The Best Person You Met This Year

Regular readers of this blog will know that I’m a sucker for sentimentality which feels impossibly amplified come December. I’m deep in my memory bank, rolling over joyful memories from the past 11 and a half months, relishing in laughter and learning.

Something I used to pay a lot of attention to at year end was the year’s “new” people. Who did I meet in 2025? How did they color my life?

I find that taking a moment to reflect on this each December always brings me pause. “They’ve become such an important part of my life—how have I only known them for 8 months?” 

Start with those closest to you. Did you become an aunt or uncle or honorary adult to a new baby? Do you have a new roommate? Did you meet a family member’s new partner? Do you have a new love interest? What about coworkers? Is there someone new that is now part of your job that you spend hours and hours and hours with each week? Have they altered the course of your 2025?

What about your community? Is there a new team at trivia night? Did you make friends at salsa dancing class? At summer camp? Is there a new neighbor down the block? What about in your school? And don’t just think about the students—what about the educators? Do you have a favorite bakery or bar? Do you know the servers there?

Keep going. Remember that other person at the party you both went to where you only knew one person? It was nice to have a friend for the night. What about someone you met on your travels? Or the friend of a friend you met at a third friend’s birthday party or Bachelorette. For that one weekend, did they make you laugh until your sides hurt?

I find this exercise jolts me through the year—an Airbnb host in Italy, a fellow volunteer I met at a dog foster adoption event, my friend’s old boss, many new colleagues, many new friends, many new babies. Circles expanding. Love growing wider.

While it is magical to wander memory lane, this month, we invite you to take it a step further. If there’s someone new in your life who has made your 2025 great, tell them. Thank them for shaping your year. Thank them whether they’re from last week or January 1. 

We’d all do a little better to share that love and gratitude this month and into the year. And, perhaps even always.