Slow Notes: Reflections on 2025
Join me as I pause to reflect on 2025 and share the gentle lessons learned from a year of living more slowly and simply.
Little notes from me about what I’ve been up to, with personal stories and honest reflections from my own journey of living life more slowly and simply. A gentle space to pause, notice the quiet moments, and appreciate the small things that make life feel rich.
Just in case you missed last month’s Slow Notes, you can read it here.
As this year draws to a close, I’m noticing how much I’ve been learning to slow down and gently simplify the way I move through life. Stepping away from what no longer feels aligned, allowing myself to press pause when I need to, and creating space to breathe has brought an incredible amount of clarity in the most beautiful way. It’s shown me more clearly than ever what truly matters in life. Plus beauty so often lives in the details we rush past.
As my final entry of 2025, I wanted to share some reflections I’ve gathered throughout the year, inspired from my previous Slow Notes journal entries… I sometimes wonder why I chose to call my little Substack corner Journal of Soulful Reflections, but then I remember - that’s exactly what it is: my online journal, a space to inspire and encourage along the way, even for myself!
I really look forward to taking all of these reflections with me into 2026 and beyond, and gently let them serve as lovely reminders for when I need a little encouragement as I continue my journey of living more slowly, simply, and seasonally.
…I must admit, I’m not really one for setting New Year resolutions, I love to think that every season, not just the beginning of the year, is an extra special time to invite change, growth, rest and renewal.
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Slowing down beautifully reminds me of what actually nourishes me when the noise and busyness fades away.
I’ve found that sometimes the most meaningful moments arrive unexpectedly. When I invite slowness into my day, I notice how often it offers small and much-needed gifts.
Shifting perspective, even in the simplest way, can expand my world. Looking up, pausing, and paying attention opens doors to creativity, wonder, and new ways of seeing what’s always been there.
Moving slowly definitely doesn’t stall progress, it can actually deepen it. Giving ideas time to breathe allows them to grow and evolve naturally and helps me feel more grounded, confident, and connected to what I’m creating.
Simplicity is a wonderful teacher. Creating space, releasing pressure, and keeping things light and easy has shown me that less really can hold more.
Nature reminds me that rest is a necessary pause. Juts like a tree - embracing change, letting go, and entering a period of stillness - are all part of the cycle that makes renewal possible.
Sometimes growth happens in its own perfect timing, and I’ve found that trusting that rhythm can be both comforting and freeing.
Even during the darker and shorter days, I’m reminded that there are always small joys waiting to be found. Slowing down gives me the space to seek them out and let them bring comfort.
This winter season is teaching me to move with curiosity - to meet the darker, quieter months not as something to wish away, but as a chance to to alter my relationship with the season, to pause with gratitude, invite rest, and to look for the beauty within it.
Nurturing what feels out of balance means paying attention to what quietly slips away when life feels full, and gently inviting those things back, even in small and imperfect ways.
Small, ordinary moments like baking, listening, writing, and walking, can be deeply restorative. When I slow down enough to savour them, they reconnect me to joy in the most gentle way.
Taking small steps toward what feels nourishing is enough. There’s no rush to have everything figured out, but to just gently keep noticing what brings light and meaning into my days.
When I invite slowness into my day, I find that creativity, joy, and calm are always within reach.
Nature continues to teach me that beauty doesn’t disappear when things become bare. Some of the most magical moments reveal themselves when we take the time to notice them.
Comfort, warmth, and joy are often found in the smallest details, like a book chosen for the season, a familiar scent, a favourite cosy jumper, or a little moment of noticing.
I’ve been reminded that rest, stillness, and letting go are not signs of stopping, but essential parts of growth. Even when things appear bare or quiet on the surface, something is always beautifully stirring beneath.
2025 has certainly brought its fair share of challenges, and it’s worth remembering that what we see online rarely shows the full story behind the scenes. My hope for this little corner of Substack has always been to share not just the raw and honest moments, but also the joys, the fun times, the small pockets of calm, and the little sparks of light.
For me, noticing these moments is a gentle reminder to find gratitude even in difficult times, to hold onto hope when it feels distant, and to remember that even in the darkness, there is still so much light and beauty to be found.
I like to think that today’s post is exactly that - a chance to pause, reflect, and feel thankful for all that this year has taught me, and to celebrate the goodness that is still waiting to be discovered. And my wish as we move toward the end of 2025 is that you might find a little encouragement in these reflections too.
Is there a moment this year when slowing down helped you notice something you might have otherwise missed?
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If you’ve enjoyed this journal entry and feel called to support my creative work, you can treat me to a virtual coffee (or a cosy hot chocolate) from just £3, over on my Ko-fi page. Your support honestly means so much, and it really helps me a lot.
Just in case you missed it…
If you’d love to learn more about me and my work, you can visit my website here. I’d also love to connect with you over on Instagram - you’ll find lots of beautiful blooms and nature-inspired posts, alongside gentle business musings, reflections, and more.
Until next time… and Happy New Year!
Beautiful reflections 🙏🌿❤️✨