25 in '25
Plus a gift inside
It’s been a hot minute, well, actually 1,059,840 of them (but who’s counting?) Since the last Early Doors dispatch. A lot can unfold in that kind of time. Plenty of space for new doors to open.
Think of this as a little year-end care package: part reflection, part experiment, part invitation to meet the world a bit more intentionally.
Here’s what’s inside:
25 Things I Learned in 2025
Play the World – New cards
Upcoming Retreats - Playa Azul, Costa Rica + Tofino, Canada
Let’s tuck in, shall we?
Another year of being human. A handful of moments that nudged, humbled, or cracked me open. Some of these tiny revelations came easy. Others had serious teeth. All of them earned their place—brief, honest, and often delivered with a wink from the universe.
Pabels Day Mixes may be some of the finest soundtracks I didn’t know I needed.
ADHD is awesome (and sometimes exhausting).
Breathe in for 3, hold for 6, out for 9. Stress down, focus up—and I slept like someone who actually closes all their tabs.
Just because it’s a voice in your head doesn’t mean it’s the wisest one.
Sweat: still the most affordable therapist I know.
Arguing with reality can be fun—until it isn’t.
Playing tennis adds 10 years to your life—not just at the end, but in the middle where it counts.
Leaving your dog for the workday? Feels like 56 hours to them. Minimum.
Humor is a spiritual practice—especially at airport security.
Dancing to house music (in the 120 bpm zone) might just extend your life and definitely your smile.
It’s a gift to have someone to lean on when the waves come crashing in.
Sometimes the truest thing you can say is “I don’t know….I’m still figuring it out.”
The opposite of control? It’s yes. (But hey, it’s a practice).
Most brilliance begins as boredom.
A good walk solves more than a scroll ever will.
It’s okay to let love rule—and okay to let love go.
Catching yourself in an old pattern is proof you’re evolving.
Real self-trust? Curiosity, coherence, capacity, compassion, and commitment.
Being impeccable with your word is hard yet always worth it.
Not all inspiration is loud—some whispers take time.
Joy is often silent—because there’s nothing to prove.
Grace arrives when you stop posturing.
Thresholds say: I love you—and me. At the same time.
Man plans, God laughs… and somehow, I keep dancing.
Gratitude is sneaky—it makes ordinary moments feel like tiny miracles.
Maybe one or two land for you, too. Either way, the world spins on. The lessons keep arriving. May the next ones meet you with grace, humor, and a good playlist.
Lightness, Imagination, Courage, Regeneration.
The Early Doors Collective has been dreaming up new ways to invite more Play into work and life. More lightness, imagination, courage, and regeneration. In times of transition, it can feel counterintuitive, but deep play often unlocks what thinking simply can’t.
Explore the new creations—including the brand new card deck—right here.
Retreats for a New Chapter
If you’re craving ocean, play, and a fresh chapter, early-bird spots are now open for upcoming retreats in Playa Azul, Costa Rica, and Tofino, Canada. Mornings of movement, afternoons in the sea, and evenings shaped by connection, creativity, and nourishing food.
A reset like this only arrives when you step outside your everyday life. Lovingly curated with just enough structure—and just enough spaciousness—for you to unfold at your own rhythm. A little sun, a little saltwater, a little stillness—sometimes that’s all it takes to begin again.
As a subscriber, you’re in luck: early birds get special pricing. Come join us.
Here’s to what we’re still learning, unlearning, and playing with.
See you in the next turn of the sun.
Happy Holidays.