A year shaped by slow moments, fast ones, and the quiet lessons in between.
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Today, I’d like to pause and share my reflections on 2025 with you.
2025 was my first year as a self-employed founder and consultant, and it felt like a year made of very different rhythms. Some phases moved slowly, others rushed past me, and a few offered just enough space to breathe and learn.
Looking back, if I had to describe this year’s learnings in one word, it’d be: Time.
Time was my biggest opponent and my biggest ally this year.
When time moved slowly
There were times when I imagined hearing the second hand on my clock ticking, and everything went painfully slow. I
In those moments, even the smallest task or decision seemed to stretch out endlessly. At the beginning of the year, recovering from major surgery, waiting for government approvals, or simply waiting for a potential client to reply to a proposal taught me patience in a way I hadn’t experienced before.
Those weeks felt like standing still while the world moved on without me. Yet, they also reminded me that not everything can be pushed or accelerated.
I learned that I had to endure time and to let things go their way.
When time accelerated
Then, there were times when time flew by and I wished I had more of it.
Lecturing at IU University of Applied Sciences while being a student again at UC Berkeley and working at the same time sometimes felt as if my life had sped up to warp speed, pressing me into my chair with the force of several g. On some days, it felt as if the week had barely begun before it was already over.
I didn’t have weekends anymore, and I often planned my whole week to the minute just to keep everything moving in the right direction. It was demanding, intense, and at times overwhelming – yet also strangely energising.
Despite the pace, I wouldn’t want to have missed these experiences. They reminded me what I’m capable of carrying when I truly care about what I’m doing, and how easily we can stretch when life asks us to.
When time was simply enough
And, last but not least – at other times, I was gifted with just enough time, resources, and heartfelt support to move at a pace that felt right for me. These were the quieter stretches of the year, where nothing rushed me forward and nothing held me back.
I had the space to create, to struggle with ideas, to adjust my plans, and to learn without constantly looking at the clock. Those moments weren’t spectacular or loud, but they shaped me in their own way.
They gave me a sense of steadiness and reminded me that growth doesn’t always need pressure; sometimes, it just needs enough room to unfold.
Looking back
These lessons have been precious to me. They turned me into the person I am now at the end of the year. I feel more grounded, more experienced, and more realistic about what I can expect from life, work – and of course, time.
Perhaps most importantly, they reminded me that every year has its own rhythm, and we grow by learning to move with it rather than against it.
Let the next year come, and with it its challenges, lessons, and rewards.
To the next year – and to all of you, I wish a year filled with precious time, in whatever form you need it most.
What was your key learning in 2025? I’m curious to hear!
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