This. Last. Year.
Per tradition, we asked The Retaility’s community:
“WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF OVER THE LAST YEAR?”
Read on for answers from our favorite entrepreneurs, designers, artists, and friends. But first, a few thoughts from our founder…
LINDZI SCHARF
Founder of The Retaility
“The start of a new year makes most of us feel reflective. For me, each new year is also a reminder that I’m yet another year — further — away from my late daughter, Miss Evan Frances, who passed away from a rare mitochondrial disease in 2022. Following the Southern California wildfires last January, I realized that I needed an outlet for what's in my heart, which is why I launched Joyful Grief, a Substack dedicated to Evan. Each Joyful Grief piece helps me process my emotions in a way that's hopefully helpful for others who may also be (joyfully) grieving. Writing essays, posting on Instagram, and looking at family photos often feels like the only way I can keep Evan alive. Her memory is the equivalent of oxygen for me. Over this last year, I've also realized how truly grateful I am when people don't look away. When they see my little girl. When they take the time to read and learn about her. When they like photos of her, write kind notes, send love, and say her name. Because I see it all. Moving forward, I want to find new ways to keep Evan’s joyful spirit alive. Which means taking risks… Whatever that looks like? Whatever that means? Time will tell. But my goal is — in Evan’s honor — to keep doing things that might be uncomfortable. Because discomfort is, oftentimes, what leads to growth. I've always found that the thing I resisted the most wound up being the thing I needed most. So, I look forward to discovering what that ‘thing’ might be over this next year.”
MENA SUVARI
Actress / Author
“I've gotten to know myself the most in the last year,” she says. “I’m much more aware and protective of my time and energy and who I allow in [to my life] and how it influences me for the better. … I feel confident and grounded in my approach. That's very much how I live my life. The last year or so, I've found Kabbalah, and that’s completely changed my life. It’s helped me develop that sense even more. Through that, so much has opened up, and it’s allowed me to feel like I’m finally manifesting a lot of the dreams I have. I have been doing that now with development and moving more into creating and producing, which is something I’m really passionate about.”
ZIBBY OWENS
Founder of Zibby Media
“I’ve learned that when bad things happen, I don’t wait: I leap. When the Palisades fire happened, I grieved the loss of my part-time home and happy place, the homes of friends and colleagues, the life we’d led, and then jumped into action. I organized a high-end clothing drive to make sure those who had lost their homes could dress in the styles to which they were accustomed. I wanted them to feel good wearing nice things even though I couldn’t help the trauma of the loss. I brought in mental health experts to be onsite and had local volunteers staff the pop-up alongside a small, fierce team from Zibby’s Bookshop and Zibby Media. After that, I wanted to see what else I could do and realized the schools had all lost their libraries in the Palisades so I set out to fundraiser. We raised enough money to replace all the books lost at those schools due to the fire. Did I think I was going to do all this? No. But, just like at the onset of the Covid lockdown when I immediately launched an Instagram Live show, a book club, and a daily podcast to help authors with book launches and help those stuck at home with some daily entertainment and inspiration, I felt compelled in my soul to help. When October 7th happened, I helped start up Artists Against Antisemitism, now a 501(c)(3) non-profit and launched a fund-raising book. I don’t say this to brag. I say this because NONE of this was in the plan. But ALL of this was something I knew at a fundamental level I had to stop everything else to do. I can’t explain it. But I now know after last year that this is a pattern and that next time something terrible happens, I’ll be there to help, however I can, not by writing a check but by rolling up my sleeves and figuring out how I can really do something. I really hope it helps!! I know helping itself is something that makes me feel better than almost anything else.”
DANIELLE PANABAKER
Actress / Director
“I think as a mom, I'm constantly learning patience and just trying to step back and let my kids show me who they are and try not to get in the way. They grow. Our business is also changing dramatically, and it's a good experience of just trying to let go, and embrace the change and not fight against it. … My kids are three and five, but they're starting to get bigger, and I can see the moment [when] I don't have to be as present in their lives as I am currently, so I'm excited for that next chapter [and to], hopefully, get back to work. My dream is to get back to work on something I'm really excited about doing, something that is challenging and allows me to stretch. I directed a few episodes of The Flash, which was great, and I would love to direct again. And really expand my creative abilities in that way.”
CAROLINE PALMER
Author of Workhorse
“I grew up as someone who always wanted to write a novel; I was the kid in class in high school who was writing short stories in the margins of my notebooks and, on more than one occasion, I wrote love poems for my friends to give to their boyfriends, which was not that hard as I never had a boyfriend of my own. All of this being true, the years rolled by and I never ended up writing a novel, and by the time I was in my mid-forties, I felt like, especially as a woman, that maybe I had missed the opportunity. I definitely went through a major slump; I felt old and washed up and directionless and, to be very literary about it, it was a major bummer. Then, through some combination of divine intervention and my own deep Workhorse tendencies, I finally wrote that novel. The entire process taught me that there are, indeed, multiple acts in our lives, and that we cannot let ourselves be defined by what we think we cannot do, or what we think we are too old to do, or what would be too time consuming to do in our already busy lives. The time is going to pass anyway, right? If there is something, somewhere, you have always wanted to accomplish, don't waste another minute. You can reinvent yourself time and time again.”
JAMIE CHUNG
Actress
“I just want to be happy. I think it's keeping the joy in what you do. That's what I want to continue to accomplish. The joy would be to continue to tell stories that are meaningful to me. Sometimes you take the jobs that aren't as meaningful to pay the bills. I want to keep loving it. I've worked with great directors who are crème de la crème and rising stars, the ones who are just starting, but they have a real vision. Those are the people who I want to continue to work with because they still have the joy. I just want to work with people who still fucking love it. There are some people in this industry who don't love it. I’m like, ‘Then why are you doing it? Let someone else who fucking loves it do it.’ I love being on set. I love meeting people. I love learning everyone else's craft—whether it's lighting or fucking grips. I just love the whole process of it and all the people in the artistry who are required to bring something to life. It is an uphill battle, but I would say [I would love] to continue to work with upcoming directors who have a strong vision who will not be swayed by unartistic producers and soul-crushing studios. I just want people who still just love the art, and that's in its simplest form.”
MARY ALICE HANEY
CEO of Ovii & Co-host of SHE MD Podcast
“This year
my son Gray went to college.
And I had to learn
how to live in a world
where I don’t see his face
every single day.
I practiced giving grace—
to others,
to myself—
remembering that we are all
doing the best we can
with what we’re carrying.
I learned how to sit
with the quiet.
Not rush it.
Not fill it.
I learned that passion
and ambition
don’t always roar.
Sometimes they whisper.
Sometimes they rest.
And those quiet moments—
they aren’t empty.
They are necessary.
They are where becoming continues.”
NICHELLE HINES
Fitness Guru & Actress
“I want the opportunity to deeply delve into a character. So, whether that's a show or movies or a bunch of different ones of those, I want to be like that actor who finishes one thing, goes to the next thing. I want to be able to create a canon of work that I'm proud of. That’s my goal. I want that Jon Hamm effect. Or Viola [Davis]. I want to be able to constantly be creating and evolving, mixed with times of great joy—like vacationing and hanging with my friends. I feel like I have half of the puzzle. I feel like we're getting there. I would like to be in love, I think. I think that it's been a long time for me. The curtain has come down, but I also have high expectations, and I don't want to settle. But I would like to meet a partner. But professionally, the times when I feel most alive is when I’m with the people who I love, who I feel truly love me back for who I am. And when I’m working.”
NATALIE MORALES
Actress / Writer / Director
“I have been working hard on [filmmaking]. I did get to make one thing that I wrote and directed, which was ‘Language Lessons,’ but I have directed stuff that I didn't write. I've acted in a lot that I didn't write or direct. I would like to do more of the stuff that I've written and created. I'd like to do more of that, and I've been working on a lot of [projects] with Cyrina, my best friend, who's my writing partner. A goal for me is to get something that we've worked on together made because I also don't see anything from our perspective on television or in movies at all. It doesn’t exist, and I do think there's a vacuum, and there's an audience for it. I'm here. I would like to fill it. I just need someone else’s money to do it.”
HELENA SIMON
Founder & Designer of Helena Simon
“This past year I learned to listen to my instincts no matter how unorthodox they may seem to others. Next year I aim to continue to think outside the box - and perhaps reconsider what’s previously been considered off the table!”
BEA ARTHUR
Therapist, Entrepreneur, & Author of the forthcoming book, “The White Man Within”
“After 20 years, I recently and quietly moved out of New York City, the place that defined and drained me, but made me someone I’m proud of and love very much. NYC is for dreamers & hustlers; so I did all of that and then some; but New York and America are not the be all, end all so I’m running from winter & fascism and moving to Mexico City! Once I made the decision, I had an intense identity crisis: If I’m not a girlboss maneater in Manhattan, then who am I? Someone softer, someone slower, someone submissive? Wait- I don’t know about that last one! Lol but I’m looking forward to finding out by ‘re-potting’ in CDMX and meeting different parts of me, while I write my first book. It all feels very Eat, Pray, Love and I don’t care how cringe it sounds! All I know is that when Spirit says move, it’s time to move. Different environments bring different things out of us, different career journeys teach us and challenge us in different ways, and I am so up for the challenge. To be more free and more ME!!”
TARA AQUILINA
Stylist
“This last year has been nothing short of transformative. I realized I’m fiercely resilient, especially in the face of adversity. And my work hustle also translates into helping those in need during crisis. Asking what you’ve learned about yourself, is humbling. Something I struggle a bit with answering, but I’m proud of the business that I have put years and years of blood, sweat, and tears into. I’m so blessed to work with people who I love like family. I lost a dear client of mine, and at her worst, we still made outfits, because it brought her joy even in her final days. I think that’s shifted something in me. She changed the way I view my work and I miss and love her for that strength she taught me. I am grateful to create deep, lasting bonds through my passion and to help bring a sense of confidence to people. I’ve learned that I’ll show up when needed, even during times of my own personal strife. I’ve learned the truest meaning of gratitude. And most importantly, I’ve learned you just keep on going, especially when you may feel your worst …because diamonds are created under pressure. This is something I carry into every year. Continued momentum and connection.”
JULIA COROT COMIL
Founder of Mode Rsvp
“Over the last year, I’ve learned that taking care of myself isn’t about constantly doing more. I thought shifting my focus away from work and toward my wellbeing meant putting in extra effort somewhere else, but I ended up over-working out, getting injured, and being forced to slow down. That experience helped me realize that growth doesn’t always come from doing more. Sometimes it comes from easing off, slowing down, and being okay with rest. Learning to move at a slower pace turned out to be exactly what I needed.”
KIMMY ERIN
Stylist
“Since becoming a mom, which has been a rougher transition for me, I’m very open about that… I've tried to quit [styling] a million times, right? And [Natalie Morales] is the only client I've ever told, ‘Hey, I'm quitting.’ And [she’s] like, ‘Well, are we fitting this week or not?’ And then we’ll have a great fitting, and then the red carpet pictures will come out, and I'll be like, ‘Oh, this is so great! I love this!’ Honestly, when it's aligned with an amazing client, and I am so lucky, I have a handful of phenomenal clients who allow me to be part-time and a mom. So I'm winging it. I know that that's so anti-L.A.—if you're not meditating and writing down five goals every morning. That's just never been me and any time I have sat down to write a goal if I don't make it in two weeks, [I feel like] I’m a failure. I don’t want to set myself up to this place where [I feel like] I'm a failure. I will have a manifesting moment. Like, ‘Yeah, this is something that I want. That is the direction I would go.’ But I'm not going to say with a deadline, right? But I will try and [ask myself], ‘Where does my gut lead me? How do I attract great clients? How does that keep going?’ I'm not chasing a million dollars. … I don't play with the idea of needing to be on this many Best Dressed lists or whatever. I’ve let go of that because there's so much noise out there. And it does feel like bullshit. A lot of it feels paid. It feels publicized. It feels placed. It doesn't feel authentic. [It’s focused on] what’s going to get them the most clicks. Not necessarily about what's genuinely, authentically true. So that stuff I've let go of. I just want to make sure that I'm working with great people, and that I make them feel good because if I'm not making other people feel good, then there's no reason for me to do it.”
PIPPA SMALL
Ethical Jewelry Founder
“This year has been very full with work trips to Japan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, India and the West Bank, among others. I work with artisan goldsmiths, gem cutters, and glass blowers creating collections of jewellery that speak of the people and places where they are made; they carry history, culture, and a personal voice of the maker. I have been doing this for 30 years and love every minute of this collaboration, working together, sitting on workshop floors and talking, exchanging views, stories and laughter. I feel so lucky and privileged; there is so much to discover about a people through their creativity. I am a great believer in the powers of working with your hands and creating beautiful things that will outlive you, that will last generations. It’s a mighty act and also an act of hope for the future. Like many of us, I tend to get overwhelmed by the news—politics, wars, climate change, destruction and exploitation of the earth’s last natural spaces. Like many, I feel this news viscerally, and it spins into anxiety and fear. One thing I learned this year is I have no right to panic, no moral right to fear. I spent time with a group of women we work with in Afghanistan who have real recourse to fear, to panic, yet they were not. They were defiant; you can see in their eyes a refusal to be knocked down—a determination to find joy, to find laughter and friendship, and hope in the future. So what I want to take forward with me this new year is a defiance, like our Afghan sisters — a determination that I will be a part of the movement for good, for radical kindness, and hope for the future.”
AONIKA LAURENT THOMAS
Writer, Actress, Activist, & Mommy
“This year I became overwhelmed by politics. The desire to do something, shout from the rooftops...march, and I realized that listening had grown scarce. Listening was now replaced by vacant nods or fixed opinion, which felt especially jarring for someone whose life has been shaped by communication through learning language, writing, performance, and fashion. I went to Paris with my family to calm my nervous system and wrap myself in my children, language, art, and my love. 2025 taught me to communicate with intention in a world that feels distracted, rushed and cynical. As a lover of fashion, I began to understand expression not just as something written or spoken but as something embodied. In Paris, standing before beautiful sculptures, I was reminded that presence itself can speak. Art doesn’t beg for attention, it invites contemplation. I now treat how I dress, move and create as a form of communication one rooted in beauty, care, and meaning rather than urgency. In the New Year I want to carry that energy forward by communicating more thoughtfully through writing, visual expression, and a commitment to creating work that slows people down just long enough to feel something real - even when they aren’t listening.”
HOLLY BLAKEY
Founder of Breathing Room Home
“This past year I’ve learned (well, truthfully — I’m still learning — it’s a struggle!) that my worth isn’t measured by how much I “get done” but by how deeply I show up — for myself, my family, and my creative work. I used to default to a hustle-first mentality, but I realized that the invisible load I carry (planning, anticipating, emotionally managing) deserves the same attention as the visible to-dos that others see. I started making space for quiet time (it’s actually suuuch a challenge for me) — not as a luxury, but as the foundation for sustainable joy and creativity. Next year, I want to bring that energy by prioritizing presence over perfection: building work blocks around real rhythms (not idealized ones), setting firmer boundaries around my time/energy, and creating systems that lighten the load rather than fill it. I’m stretching myself to lead with rest and trust that keeping my inner cup full actually helps me contribute more meaningfully to others. Oh, and I’ve also learned that I’m a face product maximalist (shhh - don’t tell ). While the rest of my life is pretty minimal and simple, I feel deep satisfaction from my multiple step nighttime routine. It’s an indulgence that’s just for me and I’m fully owning it.”
NOLA SINGER
Stylist / Founder of Rescue Rose
"I learned to keep being true to myself and live everyday feeling love and gratitude. I’ll bring that energy into 2026 by surrounding myself with likeminded people and [by] having more fun.”
DENISE MANNING
Founder of Beauty f(x)
“Over the last year, with the launch of Beauty f(x), I have learned that reinvention is possible at any stage of life. There were real challenges and plenty of moments of uncertainty, but I discovered that you simply have to be relentless, believe in your abilities, and commit fully. I’ve learned to become comfortable with not knowing the answers in advance and to lean into the discomfort, doing my best to influence outcomes in a positive way. Attitude is everything. I have worked hard at mastering the art of pivoting while still moving forward with clarity, conviction, and purpose. My greatest learning by far is that the rewards of change, pursuing a dream, and continual self-improvement remain vitally important at any age. This year also reminded me of the enormous importance of the people around you. The right people challenge you, elevate you, remind you of who you are, and help you step into who you’re becoming. Uplifting those who champion your vision and bringing them along for the journey is not only meaningful, it’s deeply fulfilling. It has been incredibly rewarding, and fun, to have the privilege of learning from the talented (and often younger) people on my team. In the year ahead, as I focus on rapidly scaling Beauty f(x), I will continue to stretch and challenge myself, investing in my personal and professional growth. I will embrace transformation and remain deeply grateful to those around me as I navigate the ebbs and flows of reinvention.”
BRITTANY COBB
CEO + Founder of Flea Style & The Original Hat Bar + Author of How To Style A Hat (April 2026)
“Over the last year, I’ve learned that I’m stronger and more resilient than I ever realized, especially when life and business send challenges I didn’t see coming. I’ve discovered that choosing positivity doesn’t mean pretending everything is perfect—it means trusting myself to move forward even when things feel heavy. One of the biggest lessons for me has been accepting that life isn’t linear; growth can be messy, and it’s possible to feel sad and grateful, overwhelmed and hopeful, all at the same time. I’ve also realized just how important my family is—they’ve been my constant, my support, and my reminder of what really matters. Moving into the next year, I’m bringing that same energy with me: staying positive without ignoring my real feelings, leaning on my loved ones, and giving myself grace through every high and low. Art mimicking life, I wrote a book that will debut in April 2026, called How To Style a Hat. I often wear many hats-- entrepreneur, creator, friend, mother and each one comes with its own challenges and rewards. I’m trusting each chapter ahead because I know that I’m the author of my own story and get to choose how I grow, respond, and rise each day.”
RISA BARASH
CEO & Founder of Fairytales HairCare & TBH Kids
“Well, 2025 might not have been the best time to ask me that question. 2025 was the worst year of my life. I lost my Mother and my dog and still had to lead my business during these life changing times. So, what did I learn – better question would be what didn’t I learn this year? I learned that I could handle just about anything. While I might feel broken inside, I will always find a way to put the pieces of me back together. I learned that grief is nonlinear and when the waves hit, to ride them until they pass and I know that they do pass. I learned losing your Mom is like having your foundation ripped out from under you but those who love you help you build a new one. I learned my children, Jack and Ava are the 2 greatest people in the world. We cried, we mourned, we lost Gagi and Duke; we held on to one another for dear life and we came through together. I learned the true meaning of love with my partner David who understood that falling apart is not my usual MO and helped me navigate through it all with such grace, love and kindness that I might actually consider getting married again (maybe)! I also learned that some people will ultimately let you down and that’s ok. Some people are not meant to be in your life or your office forever. My life is split into before 2025 and after and I will take many lessons forward. I will love harder, be more present, have more fun and say yes to (almost) anything! I will take that trip regardless of the time away and I will turn off my phone (most of the time). I will create a work environment that brings joy to my staff, as we grow, experiment and take risks as we scale the brand far beyond our wildest dreams. I have learned to truly step into my power as a woman, mother, and business owner. I feel fearless now as I navigate the future. Each day, I hear my mother’s voice reminding me to be strong, be confident and to please put on some lipstick.”
KIM WILEMAN
Co-Founder and CEO of No Makeup Makeup
“This year was one of the most transformative years of my life. I’ve always trusted my intuition, but this year I sharpened it into a true superpower. I learned to hear it even in the middle of noise, to stand by it even when others questioned it, and to let it lead me into some of the biggest decisions I’ve ever made. I began to see the beauty industry in a different light this year. So much of what we see on social media or at events, the titles, the polish, the personas, doesn’t always reflect what’s real. I realized that true meaning and true alignment rarely need to perform for attention. They show up quietly, consistently, and with integrity. I learned that what is meant for me will always find its way to me, no matter how impossible it looks in the moment. This year reminded me that when I show up with passion, intention, and clarity, I create momentum that no one can take away. I stepped into my voice. I stepped into my authority. And I stepped into a level of self-belief that I had been dancing around for years. Next year, I want to take everything I learned and stretch myself even further. I trust my instincts faster and more boldly, because they have never led me wrong. I will walk into every room, whether it’s a meeting, a studio, a negotiation, or a conversation, rooted in who I am, not who anyone expects me to be. I am stepping into the new year with a stronger sense of self, a deeper trust in my path, and a belief that the life and impact I’m building are just getting started. I know now that I don’t need to chase anything, I only need to continue showing up with purpose, passion, and intention. The rest will meet me exactly where I am.”
SOPHIA WOJCZAK
Founder of Arachne
“Over the last year, I’ve come to understand how important resilience and persistence truly are. Building a brand takes dedication, discipline, and vision, but launching one is a completely different experience. It pushed me to trust myself in a new way, relearning how to listen to my instincts and follow my gut in every decision, big or small. I also learned that part of leadership is standing firm when it would be easier to bend, and that clarity strengthened my sense of direction. Trusting myself also means trusting where I put my energy, and this year deepened my appreciation for the people building this with me. Many have been here from the beginning, others joined along the way, but what connects us is the same sense of purpose. We all believe in what we are creating. That shared intention and commitment has shaped every part of the work. When you have people who care at that level, the work moves cleaner, the momentum becomes real, and you feel the difference every day. As I look ahead to next year, I want to stretch myself in ways that build on everything I’ve learned, especially by strengthening the relationships and communities that shape our world. Going into next year, I want to carry that clarity forward, trusting my instincts, protecting the vision, and continuing to build with people who elevate and strengthen our brand. This year showed me that growth does not require compromising your values, and that is the energy I am bringing into everything we create next.”