What I’m Leaving Behind This Year (2025)

As the year comes to a close, I’ve been doing some quiet reflecting—not on accomplishments or goals, but on what I’m ready to stop carrying.

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This has been a heavy year for many of the people I work with: leaders, caregivers, helpers, and professionals who hold a lot—often without enough support, authority, or room to rest.

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So instead of a year-end recap, I want to share what I’m intentionally leaving behind.

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I’m leaving behind the idea that pushing harder is the answer.
So many people I work with aren’t struggling because they lack skill, commitment, or resilience. They’re struggling because the expectations placed on them are unsustainable. Working harder in a broken system isn’t leadership—it’s self-abandonment.

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I’m leaving behind carrying responsibility without power.
Being accountable without authority, expected to fix what you can’t control, or absorb impact without a voice—this dynamic fuels burnout faster than almost anything else. Clarity, boundaries, and shared accountability matter.

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I’m leaving behind “yes” as the default.
Saying yes to avoid conflict.
Yes to keep the peace.
Yes because “they need me.”
I’m choosing more intentional yeses—and more honest nos.

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I’m leaving behind the belief that rest must be earned.
Rest isn’t a reward for productivity. It’s a requirement for being human, for leading well, and for staying connected to what actually matters.

What I am carrying forward is a deeper commitment to sustainable leadership, clearer boundaries, and support that meets people where they are—not where they’re told they should be.

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As you move toward the end of the year, I’ll offer you this gentle question (no pressure to answer it perfectly):

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What are you done carrying into the next year?

If you feel like sharing, I’d genuinely love to hear. You can reply to this email and tell me one thing you’re ready to leave behind.

However you’re ending this year, I hope you give yourself permission to be human—not just productive.

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Warmly,
Jesseca

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