Something important shifted for me this year.

As the year comes to a close and the pace finally slows, I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting.

Not just on what I’ve done, but on what this year has taught me.

It’s been a year of learning in ways I didn’t expect. A year of moments that stretched me, challenged my thinking, and quietly reshaped how I want to work moving forward.

One of the biggest lessons has been this:
Just because something has always been done a certain way doesn’t mean it’s the way it needs to be done.

There were times this year when I persisted out of habit rather than intention. Pushing through, getting things done because they needed to be done, even when it didn’t feel particularly satisfying or aligned.

What I’ve learned is that clarity doesn’t come from doing more. It comes from pausing, asking better questions, and being willing to try a different approach.

That lesson shows up everywhere in my work. In how people learn. In how confidence grows. In how understanding changes everything.

As we gathered with family over Christmas, I noticed something that comes up every year.
End-of-year certificates framed on the wall. Awards tucked into photo albums. School accolades shared as proud Christmas gifts.

Those moments are genuinely worth celebrating.
And they also bring to mind the children whose names are never called at assembly, no matter how hard they try.

That reflection, and stories I hear from families every year, are what led me to write this article:
When Your Child’s Name Is Never Called At Assembly

As I look ahead to the New Year, I feel a quiet sense of excitement. Not rushed or pressured. Just a feeling that things are coming together in a more intentional way.

There’s work happening behind the scenes. Ideas taking shape. And changes ahead that feel considered rather than hurried.

For now, I’m allowing space for that to unfold.

Thank you for being part of this journey. I’m really looking forward to the year ahead.

Have a good one.
Nikki

P.S. I’ll share more when the time is right. Some things are worth letting settle before they’re spoken out loud.

P.P.S. If the New Year has you reflecting on learning or confidence, I’m always happy to have a quiet chat about what might help.