2025: My Year in Walks

December is the time of year when we start thinking ahead to the new year—to make plans and set goals and dream about what the coming year could bring. But before we look ahead, it’s important to look back at the past 12 months—to reminisce about your favorite moments, to celebrate the wins (both big and small), and to make note of the lessons you’ve learned along the way.

I’ve taken a lot of time over the past week to think about where I’ve been and what I’ve learned in 2025. I’m sharing my reflections—and I’ll share an image to help you record yours, too!

This Year’s Milestones:

– Most steps climbed in one day (technically since getting my new watch a few years ago—but I doubt I’ve done a lot more than that…ever): 43 floors while hiking through Cuyahoga Valley National Park

– Most miles walked in a year (again, since I’ve been keeping track)

Some of the Places I Walked:

– At a sports complex during a volleyball tournament

– In a hotel workout room while traveling for volleyball…of course

– At a national park

– On a grassy trail after the rain (it was a mess)

– Among the crowds on Broadway in Nashville

– Through (at least) five different malls

– On my new treadmill (usually while watching another movie)

– Through a whole lot of college campuses, small towns, and a surprising number of parking lots, thanks to (you guessed it) volleyball tournaments

Some of My Favorite Walking Moments:

– Starting my weekly walk-and-talks with my brother. At some point, after the school year started, my Texan big brother and I decided that our phone conversations were so important that we needed to add them to the calendar as a weekly appointment. We’ve both been through a whole lot of ups and downs this year, and connecting each week has made such a huge difference. It’s something I look forward to each week—a time of venting and reflecting and laughing.

– Summer walks with my kid. I consider myself lucky that, even though she turned 13 this summer, my daughter is still willing to get up and walk with me during her summer break. Sure, she might roll her eyes sometimes, but she’s supposed to. She’s a teenager. But I know that, secretly, she doesn’t hate it. I love being able to spend the time talking through challenges…or making up silly stories…or just enjoying the time outside. This year, we even traveled together to take some fun walks and make some great memories.

– My first snow walk. I do not love winter. When the temperatures start to drop, I spend a lot more time sitting in my car in the parking lot, trying to talk myself into getting out and walking. Or I’ll just give up and walk at home—or at the mall. But, this year, I was able to get out after the first real snowfall of the year and enjoy a chilly but stunning winter walk. It was so beautiful that I almost didn’t even notice how cold I was.

– My daughter’s first national park hike. At the end of the summer, my daughter and I had an open day, so we decided to explore Cuyahoga Valley National Park—our nearest national park (and my daughter’s first). It was such a tiring day—but also such a great memory.

Some Lessons I’ve Learned:

– Walking snacks count, too. This year was a crazy one. We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into when we signed our daughter up for her first season of club volleyball—and it was a lot. It was a lot of practices, a lot of traveling, and a lot of long days in noisy sports complexes. In that time, I learned the importance of walking snacks. I learned that walking doesn’t have to mean five miles on the trail. It can mean doing some laps around the courts between matches. It can mean wandering around the parking lot with another mom. It can mean walking to Menard’s during practice. Or a walk on the hotel treadmill while the kids are in the pool. And on crazy days, fitting in just a few extra minutes to walk (instead of scrolling through your phone) is a big win.

– I get cranky if I skip too many walks. I’m typically a six-days-a-week kind of walker—but there were weeks this year when we were traveling or extra busy or when I was sick or injured, and I missed two or maybe three days in a row. And I learned that no one wants to be around me when I miss too many days—not even me. So I’ve learned that I need to take some time to fit in a walking snack or two—preferably by myself—for my own mental health (and for everyone else’s protection).

– Sometimes I need a carrot. Believe it or not, I do not actually jump out of bed every morning, eager to go for a walk. I love to walk—and once I’m on the trail, I usually feel so much better. But there are days when I just do not want to go—and I need to dangle a carrot in front of my face to get me moving. For me, that carrot is usually “You can stop at Dunkin on the way home.” But it could be something else, too. Whatever the case, I’m not above self-bribery.

Now it’s your turn! Take some time to think about the walks you took this year. What were your favorite moments? What did you learn? If you need a little help, use the 12 Questions image to help you remember! And if you feel like sharing some of your observations/memories, please do! I’d love to hear some of your reflections for the year!

Happy New Year, everyone! Here’s to more miles in 2026!