Mid-Year Review—But Make It Personal
This past Saturday, my wife and I hosted a small gathering of close friends for something new we introduced into our lives this year: a mid-year review—but done privately, among dear friends.
We’ve done year-end reflections before, but this was the first time bringing the idea into the middle of the year with friends. It was a follow-up to our earlier “Exciting Plans for 2025” session, where each of us had shared our personal goals and aspirations for the year ahead.
💡 Format
Each person took a turn to:
- Reflect on their original 2025 plans
- Share progress (or lack thereof)
- Talk through what they’d focus on for the rest of the year
Because we’re all close, the room was filled with laughter, thoughtful questions, and plenty of curiosity. Some even brought props—like a friend who runs his own business and presented the prototype of his soon-to-launch product.
📋 My Sharing Focused On:
- Having Fun — planning playful, thought-provoking experiences throughout the year
- Health — cooking more, staying active, and trimming down
- Growth — nurturing a writing habit, thinking about long-term career steps, and evolving as a person
✨ Why It Felt Valuable
We realized that some of the most exciting parts of our lives—our passions, projects, dreams—rarely get the space they deserve during regular catchups.
By carving out time, preparing mini-presentations, and giving each other the spotlight, we created something deeper:
- Respect for each other’s journeys
- Fascination with what drives us
- A foundation for future conversations that go beyond small talk
I already look forward to our year-end version of this. We’ll be cheering each other on every step of the way.
🧠 Final Thoughts
When we first planned this gathering, it felt… a bit much. Maybe even awkward.
Weekends are supposed to be for relaxing, right? And couldn’t each of us just do a review alone, in our own time?
But doing it together changed everything.
It gave new energy to our goals, fresh perspective to our plans, and—most importantly—a shared sense of momentum.
We walked away not just with clarity, but with our tanks refueled—ready to take on the second half of the year, knowing we’re not doing it alone