At this very moment, as we now begin a new year, it looks grim and on hinge.  I can only hope for a change in the minds of so many in restoring the America that we all grew up with.  For now, we can choose silence or contribute in any small way towards reclaiming our democratic way of living.   America’s best days are not in its past.  We have the power to make it so. I am hopeful!

Every year I like to reflect on what these past 12 months were like for me personally as well as highlighting major events in the world (with some bias, of course). For this year’s review of 2025, here is my best shot at what made the cut.

  But First … What This Year Was Like For Me

In 2025, I surpassed my second year of self-journey with now less than six months to complete my three-year nomad experiment. Plans are to return to the US by July 2026 to restart my life again in what better place than New Jersey​.   In 2025, I added one more continent to the three that I had visited, traveling through South and Central America. I have visited 9 countries, 25 cities, at least two dozen small towns besides staying and visiting a string of neighborhoods and the Galapagos Islands.  Countries visited include Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay in that order. Most stays were between ten days and six weeks.

I am now in Bolivia, continuing my plans in 2026 to visit Brazil, Guatemala and El Salvador and then returning to Mexico, where I recently purchased a condo.  I spent six months in Mexico during my first year (2023).  I made a detour this past year back to Mexico to undergo stem cell treatment for my back pain.   To date, the stem cell treatment hasn’t produced the results I hoped for.

 While in Mexico, purchasing a condo was never in my original plans, but considering the high cost of buying a new home upon returning to the US, I chose this amazing country as my adopted second home—it seemed more fun and challenging to do. It took four months to close, furnish the place and explore several Mexican cities before heading to Peru.

This year more than prior, I feel a bit more physically and mentally exhausted from all the constant planning and moving from city to city, yet grateful to have had this opportunity with minor road bumps along the way.  I look forward to returning to New Jersey as I continue to seek my “purposeful life” now at 73.  Well, that’s enough about me. Let’s move on to the rest of the world….

Most Global Impactful Events of the Year (Warning: one of the toughest years yet)

I guess I will start with the Geopolitical events, although I have no intention of listing all the subhuman tactics and distractions brought on by our newly elected president.

Worst Events:

  Wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan continue to rage with little hope for peace. Conflicts in the Middle East appear to be growing, besides other border clashes.  These events are catastrophic, causing hunger, displacement, and death to so many populations, pushing many nations to tighten up their immigration policies against the many that seek refuge.

  The growth of right-wing and nationalist leaders has increased significantly in 2025 to include Poland, Japan, Germany, as well as countries in Latin America (Ecuador, Chile, Argentina and Bolivia) and of course the US… all leading towards more authoritarian tendencies.

  The influence billionaires are having on controlling the election process and the White House.  In a Washington Post analysis based on the year 2024, 100 of the wealthiest people contributed over 1.1 billion in campaign contributions, 80% going to the Republican party. The numbers for 2025 are not yet available, but one can assume a similar pattern.  This has led to policies that benefit the wealthy, such as the Big Beautiful Bill. More recently, there has been much talk about how the White House has facilitated insider trading.   Corruption is clearly on the front line of our politics, more blatantly than ever with greater concentration of power by the president and his wealthy allies.

  Climate change continues to rock the earth regardless of what climate deniers believe. The devastating fires and floods in California as well as Asia, Vietnam, India, Pakistan and Jamaica were some of the worst.  There are also severe drought conditions in Africa and South America. Some good news… There have been many countries this past year that are building international alliances to manage climate change. Of course, the US is not one of them.

  The influence that both AI and social media have played in our daily lives this past year. Let’s begin with social media.  Clearly, tech companies are making tons of money on hate (it used to be sex). The amount of hate speech and disinformation caused by fake AI postings is stunning and scary, addin​g fuel ​to a divided country. Yet our government is doing practically nothing to regulate this.  I am strolling less on Facebook and Instagram in part because of so many AI fake postings, both negative and positive. I am not interested in viewing or reading what is fake unless it is noted as AI. Right now, none of us have that choice…thanks to the tech companies. Another reason for less scrolling is that there are too many ads and scammers.

  On the topic of AI, there ​is both a good and a bad side to this amazing invention.  The bad side is that in 2025 there were more layoffs caused by AI, the beginning of what is coming. The real dark side of AI is its cost to us as residents.  AI eats up significant water and energy, creating shortages and rising costs.  Let’s not forget the extraction of minerals worldwide, creating an imbalance in the environment besides international conflicts.  In 2025, the top seven tech companies invested a trillion in AI infrastructure. These same tech companies control 30% of the S&P  500.  Is there a future stock market bubble to come?

Best News and Events

   The Gestapo tactics of ICE, besides many of Trump’s policies on censure, tariffs, and the failed DOGE doctrine, have led to millions protesting as witnessed this past year in the No Kings and ICE demonstrations. This also has increased the number of elected democratic leaders jumping-starting a Blue Wave.  As we enter 2026, I am hoping for a balance in our politics with no one party controlling all branches of government.  Kudos to both the newly elected NYC and Miami mayors for breaking the status quo and focusing on affordability—something that Republicans think they understand.

   The growing movement both internationally and locally to control social media and AI, such as banning or limiting children and teenagers’ use of mobile phones which has led to a wave of loneliness and suicides among teenagers and young adults. Kudos to Denmark, among other European countries whose copyright policies seek to control fake use of people’s body, facial features and voice.

   The movement and outrage over the Epstein files by a broader coalition of liberal, conservative groups and elected officials such as MTG ma​king it quite uncomfortable for the White House staff and Trump’s friends.

   Much is being done globally to protect the environment and manage climate change, even as the US government disconnects itself from saving the planet. Examples of this are: the ratification by 79 nations of the Global Ocean Treaty excluding the US; 196 countries that signed up to the Convention on Biological Diversity (including Russia, but excluding the US; More habitats were designated protected areas in 2025, offering a lifeline to koalas, whales and other species; and wind and solar overtook coal as the world leading source of electricity.

 Best and Worst of Pop Culture…. Moving on to Something More Entertaining.

   “Pop culture is what keeps us curious and in a good mood when we are confronted daily with depressing news and bad humans.” – Grizel Ubarry

This past year, there has been some interesting human behavior. Starting with the worst of pop culture, here are my picks:

Worst:

   The fallout bromance between Elon Musk and the President with more media focus on the failure of ​Elon Musk’s DOGE ​program in reducing the deficit while globally creating some of the worst sub-human policies and funding cuts.

   The embarrassment of Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin Rocket flight promotion with Gayle King, Kerry Perry and Lauren Sanchez (Bezos’ wife).  Framing it as pro-feminist advancement for women when so many women’s rights are being denied by the courts and the White House.  Just plain silly to call themselves the first female flight crew in space​, but then celebrity privilege has no boundaries when it comes to self-promotion.

   The final chapter of Sean Diddy Combs’ court case led to his downfall and imprisonment, awaiting Donald Trump to pardon him.

   Prince Andrew’s downfall, being stripped of all his royal titles and kicked out of the royal palace.  Lots of brotherly love there.

Best:

   The brilliance and the audacity of the Super Bowl franchise to pick the global artist Bad Bunny, who only sings in Spanish yet sells globally more records than any artist in 2025. True to form, when also picking rapper Kendrick Lamar.

  Bad Bunny for his Residency Tour in Puerto Rico ​that plugged over 200 million into the island’s economy. A proudly global Puerto Rican artist who continues to break barriers in music, vision, fashion and messaging.

  The comedy of Jon Stewart, Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert and SNL in bringing to light the vulgarity of this past year’s politics while fighting censorship.

   Microsoft founder Bill Gates announcement​, giving away 99% of his fortune through his foundation with a focus on improving health and education services in Africa over the next 20 years.

    The election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope, part of Pope Francis’s legacy of social justice, maintaining continuity as it is much needed in these tumultuous times.

The Sad News of Saying Good-bye

Every year there is the loss of friends, family members, celebrities, political and faith leaders. There is also the loss of people we don’t know due to disasters, violence and conflicts.  Every year I focus on one person who I feel has had the greatest impact on our humanity.  To me, that person is Pope Francis, who left an indelible mark on what being a pope should stand for. Let me first state that I do not have a good opinion of the Catholic Church or of most organized religions.  Pope Francis was a humble pastor who defined his legacy around issues of mercy, social justice, and interfaith dialogue. He shifted away from the rigidity of the church, creating much-needed reforms that, while not perfect, were certainly a significant improvement.

For me, his greatest legacy is how he methodically reshaped the College of Cardinals, creating an inclusive diversity of future popes that view the world much like he did. Rest in peace, humble warrior of the poor.

Final Note

As always, I want to channel Time’s Top 100 Photos of the Year by sharing Limited Limitless Living’s Top 70 Photos for 2025.  The photos are of everything I love from my travels this year.  They are about city life, culture and people, capturing moments that reflect daily living worldwide and the best of what nature offers.  The last photo is a pic of me finally reaching Machu Picchu. Remember to click the center of the photo to see the full view. If interested in reading my 2024-year review and photos, click here.

As we enter the year 2026, I am a bit worried yet hopeful that somehow there will be a shift to a more humane society.  For change to happen, we cannot be silent or do nothing.

 In 2026, I wish for peace and that we all find within ourselves what makes us happy. Happy New Year!!!

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