Like many of you, I started 2025 feeling hopeful about the twelve months ahead. I resolved to stick to a stricter budget, take more pauses, and reach out more often. But somewhere along the way, life happened. I found myself constantly overstimulated: caught in hurried mornings instead of slowed-down ones, moving from one task to the next with barely any time to breathe. There were curveballs along the way, too, that tested my calm and composure and completely threw me out of alignment.

More than once, I caught myself asking, “What is happening?”

Now, as 2025 comes to a close, I still look back on the year with gratitude. If you’re like me and you struggle to find the words to express your thanks because of overstimulation, here are three things I’m grateful for that you just might be thankful for, too.

I started the year saying yes to an additional income stream, which meant juggling a full-time job and a part-time job (for just 10 days!) on top of being a mom. Though brief, those days filled my hands with responsibilities, my body with exhaustion, and my mind with endless thoughts. It wasn’t easy, but I did my best to show up for myself, my family, and my students.

They say opportunity doesn’t knock the same way twice, so I grabbed it, even if it meant trading a bit of rest and relaxation. A mom’s got to do what a mom’s got to do, right?

Confession: I like my coffee really hot. When it cools even a few degrees, I consider it stale. Moms understand the struggle: How many cups of “stale” coffee did we need to gulp because we already forgot about them?

Despite the hurried mornings in 2025, thankfully, not every morning wasn’t. There were mornings when my body allowed me to wake up a little earlier when the house is still quiet. I can savor my cup of coffee while it’s still hot! These mornings became moments to reflect, rearrange the home, think ahead, plan, pray, and prepare for the day.

And yes, as they say, as you get older, you truly enjoy these little pockets of time. They are real treasures. Nothing else compares.

This year, I found hope not just at home, but in the collective voice of the Filipinos who took a stand – first in social media, then out on the streets. We showed up for what we believed in, and we continue to fight for what we deserve. Seeing parents and families join the Trillion Peso March, demanding accountability and a better future for their children, reminded me that the tiny flicker of hope will remain alive when we act and speak up.

As I sip my hot cup of coffee in the quiet of our home in the wee hours of the morning, I feel deeply grateful for the year that was. Thank you, 2025, for giving this overstimulated mom space to think and grow: to pause, to ruminate, and to savor pockets of stillness like this, amid all the noise and movement.

I bring these moments with me as I step into the year ahead: hopeful, open, and ready for what’s next.