12/20/2025
Before posting my wins of 2025, I wanted to sit with the things I didnāt complete this year.
We see so much success on social media, and I think it can quietly create a toxic belief that other people never fail. I know Iāve fallen into the trap of comparing myself and feeling like a failure because of it.
Reality is very different. We donāt always complete the goals we set. We experience setbacks, delays, and seasons where simply moving forward is the work. Life isnāt perfect, and I find comfort in seeing behind the curtain of social media, seeing the person working hard to make their dreams happen rather than just the end result.
This year came with major wins, but it also came with things I struggled with.
I didnāt travel to five new countries like I had planned. Being based in England for a short period of time, I wanted to fully take advantage of how easy it is to travel abroad. Between work and multiple trips back to Canada, it just didnāt happen.
Normally, I complete two or three creative projects each year that are just for me. They allow me to explore ideas Iāve been craving, push my creative boundaries, and see if my vision translates the way I imagine it. I didnāt do that this year, and I felt the absence of it more than I expected.
I had planned to photograph a new sport. After over twenty years in the equestrian world and a lifelong love of sports, I wanted to challenge myself creatively and learn how to tell stories in a new environment. That didnāt happen this year, but the desire is still there.
I also struggled with spending too much time scrolling on my phone. While social media is part of my job, I noticed how often my free time disappeared into scrolling instead of hobbies, time outdoors, or exploring new places.
I didnāt land the big clients I was hoping to work with, and thatās something Iām learning to be okay with. I dream big, and some goals take more than a single calendar year to reach. Iām deeply grateful for the clients who support me now and who, in many ways, help prepare me for those bigger dreams.
I didnāt attend as many international horse shows as I had planned. While I received accreditation for all of them, navigating last-minute logistics was something I hadnāt experienced before. It was frustrating at times, but it also taught me a lot about what I need to plan for moving forward.
Lastly, I realized how much I struggle to celebrate my accomplishments. I reached a few long-term goals this year and barely paused to acknowledge them before setting the next one. Thatās something I want to change. Not for social media, but for myself. I want to slow down enough to recognize what Iāve achieved, even if itās just a quiet moment or celebrating with a cake and no one else around.
This year wasnāt incomplete. It was human.
There is still so much to be grateful for in 2025.
Long-term goals achieved. Clients who continued to support me, even when I was only home in Canada for a limited amount of time. The opportunity to cover new riders, work with new businesses, and keep growing creatively.
Most of all, Iām grateful for the community Iāve built. A strong, supportive circle of creatives, riders, and professionals across different fields who continue to inspire and challenge me.
2025 will always hold a special place in my heart. It showed me the business and community Iāve built over the years, often quietly, and how meaningful that foundation truly is
We donāt talk enough about the unfinished parts.
Whatās something you didnāt complete this year?
