for a night where we spent NYE with Swedish House Mafia inside a warehouse. Doesn't get better than that.