I’ve already done a Creative Soul Life episode with the same title but I still want to do my annual recap here.
Normally I do a bit of a deep dive into each aspect of my life including my art business. 2025 was a year of calm and introspection though. I’m trying to embrace my ‘recovering Type-A’ identity and move in a lower gear in this phase of life. So no metrics or goals met, just a general overview:
Art
I’ve talked about this a couple of times here on the blog. I’ve felt pretty isolated after leaving my wonderful art community in Pinellas county. Towards the end of 2025 I got connected with a small art group in a neighboring town. I’m enjoying the camaraderie and even joined their board…my first big step back into volunteering since I’ve moved to Florida. I’m also planning on teaching/leading several of our monthly meetings in 2026.
Highlight: Attending a retreat nearby with my former gallery artists in March. Completely recharged my creative battery.
Business
I’ve been moving more and more online. My project to get all my remaining (and future) art listed on either my website or Etsy shop is still going strong. And I made a few sales towards the end of 2025 so it feels like I’m on the right track. I was in two shows last year and I’ve already been accepted into one this year. This is my current plan…show locally whenever I have an opportunity but continue to develop my online shop and presence.
Highlight: Getting all my art out and accessing it. Plus getting such a strong start on listing it for sale online.
Creativity
I took a bit of a break with Creative Soul Life, but I’m planning on being back in 2026. This episode explains a bit more. My creative love this year was the fairy houses. I learned how to do these at a class with my garden club. I’ve done a few videos showing the basics and I’ve got a few more coming with other ideas I had with them. I did a few other creative projects here and there…or bought supplies for ideas I need to actually execute!
Highlight: Fairy houses…the end.
Home
It was so calm it was almost boring…and that is fantastic. No moves, no hurricanes…just getting caught up on routine things. Our house is almost as old as my husband and I, but not in a historic, interesting way. Just a ‘always needs something done’ way. No major projects happened, just a continuation of smaller, maintenance type things.
My husband and I are in a good groove as well. Our main ‘together’ time (besides working on house projects!) has been walking and exploring the parks in Hillsborough County and gaming. We’ve always been gamers and it’s always been a huge part of our time we spend together and with our family. Now it’s full circle as we are back to playing World of Warcraft …with my eldest and her husband! My husband also spent a good amount of time earlier this year building an extremely elaborate world on Minecraft with our grandson.
Highlight: Getting out of crazy mode and enjoying where we are now.
Garden
My wonderful acre is still in progress. Projects I planned when we moved it got pushed by hurricane cleanup in 2024. I got stuck inside most of the summer which meant I only had time for maintenance and recovering beds from weeds when I could get outside. I’m not worried though. Like the house, progress is slowly made but I’ll always have stuff I want to do. Socially, my garden friends have been my lifeline this year!
Highlight: The fellow gardeners I’ve met at my garden club and in my neighborhood. It’s fun to grow stuff, it’s more fun to share it!
Travel
Hubby and I went to the Keys last spring. Even though we’ve been here six years we had not made it past Key Largo. It was a fantastic trip beginning with snorkeling in John Pennekamp State Park and ended with a boat tour of the Everglades (where I saw my first crocodiles in the wild!). Most of the time was spent in the water snorkeling at various stops. It was just fantastic!
Family trips included North Carolina to see my parents, siblings and nieces and nephews. I took a brief trip to Texas in the summer and brought my grandson back for a Disney day. His mom came out for a week and then took him home. Then we went to Texas for the holidays.
Highlight: Snorkeling and getting to see family (grateful but never feels like enough!)
Health
Unfortunately, I had a slow, slight decline over the year, which was disappointing. Any other female in this age of life or beyond knows the frustration. But I’m not giving up and I’ll continue to try to eat cleaner, move more and do all the things!
Highlight: Lots of movement in a variety of ways.
How was your year? Crazy? Calm? Bits of both? Let me know.