A Look Back At 2025

We have just a few days until 2025 is over, and I figure it’s time to review 2025 and look ahead to 2026.

Professional highlights

This is the year I cut back on primary care.

I still see my own patients, but I converted another of my half-days to a subspecialty clinic, and stopped my Monday clinic altogether, so I have a 3-day weekend most weeks.

I was also released from overnight call, which has been a great relief.

Despite all that (or perhaps, because of all that), I was awarded a professional honor through the hospital.

I’m still quite busy with my mentorship program, my clinic work, and hospital time.

Financial highlights

At the beginning of 2025, I saw my portfolio hit a large number, and I thought I might be financially independent (FI). This made me feel better about cutting back on my working hours, and thus my paycheck.

Later in the year, when I decided to keep working despite being FI, spending went up. We splurged on a number of purchases, including new carpeting and more travel.

My investments have risen with the stock market, but we will have to wait until I review my yearly spending (as I do every year), to see if we are really FI, or have spent a bit too much.

Mr. PiN continues to work on his parents’ house; selling it will mean he can distribute funds to the heirs–including himself!–and close out the estate. We hope that will happen in 2026.

Family, Friends and Travel

No relatives died or were in the hospital this year. A total plus.

I ended up missing holiday get togethers with my family, but visited my mom for some one-on-one time. We hosted Mr. PiN’s sister a few times and my brother recently.

We traveled a lot more this year than we have for a while: 2 international trips this year! Plus some very nice domestic trips.

On the very minus side, my best friend passed away in June. Practical tasks related to this kept me occupied over the summer, and generally cast a pall over the second half of the year.

I am relying on my friends and family to stay healthy in 2026.

I am already planning trips to see family, and for work (meetings). If they are as fun as 2025’s trips, we will be doing well.

Blog

This year saw me blogging a bit more: 64 posts besides my weekly fitness updates.

I started posting the Wednesday W’s after July 1, reviewing what I did with my Mondays off. It was also an excuse to post silly memes.

I inspired another blogger to start their own monthly round up of favorite posts, and I enjoyed hearing from several of you in my comments section.

Strangely enough, the most frequently read post this year was one from 2019: Who Pays Your Bills When You Are Sick? I hope it was helpful to those who read it.

Personal highlights

I don’t feel like I did lots of new things this year.

I kept up with my friend on Zoom, and sometimes in person.

For exercise, I continued working out with a trainer, walking, and taking tennis lessons. I did add some stretching videos this fall, and started splitting my tennis lessons with another student. That’s been fun.

I haven’t read any classics (one of my goals for retirement is to catch up on some of the ones I missed in school), but did read 36 books that were new to me, 12 by authors I had never read before. Since I often reread favorites when I am busy or stressed, I think this is a good sign.

I kept up my Duolingo streak, I am approaching 9 years.

My Curious List was not really pursued at all this year, but is waiting for me whenever I feel ready to try something.

Looking forward

In the second half of the year, I have been getting more concerned about the amount of time I am spending on screens. And the fact that I have not expanded my non-work activities.

I think one of my major goals will be to do things in real life: socializing, trying hobbies, etc.

Between this and travel, I may be challenged to practice medicine at my current level.

I’ll be curious to see how I balance work obligations and stretching myself to pursue new (non-work) activities.

How about you? Did you have a good 2025? Do you still have unfinished goals? Are you ready for 2026?