By the end of 2025, I realized I hadn’t updated my weekly review since Week 48 of 2025, after I chose to fail my 75 Hard challenge. I had been enjoying my winter time for the past few weeks. I hate doing anything in December. Honestly, I think we should all take December off.

When January of the new year came, I started trying to get back to a more productive daily routine, and I began updating my 2025 weekly review almost every week again. That felt great. Now it’s time to officially end my 2025 and start my 2026 documentation.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about what I should do for 2026. For 2025, my main theme was “for better or for worse.” I think I truly did that for myself. I survived 2025 and remained the loving, attractive, active person I am.

The only part that didn’t go well was my business. It struggled throughout the year, and I went through many financial-related inner crises. But after all of that, I believe I’ve grown more resilient, and that is something worth bragging about as I step into the new year.

For 2026, I will definitely try talking to the camera at least once a week. I think my theme should be sharing weekly ups and downs: one amazing thing and one emotional low point each week. As far as I see life, it is a constant turbulence of ups and downs.

I will probably publish the same content in Chinese as ongoing blogs. I like myself with spontaneous ideas, and I believe I will make it work step by step.

So here is my policy for 2026: I will share one upset moment for each month.

To officially close my 2025, I decided to document the year by sharing one high point and one lowest moment for each month.

January 2025 — Marathon Pride and Emotional Awakening

If you’ve been following my blogs, you already know January.

The highest point of the month was going to Xiamen, my favorite city in China so far, and finishing my first full marathon in 4 hours and 56 minutes. I will forever be proud of myself for that. Thanks to the version of me who started running in 2019, I stayed on this journey with myself for seven years. I know how much effort I put into becoming this version of me, and I truly love and appreciate myself for it.

The lowest moment was a sunny morning after the marathon. I went to watch the sunrise and was excited to share the moment with my boyfriend at the time, now my ex, who lives in the USA. Instead, he accused me of “biting his head off” because he wasn’t replying to my messages.

What he was actually doing was waiting in a long line in the snow with his ex-girlfriend Jenny to visit a monument together. She didn’t know about me. According to him, they were just friends, and they didn’t talk about personal life because it “never came up.” While they were enjoying their moment, I was standing in the sunshine holding my phone, waiting for a simple reassuring message like, “It’s really cold outside, can I text you later? I love you.”

I received nothing. I sent many uneasy messages asking what he was doing. That was my stupidity. Later, he accused me of ruining his rare cool moment with his ex. I swallowed everything and blamed myself for being insecure.

Looking back, I wish I could hug myself and tell her to put the phone down. The day was beautiful, and he was not worth my precious time. I am glad I am out of that poisonous relationship now. I am not fully healed yet. I set aside six months for intentional healing, and I’ve now completed the first month. I will probably write more about that when I am ready.

February 2025 — Writing, Vulnerability, and Survival Instinct

In February, I went to Bali and stayed there for a month.

The highest point was finishing my first-ever English book. I wrote it by a beautiful swimming pool, wearing my swimsuit, with cute curly hair. It was a long dating book, and you can find it on my website or on Amazon. Sadly, the book was about my ex. I also gave him my little blue handwritten script, which I really wanted back, but whatever.

The lowest point was one night when I took a Grab scooter from the beach back to my hotel. The driver tried to take me down a dark side road that did not match my navigation. It was extremely dark, and I felt something was wrong. I forced him to stop, jumped off, and ran to a nearby hotel for help.

The receptionist was kind and helped explain my concerns to the driver, who said he was just taking a shortcut. I did not trust shortcuts. At that time, there were many horrible news stories about Chinese people being kidnapped in Southeast Asia. I was terrified. Thankfully, I stayed alert and made it back safely. That night reminded me to always trust my gut. Even if it is a misunderstanding, safety comes first.

March 2025 — Love, Distance, and Goodbye at the Airport

The high of March was meeting my boyfriend in Vietnam. He is now my ex. We were not broken up at that time, though we probably should have been. We did have a good time together after almost two years of not seeing each other in real life. Long-distance relationships with avoidant partners are never easy, and they rarely work.

The lowest moment was at Hanoi Airport. His flight left earlier than mine. I rushed through security hoping to see him at his gate, but when I arrived, he had already boarded. I stood by the window watching the plane take him away. All the memories rushed back, and I cried nonstop for almost an hour until my airline called my name and escorted me to my flight back to China. I truly loved him, and I am still healing.

April 2025 — Birthday Sweetness and Regret

April is my birthday month.

The high was going to Hong Kong with my friends, wearing a beautiful green dress. I sat on a park bench writing postcards to my boyfriend. The bittersweet feeling was beautiful.

The low was dyeing my hair purple. It lasted only about a week. I then cut off all the damaged parts and deeply missed my long hair.

May 2025 — Publishing and Falling Back

The high was finally publishing my long-delayed dating book through Kindle self-publishing. I still have not read my own book, but my friend did. It was not mature, but letting someone read my work for the first time felt fulfilling and terrifying at the same time.

The lowest point was turning off my morning alarm after thinking I had successfully built an early-rising habit, only to fall straight back into my old routines.

June 2025 — Emotional Freedom and Physical Frustration

The highest moment was seeing a beautiful rainbow during a hike with friends. I stood on a mountaintop with a guy who used to like me, and at that moment, all old feelings disappeared. I felt free, as if I was watching someone else’s story, no longer mine.

The low was my skin rash returning again and again. It was frustrating, and I am still managing it.

July 2025 — Endurance and Business Anxiety

The high was visiting my high school, seeing my best friend, and running a half marathon in extreme summer heat as training for my upcoming full marathon.

The low was doing nothing for my first anniversary with my new company. Business was stuck, and I worried constantly about how to keep it alive. It is still tough, but I believe I will figure it out.

August 2025 — Solo Strength and Disappointment

The high was finishing my second marathon in Hokkaido, Japan, in 5 hours and 19 minutes. It was not a great time, but I did it alone, and I am proud of myself.

The low was my boyfriend canceling our Japan trip at the last minute because his dad got sick from drinking. I had already reorganized my flights to match his. Instead of comforting me, he accused me of guilt-trapping him. That moment helped me fully decide to cut off avoidant and toxic relationships and focus on myself.

September 2025 — Discipline Without Drama

The high was restarting the 75 Hard challenge. Even though I failed later, starting it gave my life structure again.

I honestly cannot remember anything particularly bad that happened in September.

October 2025 — Physical Reset

The high was cutting my hair short and returning to the gym. My hair had never been that short, but it looked great on me. Working out in the gym felt much better than exercising alone on my balcony.

The low was my waist pain returning. I was worried it would be serious again, but it only lasted a few days.

November 2025 — Closure

The high was completing a 100 km bike ride with friends. It was an amazing experience.

The low was my ex coming back again, wanting to talk like nothing had happened. I finally blocked and deleted him everywhere. It was not easy, but I know I have no future with someone like that.

December 2025 — Calm and Acceptance

The high was attending a relaxed Christmas party with friends. I was not trying to impress anyone. I was calm, sober, and confident in my value.

The low was worrying about my business again. I may need to find a job next year, but for now, I chose to rest and enjoy December.

Dear 2025, I Loved You So Much

Looking back, I cannot remember every detail of 2025, but I know I lived it fully. Time passed too fast. There were ups and downs, and that is the rhythm of life.

I ran two marathons instead of one, took four solo trips, read 48 books out of my goal of 50, and explored strength training and many sports.

Thank you, 2025. I lived, and I loved.

I am ready for 2026, a new chapter filled with both high notes and low notes, and I will love them all.