Keep Moving Forward

As I reflect on the last twelve months, I can’t help but think that if there was ever a year for my mantra to be "Always Forward," it was this year, 2025. This year was the year of the colossal rollercoaster ride. And just like one does when riding such a ride, all you can do is buckle up and hold on for the highs and the lows.

My year began full of excitement and energy as I accepted a new role in my day-to-day profession and prepared for the release of The Burdens We Carry, the fifth and final novella in the Always Forward series. I was so optimistic about the year ahead, yet by mid-March, my heart would be broken not once, but twice. We lost two of our three dogs within one month of each other. I went from such a high moment of starting a new job and releasing my fifth book, to saying goodbye to our sweet Nappy girl, who lived an amazing 23 years, and my soul dog, Sajar, who was a few months shy of his twelfth birthday.

To say I was devastated would be an understatement. For those of you who have been around since the beginning of the series (or know me in real life), you know how much Sajar meant to me. He was my running and hiking partner, my chief creative officer, and my unofficial therapy dog. Losing him crushed me, and I’m not going to lie, the spring months were a blur of depression wrapped in smiles as I held it together for my high school senior.

Every time I hit another low point or woke up looking for Sajar, I would repeat to myself, “Just keep moving forward”. Because, as anyone who has lost someone (human or fur baby) knows, life doesn’t stop for grief. Thanks to Stella, my only living pup, I still got up every day, got out the door, and walked. Having her with me has reminded me that we must keep putting one foot in front of the other.

By May, it was time to celebrate our youngest daughter, Annalecia, graduating from high school. Senior year was a whirlwind of activities, from prom to awards night to graduation to celebrations. My hubby and I are so proud of all her accomplishments, and it felt good to be surrounded by family and friends.

May also brought our first grand pup into our lives as our oldest kiddo adopted Sir Redford, aka Red. I like to think Sajar guided him to our daughter. He’s a one-year-old pit bull mix and is the sweetest and most loving grand pup I could ever ask for in a dog.

The summer months brought family time on Torch Lake, which included Stella’s first family vacation. When we weren’t lounging on the water or taking a hike, I was working on a new project that will come out next year in honor of my sweet pup, Sajar. Torch Lake and writing about Sajar are where I think I finally began to feel like the depression from the first half of the year was lifting. The gloomy cloud that had felt as though it had been following me around for so long was slowly beginning to dissipate.

August and September were all about love in the Garcia household. August brought my nephew’s wedding and time with family. There’s something so special about seeing someone you watched grow up now start their own family. It was another reminder to be grateful for this life and those in it. September was an exciting time as my husband and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary.

After months of neglecting the release of The Burdens We Carry, by the fall, it was finally time to refocus on being an author. With the depression cloud cleared up, I finally felt like I had the mental and emotional capacity to get back to what I truly love doing- promoting my books and attending book events.

I’m so grateful for the opportunities I’ve had this year for my book series. From beginning a new partnership with Words on Pages Bookshop to attending The Louisville Book Festival to meeting Mychal the Librarian, these last few months have been jam-packed with bookish events. (I celebrated a successful fall with a new tattoo- because how else would I celebrate?!)

My passion for mental health has always meant that I’m an open book about my own struggles with mental health. I share what my life is like, hoping that someone reading this can relate on some level to what I’m sharing. Whether you lost someone (human or animal) or you celebrated joyful moments (graduations, weddings, anniversaries), life is full of highs and lows. It can be overwhelming to ride this rollercoaster of life, but if there is one piece of advice I can give you, it’s this- JUST KEEP MOVING FORWARD. ALWAYS FORWARD!