2025 arrived quietly, meeting me with both light and weight. Some moments lifted my spirit, others tested my patience, yet each one shaped me in ways I did not always see. This year taught me to slow down, stay present, and honor how far we have already come.
As 2025 draws to a close, it feels natural to pause, reflect, and begin writing my Year in Review. Chinese New Year 2025 stands out as one of those quiet moments that invited gratitude and renewal. Beyond the colors and traditions, it reminded me that every ending carries the promise of a new beginning within.
Celebrating it far from where the tradition began made the experience even more meaningful. It showed me that faith, culture, and intention travel with us wherever life leads. Looking back, this moment remains a gentle reminder that growth often happens in stillness, through gratitude, reflection, and trust in what lies ahead.
TRAVEL BACK IN TIME
My visit to Britannia felt like stepping into a quiet dialogue with the past. Surrounded by echoes of hard work and resilience, I was reminded that every structure, every tunnel, carries the strength of those who came before us.
The experience inspired me to reflect on my own journey. It reminded me that perseverance shapes our path, and that honoring the past gives us the grounding and courage to keep moving forward with purpose and gratitude.
LAVENDER FIELDS
Standing in the lavender fields at full bloom felt like a quiet exhale in the middle of the year. Wrapped in calming colors and gentle scents, I was reminded to slow down, be present, and appreciate the beauty that exists in stillness.
Looking back, that moment became a symbol of trust and timing. Just like growth in nature, life unfolds at its own pace, teaching me that peace comes not from rushing ahead, but from honoring the season I am in.
GROUSE MOUNTAIN
That moment unfolded in sacred stillness at Grouse Mountain. Surrounded by fog, mindful of wildlife, and watching the sunset softly color the sky, I felt deeply present and profoundly alive. It was a reminder that life’s most powerful moments often arrive unannounced, asking us to pause, to respect nature, and to fully trust the experience unfolding before us.
Looking back, it became a reflection of the year itself. Even in uncertainty, beauty waits patiently to be seen. The experience taught me that strength grows in presence, faith is shaped in quiet moments, and light always finds its way through when we choose to keep moving forward.
STEVESTON HARBOR
A summer stroll at Steveston Harbour felt like a moment of quiet grace. The boats rested on calm waters, the sea breeze carried stories of time and tide, and everything seemed to slow just enough to breathe. In that stillness, gratitude settled in, reminding me how healing it is to simply be present.
Looking back, that walk reflects the rhythm of the year itself. Life doesn’t always ask us to rush forward. Sometimes it invites us to trust the flow, to pause, and to appreciate where we stand. By the water’s edge, I was reminded that peace is found not in distance, but in presence, and that even the simplest moments can shape us deeply.
VEDDER RIVER
My birthday by the Vedder River was a quiet pause in time. As the river moved steadily and the trees swayed gently, I felt grounded and present. In the glow of a small campfire, I was reminded that the simplest moments often carry the deepest meaning.
When night finally arrived, reflection replaced celebration. Another year began softly, filled with gratitude, calm hope, and a renewed trust in where life is leading me.
LINDEMAN LAKE
My birthday hike to Lindeman Lake felt like a quiet conversation with time. Each step along the trail carried reflection and gratitude, leading me toward still waters that mirrored the calm I was slowly learning to hold. In that moment, another year of life felt less about counting time and more about understanding it.
Looking back, the hike became a symbol of growth and resilience. Every climb revealed strength, every pause offered clarity, and every year added depth to the journey. Surrounded by nature’s steady presence, I was reminded of how far I’ve come, and gently encouraged to keep moving forward with purpose and grace.
FALL SEASON ADVENTURE
TAVES APPLE ORCHARD
Apple picking at Taves Family Farms was a gentle reminder to slow down. Beneath open skies and rows of apples, simple moments turned into quiet joy, filling the day with warmth and presence.
In that small harvest, I felt the meaning of the year. Not rushed, not perfect, but deeply grateful for what life has patiently grown.
PUMPKIN PATCH
The pumpkin patch at Taves Family Farms felt like a soft pause in the season. Surrounded by pumpkins and quiet laughter, I let time slow and gratitude settle in.
In that simple walk, the year reflected back at me. Unhurried, imperfect, yet full of gentle meaning waiting to be felt.
CANADIAN THANKSGIVING
Canadian Thanksgiving arrived as a quiet moment of grounding and grace. Gathered in warmth and shared meals, I felt deeply aware of how much the year had shaped me. Gratitude flowed not just for abundance on the table, but for resilience, family, and the unseen strength carried through both joys and trials.
As the day settled into stillness, reflection took its place beside thankfulness. This Thanksgiving was less about tradition alone and more about presence. A reminder that even in ordinary moments, there is grace in slowing down and acknowledging the journey that brought us here, in Canada.
CHRISTMAS IN OUR HEARTS
GLOW LANGLEY
Christmas in our hearts arrived softly, shaped by gratitude and reflection. In simple moments, shared meals, and familiar songs, I was reminded of what truly matters and of the quiet lessons the year revealed.
As the year came to a close, Christmas became a gentle pause filled with hope. A season to carry gratitude forward and step into what’s next with a calm and thankful heart here in Canada.
The Quiet Challenges
Not every part of 2025 was easy. There were days of fatigue, uncertainty, and emotional weight that didn’t always have words. Some challenges were visible, others deeply personal. I learned that strength doesn’t always look like pushing harder. Sometimes, it looks like resting, asking for help, and choosing hope when answers are not yet clear.
This year taught me patience in ways I never expected. It taught me to trust the process, even when progress felt slow.
Gratitude That Anchored Me
I am grateful for health, for work that keeps me grounded, and for days that allowed me to keep going. I am grateful for my family, for shared dreams, and for quiet mornings that offered clarity. I am grateful for lessons learned through discomfort, and for moments of joy that arrived unannounced.
Gratitude became my anchor. It reminded me that even in waiting seasons, there is purpose.
What 2025 Taught Me
2025 taught me that becoming takes time. That showing up consistently matters more than rushing ahead. That life is not measured only by milestones, but by the way we carry ourselves through each season.
I learned that presence is a gift, and patience is a form of strength.
Stepping Into 2026
As I look ahead, I do so with hope, not pressure. I carry lessons, not regrets. I step into 2026 trusting that what is meant for us will arrive in its own time. With faith, intention, and gratitude, I move forward ready for whatever comes next.
Because 2025 may not have given me everything I wanted, but it gave me everything I needed.
©️ 2025 Del Cusay