Wellness Unbound
Posts
2025 Annual Review

2025 Annual Review

Cultivating Clarity through Commitment

Aidan Weinmann
December 31, 2025

In 2025, I’ve found it difficult to write.

Not because I haven’t had things to share, but because it’s been hard to decide what deserves words in a moment like this.

I’ve felt a kind of paralysis – rooted in overwhelm, doubt, and heartache for the world. Not because nothing feels important, but because too much does.

It can be hard to orient yourself creatively when the world feels unstable — when headlines carry serious weight, and uncertainty shows up in ways that feel both abstract and deeply personal.

When the world feels heavy — politically, technologically, & existentially — it becomes difficult to know where to place your attention, much less how to speak without adding to the noise.

What’s worth amplifying?

What’s just more distraction?

And how do you speak honestly without contributing to overwhelm or confusion?

This year, I found myself asking less, “What should I say?” and more, “What actually matters right now?”

2025 is known as the Year of the Snake in the Chinese Lunar Calendar — a symbol of shedding, renewal & transformation. Clearing what no longer fits. Making space for what’s next.

That theme feels alive everywhere.

The systems we’ve come to know, love, hate, rely on – and sometimes get smoked by – are showing cracks. Some are collapsing altogether.

At the same time, new ideas, new industries, and (hopefully) new levels of consciousness are emerging.

Beneath it all sits a collective question: Who do we want to be?

Now I didn’t try to answer the question “who do we want to be?” all at once.

I answered it slowly. In pieces. Through choices & behaviors that helped me orient myself amidst the noise.

For me, 2025 centered on commitment.

Not commitment as restriction — but commitment as clarity. Doubling down on what’s working. Letting go of what wasn’t. Less distraction. Less optimization. More choosing. More practice. More embodiment.

Looking back, I can see that 2025 wasn’t about achievement as much as it was about orientation. Somewhere along the way, I stopped treating my life as something to optimize & started treating it as something to inhabit.

Life isn’t meant to be solved. It’s meant to be lived, even danced, as Alan Watts reminds us. This is a shift I continue to practice & remind myself of.

Here’s where that showed up: what went well, what didn’t, and what I’m carrying forward.

What Went Well?

Getting Engaged

This was the anchor of 2025 for me.

Not because it was dramatic, but because it clarified everything.

It was a sunny Sunday morning in July, when Nadine & I returned to Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve in New Hope – the site of our first date back in August 2021.

Returning to that spot felt like closing a loop while opening a new chapter. A quiet tribute to the courage it took to go stargazing as strangers from Bumble, and the trust it takes to continue stepping in now.

With the help of several co-conspirators, we made our way toward a trail where our photographer friend was tucked away.

Nadine almost got distracted by a yarrow plant (on brand), but we eventually followed the path lined with rose petals.

There was laughter, surprise, and an elated realization of what was happening. When we reached the spot, I dropped to one knee and asked my best friend to spend forever with me.

She said yes, and we spent the rest of the day celebrating with friends & family.

Since that day, something inside me has settled.

Commitment, I learned, isn’t constraining — it’s clarifying. It doesn’t narrow your life; it gives it direction. Choosing her was the clearest decision I made all year.

Falling (Back) in Love with Tennis

I started playing tennis again this year, and it’s been a joyful surprise.

In my third week back at a local club, I caught a stray from an agile 22-year-old: “You move well for being that old.”

I laughed — partly because college still feels recent, and partly because it was true. I had just moved faster to a drop shot than ever before. Muscle memory had not just returned, but had been upgraded by the strength & speed I’ve developed since my big-back high school days.

I hadn’t played tennis since 2011 — nearly fifteen years away from something I once loved deeply. Coming back to it feels both familiar & entirely new. The same fundamentals, now expressed with more ease. Skill layered onto experience.

If you feel a quiet pull toward something you once loved, it might be worth following. Dormant curiosities can explode when followed & nurtured.

Becoming a Functional Medicine Certified Coach

For nearly a decade, I’ve had this weird feeling that coaching is part of my life’s path — something I’m here to do, even if only in some small way.

Few things have ever felt as natural or energizing as sitting behind a microphone & listening to someone’s life story on the Discover More Podcast. Stepping away from that project nearly three years ago brought a grief I didn’t fully acknowledge at the time.

Healing, I’ve learned, sometimes requires no longer tolerating certain dynamics — and having the courage to step away when necessary.

According to the Gene Keys — a phenomenal framework for understanding personality & purpose — my life’s work is Gene Key 13: “Of all people, you are one of the greatest potential guides of others… Your power lies in the art of listening.”

This line resonates heavily, especially as I think back to my 2021 college application essay, which centered on — you guessed it — the power of listening.

Some threads run deeper than we realize. Listening is one of mine.

It might seem unrelated to mention the emotional challenges of letting go of podcasting while describing my coaching journey, but that’s one of the core lessons Functional Medicine has taught me: everything is connected.

Our bodies are complex systems shaped by an ever-changing web of inputs — emotional, physical, relational, and more.

Health problems can be mind problems,

just as mind problems can be relationship problems,

and health problems, financial problems.

It’s all connected.

Began Studying Kabbalah

I first heard about Kabbalah through two of the people I admire most — my fiancée, Nadine, and my friend & former coach, Nick Boleto.

In a very real way, without the latter (Nick), I would never have met the former (Nadine).

And I’m wildly grateful for that.

Nick’s coaching during the summer of 2021 helped me step into the aligned head/heart space to ask Nadine out.

Within that coaching container, we went deep into the real work: examining why I resisted — or pushed away — healthy love.

Only by facing those bigger questions was I able to get out of my own way.

What I’m learning is that healing isn’t something to complete, it’s something to practice. Kabbalah has become a meaningful framework for that practice – one that’s captivated & served me this year.

One concept in particular, Tikkun, refers to the soul’s correction — what we’re here to learn. In Kabbalah, our challenges aren’t obstacles; they’re the curriculum.

Learning from David Ghiyam has been a powerful place to begin.

Took a Jiu-Jitsu Class

Taking a martial arts class has been on my annual bucket list since 2023. I avoided it for years, not because I lacked interest, but because it scared me.

While jiu jitsu didn’t totally resonate, it felt important to push through a fear & try something totally out of my comfort zone.

Co-founded a New Business

Back in January, Nadine & I were packing for vacation when she suddenly felt sick.

Her resting heart rate climbed to 154, and we decided to make the ER move. We were worried.

We arrived at the hospital during peak hours – at least a two hour wait.

Our hunger quickly teetered into hanger territory, and to make matters worse, we found ourselves face-to-face with a vending machine — staring down a spread of Kit-Kats, potato chips, and the f*cking Cheetoh man, staring back at us.

Knowing what we know about ultra-processed foods (they’re addictive & designed for you to crave them) – I went to pick up a nourishing lunch elsewhere.

When I got back, we agreed: there had to be better vending options, especially in a HOSPITAL where people go to GET BETTER).

That day, VendWell was born — a healthy vending business rooted in a simple belief: people deserve better food options, especially in places meant for healing, learning, and performing.

Nadine ended up being okay (a strange COVID case), and since then, we’ve built the business plan, launched a website, and begun searching for a pilot location.

(If you know any spaces that may be a fit, shoot me a message)

What Didn’t Go Well?

Consuming More Than Creating

I struggled with social media in 2025. My average screen time hovered around 4 hours a day — far higher than I’d like.

Despite setting time limits, I often found myself overriding them with the tempting “15 more minutes,” again & again.

It’d be one thing if that time was spent creating or connecting on the platforms, but nearly all of it was passive consumption — scrolling, watching reels about who-knows-what, losing time, and developing less-than-ideal emotional states.

Social media can be a powerful tool, but this year I used it far more unconsciously than I’m proud of.

Sleep Consistency

I didn’t do a great job supporting my circadian rhythm this year.

Most mornings began indoors — a shower & a short, inconsistent routine — rarely stepping outside first thing, despite knowing how beneficial morning light is.

I strung together a few solid weeks over the summer, but as the colder weather arrived, that habit fell away. Our current apartment doesn’t get direct sunlight, and I’ve really noticed how much I miss it. I also went to bed & woke up at variable times throughout the week, which only compounded the inconsistency.

I didn’t make enough time for my friends & family this year — which feels especially disappointing given how many incredible people are in my life.

Burnout played a role. In November, for example, I fell into a loop of working late & numbing out with Netflix to recover. No phone calls. No visits or get-togethers. A full month without meaningful connection outside of Thanksgiving.

Obviously, this is no bueno. Humans are social beings (yes, even us introverts), and loneliness is associated with higher mortality risk than smoking or obesity.

While my romantic relationship has been deeply nourishing, community matters — and rebuilding it is a major priority for 2026.

Writing for Wellness Unbound

I didn’t write nearly as much as I hoped this year. The time was there, the discipline wasn’t (motivation is an illusion).

I’ve felt creatively stuck for a while now, which is why this is the first newsletter that’s gone out since April. I had hoped I’d send >10 newsletters in total this year, but there were only 3 total, including this one.

Rediscovering the right cadence for writing & publishing (for me, right now) is a clear intention for the year ahead.

Mental Chatter x Emotional Stability

2025 came with some big ups & downs.

I devoted a lot of time & energy to caring for my inner world, yet still found myself frequently burnt out.

No matter how much I worked out, meditated, or ate well, I continued to feel frustrated & out of balance.

The lesson here feels unfinished, but the next steps are clear enough: more & better communication, more proactivity, and deeper alignment/congruence.

What Lessons Were Learned?

The Path Emerges As You Walk It. I’ve felt stuck more often than I’d like to admit. What I’m discovering is that feeling stuck — the sense of not moving forward — is often the result of inaction. The fear of the ‘wrong’ choice can block any decision at all. When I feel lost, slowing down helps the next step reveal itself. I keep learning that the path doesn’t appear before I begin, it appears because I begin. Motion brings instruction.

The Art Mindset. An idea from Rick Rubin, “If it works, it works.” Not everything needs to be analyzed or understood. Some things are meant to be felt, trusted, and accepted.

Love is a Decision. We’re sold the idea that love is a feeling — a surge of emotion that sweeps you off your feet. Sometimes it is. More often though, it’s a choice. It’s a decision to show up, to put another first, to step in, even when it’s uncomfortable. Commitment cultivates love — not the other way around.

Is Hard Work the Right Virtue? This lesson remains a question — one I’m still exploring & experimenting with. Hard work is culturally celebrated – the grind is a cornerstone of the American Dream. And often, it does pay off. But relentless effort can also blind us to opportunities, deeper alignment, and better paths. What might happen if we paused, recharged, or allowed ease into our work? Perhaps doing the right work matters more than just doing hard work. Still deciding. LMK what you think.

See Beauty Before Deformity. Problem-solving is a superpower, but it trains the mind to scan for flaws. To solve a problem, you first have to notice it. Once it’s fixed, you’ll get a little hit of dopamine. Over time, our brains link spotting problems with reward, and we start noticing what’s broken more than what’s working. Growing up, I learned to see where things could be improved. Now, I’m learning to look first for what’s already beautiful. Beauty is all around us – it’s as abundant as deformity (Law of Paradox) — yet we’re rarely taught to notice it. You see what you look for. Beauty arises by paying attention. It gets easier over time.

Let stress subside before making decisions. Life is the sum of how we respond. Decisions made under stress rarely serve us. Nervous system regulation is most of the game. Perspective transforms everything: The problem is not the problem, the problem is the way you’re thinking about it. All events are neutral until perspective is applied.

All Flourishing Is Mutual. An idea from The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer, a botanist & writer, who reminds us that abundance only exists when it’s shared. Nature reveals this truth clearly — when one part of an ecosystem thrives, it raises the health of the whole. One of the most unusual examples came from a YouTube video about a Florida man who made $6.5 million last year selling used clothing online while uplifting the community of small vendors around him. The line that stayed with me was, “everyone’s gotta make money — if I’m the only one making money, people stop coming to the market.” That’s the essence of abundance. We win together. All flourishing is mutual.

2025 Superlatives

Most Impactful Book: 5 Types of Wealth by Sahil Bloom
Favorite Audiobook: Lion Tracker’s Guide to Life by Boyd Varty
Most Creative Endeavor: This Annual Review
Most Memorable Sunset: Lake Nockamixon, Engagement Night (pictured below)
Most Rewarding Change: Playing tennis (again)
Best Productivity Tool: Brain.fm
Best Meal: Wagyu Steak at Elements in Princeton NJ
Go-To Healthy Meal: Ground Lamb with Cabbage, Onions, Chickpeas & Garlic
Favorite Concert: Trevor Hall, at King of Prussia’s Concerts Under the Stars
Favorite Supplement: Ketone-IQ
Favorite Song: There’s a Rhythm - Bon Iver
Favorite Album: SABLE, fABLE - Bon Iver
Favorite Movie: Highest 2 Lowest
Favorite Show: The Residence
Favorite Podcast: Know Thyself with Andre Duqum
Favorite Interview: Naval Ravikant on Modern Wisdom