Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

2026 is just around the corner. Looking back at 2025, it was a year of big changes for me. Having moved to Germany almost five years ago, I finally felt more integrated. We tried to become part of society, learn the German language, make German friends, and—most importantly—not remain neutral.

That last part matters a lot to me. I don’t like being passive. When I live in a society, I want to contribute to it. I tried. I wasn’t successful all the time, but at least I did what I could.

2025 was a year of mixed feelings. On the one hand, I became more independent—both at work and in my personal life. On the other hand, being on my own was tough. I had to make decisions without the support I previously relied on. I took on responsibilities that, from the outside, looked scary. I committed to things I wouldn’t have committed to before.

I put a lot of pressure on myself this past year. Toward the end of it, I realized something important: when I give priority to too many things, nothing gets the actual priority it deserves. In other words, when everything is important, nothing matters.

Instead of constantly trying to achieve more, I’m learning to focus on what I already have. In 2026, I want to focus on things that are actually important—especially those I can influence—rather than spending energy on topics I have no control over. Basically, to worry about things I can have influence on.

2026 is going to be exciting, and I want to embrace it. We can’t say for sure what the future holds, but we can say that our actions play an important role in shaping it.