Reflection on 2025: How to Rise like a Phoenix from the Ashes for 2026

Well well well, here we are on New Year's Eve of 2025 and I realise this will be my one and only blog of the year.  Pretty much sums it up, I feel like I am not the only one to have had an absolute shit show of a 2025. For me, the title of this blog is apt because we suffered the consequences of a literal fire at my old work place.  The ensuing stress it caused, pretty much broke me and it's one of the reasons why I've moved on.  Another being a complete breakdown in communication between my Supervisor and I.  Leading to months of not being listened to, owning up to my mistakes but the other party never really taking accountability for theirs.  And, what felt like, a whole year to get the accommodations for my ADHD in place. (May've been more like 6 months but was 6 months of the utmost frustration!). Absolute joke! Add to that, it became all about the things I struggled with and not being recognised for the talents I do have.  Not being able to use them and feeling caged and frustrated! No wonder it has left me feeling deflated, depressed and burnt out! 

​Work was a major stress factor but I also had ongoing family issues, incompetent medical staff (one such incidence caused me to use my savings to go private so I didn't lose my place for ADHD meds.  All because of one jobsworth pharmacist!!).  It really felt like one thing after another.  Talking to my husband and trying to find the positives, all that came to mind was a Valentine's date night where we saw a techno band at an intimate venue in London! I highly recommend Klangphonics if you like a bit of techno! Photo of aforementioned highlight of the year!

On reflection from looking through the year's photos, I was pleasantly surprised to find more than just that one occasion for some positives of the year! This year has been heavily weighted towards the negatives so I make no apologies for missing the positives.  Anyone that knows me, knows I hate toxic positivity.  When there is shit to process, you can't just brush it under the carpet and say 'oh, it wasn't that bad.  At least you had a fun time at a techno gig!'.  Oh my days! Don't even go there with me!

To sum up this year, I wrote a poem.  I stopped doing these at one point.  Somewhere along the line, I remember wanting to make money from my writing.  As an elder millennial, I grew up with hustle culture.  So forget having a hobby for the fun of it.  No, you had to make it a side hustle and suck all the joy out of it.  Don't get me started on what's happened to Etsy these days.  It is no longer the jewel in the handmade marketplace.  Full of mass produced shite.  You need to look carefully for the genuine handmade sellers these days.  Everything gets sold out in the end.  But hey, the world has been burning for nearly a decade, there's no surprises at the absolute greed we live in.  All about those profit margins, the quicker it breaks, the quicker they'll get more money as we replace things.  Gone are the days of good quality and make do and mend! I digress.

I gave up on writing poems as someone told me they don't make money when published.  So I thought, 'why bother?' and tried to focus on getting published elsewhere in other formats.  The extent of this you can see on my portfolio page! As always, when it comes to hustle, the ADHD gets in the way and it just feels like an absolute mountain to climb.  The marketing, the social media, the networking.  Which is key because my published articles came from the creative communities I was involved with at the time.  See Blogtacular archives! The only paid article linked to my knowledge from decades of experience in Early Years.

Before I digress further, here is the poem.  I thought I'd do a different style of video, not just me performing it.  But a visual match of the metaphors and ideas I wanted to portray.  Here's the video and written transcript below.
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Phoenix from the Ashes

This year, I have no cheer. 
I’ve lost my crown, all I do is frown.
Feeling unstable, don’t want anyone at my table.

This year, I’ve had enough. It’s been too tough.
Fire and flames, always taking the blame.
Feeling insane, too much on the brain.

This year, I’ve battled. It’s left me rattled.
Too much aggro, need to let it all go.
Feeling drained, need to release these chains.

Next year, I’ll start afresh. Want to be at my best.
To leave the stress behind, renew my mind.
Feeling at peace, wonders will never cease.

Next year, I’ll celebrate my gifts. No longer be adrift.
Faith will rise, there will be no compromise.
Feeling hope, finally, I will cope.

Next year, I will be a Phoenix from the ashes. No more crashes.
From fire and flames, battles and rage.
Faith will rise and I will be released from this cage.

Top Tips for Easing in to 2026

1. Do not make any resolutions.  The amount of articles, social media posts, vlogs etc that just tell you resolutions are non-starters.  It's like with all things.  They're a novelty to start with and as time ticks on, we lose interest.  Especially my fellow ND folk that have an interest based system.  It's hard to keep up momentum and motivation for a few weeks.  Let alone a whole year!
2. Start with a vision board.  Doesn't have to be arty.  You can just do a mind map, info dump, jot some thoughts and vibes of how you'd like the year to go.  If you are that way inclined, get some old magazines and just collage images/words/phrases that resonate.  And if you live in Southend or are close enough to travel, come to my 'Craft and Chat' group for Neurodivergent folk.  This January we will be making vision boards! Monday 26th January, 7pm-9pm at The Exchange pub in Southchurch Road. £5 per person.
3. Meditate on a word or phrase of the year.  For me, I've done this for the last 15 years! It started off with my faith in God.  I'd pray over the word and receive from Holy Spirit in a prophetic foretelling of how the year might play out.  My faith these days feels somewhat watered down but I usually receive the word in the last quarter of the current year.  If you have any kind of intuition, you'll find it fairly easy to tune in and hear what your heart and soul are telling you for the year ahead.  For me, it just gives a little bit of focus, especially if you couple it with a vision board.  Mine started with my ADHD intuition and have now become a grid of Autistic pattern recognition.  It's certainly true how everything goes in cycles.  Mine seem to follow 5 year patterns/cycles.  So that they slot in with each other.  And, funnily enough, as I look over the themes of 2010, 2015, 2020 and 2025, goodness, they were all rubbish years in their own right.  2020 being the top! Ha!

4. If you are exhausted and burnt out from what 2025 has thrown at/on you then just do this one thing.  Take some time to reflect and process your thoughts and feelings.  Especially any high emotions that have left you feeling drained.  What do you need to accept? What do you need to let go of? And what ignites your passion that you need to do more of? Reflection time is so important.  We get so caught up in survival mode that we are either too exhausted or just don't prioritise this kind of activity.  If you have the energy to focus on this and can prioritise a block of time to really work on it, this will be the most fruitful start to your year.
5. Remove unattainable expectations.  Take each day as it comes and stop expecting the world from other people too.  Take the pressure off yourself, you are not perfect and you are not meant to be perfect.  Accept your flaws, celebrate your strengths and when people piss you off, practice that phrase, 'let them'.  Just let them be dickheads and crack on mate! One thing I have learnt from this year is that I will no longer people please and put up with other people's rigidity.  I will politely address it and agree to disagree! Not mumble something passive aggressive under my breath, harbour frustrations and then eventually explode.  It is not worth my time or energy.  Let people have their opinions, even if they are stupid opinions! Let them continue on their path and leave them be.
6. Take each day as it comes.  This is my biggest piece of advice.  If you are prone to overthinking or getting disappointed at unmet expectations, remember, as much as we want to be in control, we have to be able to let it go.  For my 'tism, this is the hardest lesson to learn.  But if we can meld ourselves to some kind of calm flow state, keeping the anxiety at bay, how much more chill would that be?! Easier said than done but I really want to practice letting it all go.

Final Thoughts

I hope my poetry and advice has been helpful.  My inbox is always open.  And my Southend Neurodivergents group welcomes you! Get in touch for more info.  A final toast, death to 2025, now, it's time to rise! Happy 2026 people! Let's do this!

Photography Credits

Title pic of sapling:
by Gelgas Airlangga from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/shallow-focus-of-sprout-401213/

'Toxic' pic of chemicals in lab:
by Davide Baraldi: https://www.pexels.com/photo/glass-bottles-on-shelf-1771809/

Photography used in my video
​
Christmas background: https://www.pexels.com/@shkrabaanthony/Anthony Shkraba studio


Person sitting by a wall is Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/@pixabay/


Person crying is Karola G: Photo by Karola G from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/tears-on-face-of-crop-anonymous-woman-4471315/


Fire from Oussama Elhaidi: Photo by Oussama Elhaidi from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/burning-wood-on-the-ground-5159914/


ADHD brain by Tara Winstead from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/adhd-text-8378728/


Armour: Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/silver-knight-helmet-289831/


Calm: Photo by Atlantic Ambience from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-closing-her-eyes-against-sun-light-standing-near-purple-petaled-flower-plant-321576/


Chains: Photo by Lola Russian from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/chain-a-serial-assembly-connected-pieces-3679490/


Fireworks celebration: Photo by Rakicevic Nenad from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-with-fireworks-769525/


Balloons: Photo by Padli Pradana from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/five-assorted-balloons-772478/



Hand reaching out: Photo by Lukas from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-hand-reaching-body-of-water-296282/

Phoenix: Photo by RAFAEL  QUATY from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-of-wood-and-ash-in-fire-7249855/


Gladiator flames: Photo by jordan besson from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/viking-warrior-with-fire-shooting-weapon-in-forest-29189044/


Burnt book: Photo by Joy Marino from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-holding-burned-book-3054154/


Cage (fence) Photo by Jimmy Chan from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/sun-over-the-cyclone-fence-949557/


Handcuffs: Photo by Pixabay from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/low-section-of-man-against-sky-247851/

Any other photography used and not credited here are my own and subject to copyright.  Please ask permission before sharing!