12 photos, 12 (small) moments

My year in review with some questions for you,

This will be my last newsletter of 2024, so I’ve decided to mix things up by sharing my own version of my year in review. What you’ll find below are 12 personal photos, 12 reflections and 12 questions for you to consider.

The photos I’m sharing aren’t always the most beautiful, but as I was looking through my camera roll from 2024 these were the moments that stood out. The ones that have a story behind them that may resonate with you too.

In January I went to Madonna’s Celebration Tour. While it wasn’t my favourite tour of hers, I was reminded throughout the show how throughout her career, Madonna changed. Tried new things. Challenged the status quo. Stood up for things she believed in. Was fearless.

What’s something you’d like to change in 2025 that will leave an impact?

There were a lot of photos from Gather Society on my camera roll. But this photo is the one that sums up what I co-founded this year. Joy. Disbelief that what we’d dreamed up only a couple of months ago was possible. Doing this was a leap of faith that I’m so glad I took this year.

What’s a leap of faith you’d like to make in 2025?

This photo was taken at Hollywood Studios and is proof that things happen when you least expect it. I’m not a huge Star Wars fan, but I do enjoy Baby Yoda. He’s cute. As my family was enjoying the Rise of the Resistance ride, I literally bumped into this character unexpectedly. A moment of joy.

What’s been a small moment of unexpected joy you’ve experienced recently?

I like to cook, but I have a nasty habit of overcooking chicken breasts. And nobody likes eating overcooked chicken breasts. At a Spring BBQ, I was ready to toss the chicken we’d cooked into the trash. It was inedible. But then my friend said why don’t you turn it into some saucy pulled chicken sandwiches? Simmering it with BBQ sauce on the stove will make it soft. So, I did.

What mistake did you make this year and what did you learn from it?

Towards the end of the school year, my daughter had a project about red pandas. We took her to the Toronto Zoo to see them and to learn about them. I kept taking photos of the “red panda facts” we found. I thought it would help her. None of these facts made it into her project. She did things her way.

What is something you’d love to do your way in 2025 vs. someone else’s way?

My husband’s mother was born in a house on a hill in a very remote Scottish village. To get to the house isn’t easy. When we were there in June we wanted to visit the house, but couldn’t figure out how to. We were ready to give up, but persisted. And in the end we got to see where she literally was born.

What’s something that hasn’t come easy in 2024 but was worth the effort?

We changed up our favourite sushi restaurant this year. At our new one, the owner comes around and does magic tricks. The kids love it and so do I. While the food is great, the magic is why we keep coming back. We could probably find the same quality of sushi elsewhere but not the owner.

How will you delight your customers or clients in 2025?

I am not a Pickleball fan. I’m a tennis snob. But when we were in Kentucky over the summer, I played a game with my kids. And while I still prefer tennis, it was fun. I also learned that my son is a bit of a Pickleball shark and likes it.

What’s something that turned out to be fun in 2024 that you thought it wouldn’t be?

I’ve been best friends with this woman for more than half my life now. We don’t get to see each other as much as I would like to but each time we get together I’m reminded that it does a person good to spend time with a good friend.

Who is someone you’d love to see more of in 2025?

For the last 6 years, my husband and I have dressed up for Halloween. It’s become our thing. It started as a family costume thing and as the kids have gotten older has morphed into a couples costume. We don’t always have a party to go to but it’s fun to dress up.

What’s something you love to do each year that’s become your thing?

On a random Monday, I had an idea. An idea to do some kind of Swiftie themed friendship bracelet thing at our school. Within hours I was able to recruit some people to help, share the idea with our principals and make it happen that Thursday. There were some roadblocks in making this happen, but I powered through. It was a joyous day at the school even if you weren’t a Swiftie. Sometimes the spur of the moment ideas are the best ones.

What’s been a spur of the moment idea you’ve had in 2024?

Sometimes the people who should be thanked the most are often forgotten. When our school opened the new playgrounds this year, the construction workers were invited and thanked. They said it was the first time that this had happened.

As we close the year is there someone in your business or life who deserves to be thanked?

Thank you for reading this year.

I’ll see you the week of January 6th 2025.

Kirstenx