2025 Wrapped
A Year of Transformation
I did Track and field growing up. When you’re a sprinter, you learn how to start your race with your feet balanced on blocks, hips in the air, and hands on the ground, waiting for the sound of the starting gun. It’s a frankly infantile and vulnerable position, like a child who is trying to stand for the first time, but can’t seem to let their hands leave the floor. Then there’s a need for patience. Move too quick? A false start – disqualified. Move too slow? Start at the back of the pack which typically does not end in a favorable outcome.
I’ve been in school my whole life, patiently waiting for my “real” life - the life I’ve worked so hard for, to begin. I’ve been suspended in air, waiting for the crack of the metaphorical starting gun. In March 2025, I finished my last significant standardized test of my life. I felt like this was finally the starting signal I craved – I pushed off those blocks with fervor with my newly found freedom – I made more art, saw my friends more, laughed more, smiled more and explored more, but it felt like I still had some kind of barrier between me and the life I wanted.
It turns out I didn’t false-start, and I didn’t start at the back of the pack, but I was listening for the wrong gun. I wasn’t listening to my inner voice, I was allowing myself to be distracted by someone else’s. It wasn’t until after a significant and necessary goodbye and life shift that I realized I’ve been running in the wrong direction.
This year broke down the idea I had for my future. I had to say goodbye to a story I told myself, and face the facts of the reality in front of me. I said farewell to a life I thought I wanted, and once the decision was made, I saw it for what it was: an opportunity to come back to myself. An opportunity to listen to the right starting gun, and go in the right direction, at the right time, for me.
I moved to a new apartment, settled myself once more, and was able to take the deepest breaths of my life. I made more meaningful art, I saw my friends even more, I danced more, I sang more, I went to more concerts, I laughed more, I cooked more, I reflected more, I journaled more, I did more yoga, I started running, I explored the city more, I felt joy more. I had more, did more, took more, gave more. I have love in abundance pouring into me and out of me from all angles. I slowly remembered myself and all the facts that made me, me. I’m seeing myself more clearly than ever, like I wiped the fog off a mirror and recognized the reflection for the first time in years. I feel more alive and confident than I ever have. This is the life I’ve always dreamed of living. This is the person I always hoped to become.
So here is my 2025 wrapped, with the highlights of the year, that bring me to tears to write down and reflect on. If you’ve been a part of this year, I thank you with everything I have for being by my side through this transformation. I couldn’t be happier to have you here with me.
Experiences:
Passing the WCS Exam to specialize in pelvic health physical therapy. This specialization includes gender affirming care (working within this space is the highlight of my career), pelvic pain conditions, bowel, bladder and sexual health dysfunction and more - a long term dream of mine came to fruition!
Dodgeball through Stonewall Sports - I joined a team with a friend of mine and it was an amazing Sunday routine last winter with an amazing group of humans!
Game nights and a stay-cation at my last apartment - these are the nights my smile was the biggest, and never faltered. Pure, unfiltered joy and love echoed on my walls. Summer nights I’ll never forget <3
Moving my body with intention and joy - Yoga, bouldering, running, paddle boarding, ice skating, skiing, weight lifting, cycling, hiking, swimming, dancing - the diversity of movement I’m able to have in my life, and sharing it with my chosen family, brings me so much peace.
Getting myself my first serious art desk of my adult life for my new apartment - centering art in my life has brought me so much joy - I started my art business on Threadless, finished a version of Inktober for the second time, have gotten requests for commissioned pieces, and am even planning on selling my work at art markets next year with my dear friend Olivia <3 I made some of the best pieces of my artistic career this year and I’ve felt more inspired than ever.
Museum dates with my friends and solo!
A picnic on the esplanade with my friend Meaghan!
Running my first 5K race - I trained, pushed myself, and saw the city in a new way!
Attending protests, making protest art & always rallying for human rights against this administration and the horrors of the world
Getting 3 new tattoos! Two Great Blue Herons, one on each tricep, from Lucky’s in Cambridge (Sebastian is incredibly talented, I couldn’t be happier with them), and a moth piece from Little Ink, Little Drink on my bicep in Phuket Thailand by the amazing Mola Mola Sunshine.
Concerts! I saw so many of my favorites this year - part of my awakening was hugely tied to my love of music. I grew up going to shows, and as I got older, I lost sight of myself. I had forgotten that nothing on this earth gives me the feeling in my chest, the fullness, the abundant joy, that live music provides. Bands below:
Miki Fiki and Amelia Day at the Cantab Lounge
Hotel Mira at Sonia - and I got to hold the lead singers hand through Speaking Off the Record (cue me sobbing)
Boys go to Jupiter
Somerville and Cambridge Porchfest
Japanese Breakfast at MGM
Many nights laughing my ass off and playing at Roxie’s Arcade
Having paid playdates at work because my coworkers are such wonderful human beings!
A beautiful day at the arboretum celebrating my friend’s birthday, full of amazing food (my friends know how to COOK!), laughter, story telling all while forest bathing in the golden foliage <3 What more could anyone want?
Friendsgiving at my dear friend’s new apartment with her sweet new kitty, Prune!
Thailand - the best 10 days of my life and I got to spend it with two dear friends - I could not be luckier for having this experience.
Highlights: being shown that the curiosity and friendliness you put out into the world will always come back to you, swimming with bioluminescent plankton in Phuket, riding motor bikes through bustling Bangkok, seeing a lady boy show in Chiang Mai, hiking into the woods to see elephants, the food (especially PRU in Phuket), tattoos, the company and so much more.
Going out dancing with my girlfriends two weeks in a row - this is what mid 20’s life is all about! Moving and grooving and musing together.
Music:
Hayley William’s Album Ego Death at a Bachelorette party, and everything she individually and as a part of Paramore has released, literally ever. Part of remembering myself was re-listening to all of my favorite music from adolescence, turns out, it’s still my favorite music!
Hotel Mira’s Album Pity Party & everything else they have released, ever.
Olivia Dean’s Album The Art of Loving - an amazing breakup album, released in a very timely fashion for me lol
Lola Young’s Album I’m Only F**cking Myself
Tame Impala’s Album Deadbeat
Boys Go to Jupiter album Meet Me After Practice
Singles:
In the Middle by Mr.Joy and Gigi Perez
You’re not Listening by Diving Station
All This Love by Cat Burns
Serious by Indigo De Souza and Mothe
Words by Big Thief
Warm Honey by Willow
What is The Reason For It? David Byrne and Hayley Williams
Right? (Mercury Version) by Flipturn and Mercury
Can We Talk about Isaac? By Rachel Chinouriri
The Queen of Mercy by Soda Blonde
September by Dog Park
The Hit by Orla Garland
Pomegranates by Trash Panda
Serene by Olivia Reid
Backseat by Balu Brigada
New Tattoo by Parrotfish
Making Progress by Hotel Mira
Risky business by Tommy Newport and Baby Nova
Will I See You Later by Mike Fiki
Nothing Really Matters by Jaelynn Lattter
Books:
There Are Rivers in The Sky by Elif Shafak - life changing read for me.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir - I don’t think a book has ever made me laugh more!
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath - There’s a reason it’s a classic. The fig tree analogy is my Roman Empire.
Upstream by Mary Oliver - this is my holy scripture.
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado - I have no words.
Fearless (#3 in the Powerless Trilogy) by Lauren Robert’s - Listen, what can I say, I adore the banter.
Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang - Loved this fantasy read
If We Were Villians by M.L. Rio - If you like the Secret History, you’ll LOVE this.
Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson - one of my favorite books of all time. Pure poetry.
Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Hogarth - also one of my favorites of all time. I could not put this book down - I brought it with me everywhere.
Bury Our Bones in The Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab - queer vampires in Boston? Don’t mind if I do.
The Safekeep by Yel Van Der Wouden - I want to hug this author, tightly.
On the horizon: things I’m looking forward to in 2026
A long weekend yoga retreat with my best friends in January 2026!
Starting my 200 hour yoga teacher training in February, a 10 month program!
Going to San Francisco in April to speak at an international convention on dilation strategies for post-op vaginoplasty surgeries - doing this work is the highlight of my career and I am so grateful to have this opportunity to share this knowledge on a global stage.
Spending time with my chosen family as much as physically possible. These are the people who make my life so special, I couldn’t be more grateful to go through life with them.
I have so many ideas for new art pieces in the new year!
What were your 2025 highlights? What are you taking with you, and what are you leaving behind, as you enter the new year? What are you looking forward to in 2026?
All my Love,
-Katie
Nuance Note: It’s hard to navigate having a personally transformative and amazing year with the horrors of the world. I have extreme levels of unearned privilege to live this life. This makes it imperative for me to use that privilege for good, and to bolster the voices of those who are currently under attack.
Protest injustice at every turn - we cannot become fatigued to the endless onslaught of terrible news. Continue attending protests, making protest art, signing petitions, sending emails, letters and calls to representatives, donate if you can, do what you can. We all have a role in making this world a better place.
Check out ACLU for ways you can get involved: https://www.aclu.org
So well put my dear buddy ❤️ so excited for our art table