This week marks the turn of a new year, inviting a moment of reflection. Looking back on 2025, I don’t see the most fruitful of times—but I do see a strong sense of resilience held within it.

“Survive ’til 25” became a mantra within the film and television industry as 2024 introduced severely waning levels of job security. Then, on January 7th, the year delivered a crucial blow to the city with the outbreak of the second- and third-most destructive wildfires in California history. In a matter of hours, entire neighborhoods were ripped away from their residents, reminding us all of the reality of impermanence. Everything must come and go in this world, but none of us could have predicted the scale of destruction that would confront us in the very first weeks of the year. It was absolutely heartbreaking for all involved, yet the response from our local communities revealed a level of camaraderie and love I have not witnessed in my lifetime.

Volunteers from all walks of life came together to lift victims up at a moment’s notice. Makeshift donation centers popped up in parking lots across the city. In the darkest of times, it was our neighbors who radiated a powerful love through collective action. This response was a beautiful statement of what we’re capable of when we align in the right way.

In the aftermath of the fires, filming continued to slow, and layoffs became a common report as the year progressed. Only a couple of months later, ICE entered the picture, and once again Angelenos were pitted against one another through differences of opinion. Regardless of your stance on the matter, it was striking to witness a city that had recently been so unified shift into the fury of identity politics.

But—

We must evolve to find our place in this current landscape. For many, it has been a significant step backward. At the same time, some of us have taken this moment as an opportunity to step back into our souls. We’ve been presented with a chance to face reality and reinvent ourselves with purpose. While this may have been the “worst year” for many of our neighbors, I’m encouraged to see that we are still finding small but meaningful steps forward.

Without suffering, there can be no joy. Without immense pressure, a diamond cannot form. We live in a non-dualistic world, and acceptance of struggle can provide the strength needed to emerge on the other side as something refined. So welcome the adversity—it offers an invitation to tap into your resilience. Lean into it, and trust that it will faithfully guide you toward a better version of yourself.