Ripples #1388: Looking Back
Dec 29, 2025
PEBBLE
I can’t erase the past, only learn from it. It’s okay. Applying what I know makes the present and future a beautiful place to be.
~Kamal Ravikant, shared by Dave in Austin, TX
BOULDER
People say not to look back unless that’s where you want to go. I don’t agree. Climbing Everest- it’s great to look back to see all the little footsteps you’ve taken and that each one is worth it- those little steps add up. It’s OK to look back to see how far you’ve come.
~Bonita Norris, shared by David in Cincinnati, OH (who appreciated this line from the youngest British woman to summit Mt. Everest)
PONDER
As 2025 winds down, I’ve been curious how my ripply companions are wrapping things up. For me, the last few days of the year are a natural time for looking back. Something about the quieter pace and the calendar reset invites me to pause. It helps me notice what this year actually held—what stretched me, what surprised me, and what slowly shaped me in ways I didn’t always recognize while I was in the thick of it.
Inspired by this week’s pebble and boulder, I printed out a few simple questions that I’ve been sitting with:
What did the past year teach me—about myself, about others, or about the world?
What “little footsteps” did I take this year that today-me is proud of, but future-me might forget if I don’t capture them?
Which hard things did I weather this year, and what meaning or lessons can I keep as I let the rest go?
I’m not aiming for a full-on “year in review” here—just a gentle wander back through the trail I’ve walked, long enough to appreciate the distance traveled. If you feel up for it, grab a scrap of paper or open a note on your phone and jot down a few thoughts of your own.
Next week we’ll turn our attention forward, but for now… let’s honor the ground we’ve covered.
Peace,
Paul
P.S. P.S. If you liked today’s Boulder as much as I did, you may enjoy this short video of Bonita Norris’ 5 tips for success.