Is it just me… or did 2025 absolutely fly by?
As we close out this final newsletter of the year, I wanted to share a few reflections — what this past year taught me, how I’m approaching the new year, and the deeper shifts that have quietly (and powerfully) changed everything.
My intention with sharing is always to help spark inspiration for you.
2025 was a year of massive growth for me.
And here’s the twist: that growth came not from pushing harder… but from learning how to let go.
I’m a go-getter by nature. A doer. A hustler.
I’ve spent most of my life believing that if I just worked harder, tried more, pushed further — I’d fulfill my purpose.
And for me, that purpose has always been clear: to stand for animals, to live and teach fierce compassion, and to help shift this world toward more consciousness and care.
That part hasn’t changed.
But the HOW is evolving.
And honestly? I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up — and I’m finally okay with that!
A few years ago, the endless hustling caught up with me in a big way. Total burnout. Insomnia. Deep questioning.
(I share this very openly in my blog post Burn-Out, Insomnia, Psychedelics & More — which ultimately led me to Peru for a 12-day ayahuasca journey.)
Truthfully… I haven’t fully “bounced back.”
And maybe I wasn’t meant to.
Last year in Lake Atitlán, Guatemala, during yoga teacher training, I met with an Ayurvedic practitioner who gently (and clearly) told me my yang energy was running the show — and it was time to deeply nourish my yin.
That single conversation changed my trajectory.
It led me to Tai Chi.
Which led me to Sifu Fred.
Which led me to Sifu Lester.
Which led me to a daily morning meditation practice with an incredible community.
So 2025 became the year I committed to:
• Tai Chi Chuan (4–6 hours per week)
• Daily meditation (5:45 AM every morning)
• Regular yoga practice
• Slowing down — on purpose
Now let’s be real… I’m still very much me 😄…
I didn’t give up calisthenics, strength training, primal movement, or boxing.
But for the first time, I prioritized the meditative practices — because I no longer wanted to live in that familiar insanity of doing the same things over and over and expecting different results.
And because life loves irony…
In the middle of all this focus on softness, I re-tore my ACL sparring Muay Thai in Tulum🤦♀️…
Went through ACL reconstruction surgery…
And rehabbed my way back to full function in just six months.
Yep. That happened too.
Which brings me to how I’m choosing to live as I step into 2026.
I’m not setting goals.
I’m not making resolutions per say.
I’m choosing a way of being.
I’m choosing to embody peace.
To embody love.
To embody abundance.
I’m trusting that as my state of being shifts, the outer world will continue to respond accordingly.
And I’m letting the Universe decide what this looks like in form — opportunities, projects, relationships — based on my state of being.
Boom 💥
That feels deeply, undeniably soul-aligned.
If you’ve made it this far and feel called to reflect…
I’d love to hear what you are leaning into for 2026.
Not goals per say — but mindset shifts.
Ways of being.
What peace, love, or abundance looks like for you.
If this resonates, make sure you’re signed up to receive the Soul-Aligned Sunday Newsletter here.💛
With fierce compassion and a whole lot of gratitude,
Ella ✨
Including, how & why Geoff became a vegan 35 years ago. The life events and tremendous amount of suffering that sent him looking for change. And how from that experience, Geoff gave away his possessions, traveled to 48 countries, and the journey that led him to where he is today.
