2025 has become one of the best years of my life, and it is only June. Within the first six months, I completed probation at my job, got my associates number, completed 1500 hours toward licensure, got engaged, moved houses, eloped, and now I am getting two days a week of working from home.

The world is being extra kind to me at a time when other people are struggling so drastically. I cannot help but feel some guilt that while I am celebrating my victories other people are mourning their communities, being kidnapped from their homes, being lit on fire and thrown into wars that they did not ask for. I acknowledge the immense luck and blessings I am granted for just being born in the “right” place; I acknowledge the sacrifices it took my family before I was even a thought in their mind. I recognize that if I was not white, and my parents had come to America after I was born, I would not be floating on this high.

A lot is happening in the world. Wars are being fought by rich men who do not care about the poor people dying, all so that they can increase profit margins. ICE is detaining people who pay more taxes than any of the billionaires. Antisemetism is rising at disgusting rates and people are cheering it on due to the Israel-Palestine Conflict.

There is so much happening and it feels like I am sitting and watching it all from the sidelines. It doesn’t seem fair that while I am celebrating my hard work paying off, other people are dying or being thrown in prison. I get to sit in my comfortable home atop a hill overlooking the ocean and I get to watch the sun rise with my dog every morning. Where is the justice in that? Is it ok to post about my celebrations when we are entering into a time of all out war? Is it ok to be happy when the rest of the world is screaming out for help?

In my job, I see suffering all the time. I watch people walk in to our offices or the hospital on the worst days of their lives. They relapsed, lost a loved one, were evicted, or some other equally devastating tragedy. I am usually able to separate my work from my personal life, but now I am having to tune out the entire world from my personal life and my job, which just feels overwhelming.

I am not going to deny my pride in my successes. But it would feel fake and dishonest to not recognize the very real suffering that is happening right now in the world. It is ok to be happy and it is ok to cry out because we are living in a time where we are exposed to every single tragedy and celebration in real time.

I will be trying to turn off my social medias for longer periods of time. I will be trying to live in my own moments. I will also try to find more organizations that are doing good, or join a local protest, or just be a louder community member to speak up for those who are silenced.

2025 has been the best year of my life so far, and I am forever grateful for the sacrifices that it took to get me here.