2025: A year of gratitude and growth

The DP team shares what we’re thankful for this year and what’s inspiring our goals for 2026

In 2020, we started a tradition of writing a team blog on gratitude in November. We stayed consistent and thoroughly enjoy doing it, so welcome to our 5th edition.

As we step into the Thanksgiving season and the year comes to a close, the team at Different Perspective is reflecting on the moments that made 2025 special. It’s a time to reflect and celebrate the people, lessons, and experiences that shaped our year, personally and professionally.

Join us as we share each team member’s reflections on what they’ve learned, what they’re thankful for, and what’s guiding them into 2026.

Hugo: This was a very strategic year for DP. We focused on actions and tools that help us be more deliberate and efficient, and, most importantly, that add more value to our clients. See below a quote that represents this idea.

“If a man knows not to which port he sails, no wind is favorable.”
– Seneca the Younger

Priscilla: “Think about a worry, a fear, a decision you have to make, and then ask yourself: What’s the BEST that could happen?”

Intentionally reframe your perspective to explore a more positive and achievable outcome. It can help reduce anxiety and provide a more balanced view of a situation. 

Greg: Lost Highway, a little-known song by Bon Jovi. The song symbolizes moving forward and leaving things “in the rear view mirror”. With personal health issues and a devastating event in my mother’s life, this song helped me remember that the past is the past and all you can do is get through the next day with optimism and determination.

Tarik: True to Myself – Ziggy Marley. Because it’s a beautiful song that talks about authenticity, personal freedom, and the decision to live your own truth, even when that means going against external expectations or what others consider “the right thing.” And this year was a year in which I made important decisions in my personal life in favor of the things I truly enjoy, that make me feel good, and that connect with what I want for my future.

Annabelle: “Get Happy/Happy Days Are Here Again” by Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand. There’s something about the hope, joy, and resilience in that song that reflects how I’ve tried to move through life and what I want to bring into the new year. No matter what life throws at you, choosing to stay positive and remembering that happy days are ahead can help you keep moving forward. It’s a reminder that happiness is something we can create for ourselves, even in challenging moments.

Allison: Move Along by the All-American Rejects, because this year brought significant personal and professional change, and, as they say, you just have to “move along.”

Alberto: The quote that sums up my year was “don’t commit the crime if you can’t do time”. It made me even more responsible. 

Renato: My year was a mix of code, coffee, and achievements.

Marco: I think Supergrass’s “Alright” sums up my year well. It was a lighthearted period, full of good vibes, and about enjoying the moment without rushing. Everything flowed naturally—work, routine, home life. I felt good, confident, and calm, enjoying the little things and realizing that, in the end, everything is alright.

Hugo: Creativity doesn’t just happen; you have to seek inspiration rather than wait for it to come to you organically. Every year, we onboard new clients and have new interns. We are always learning about their individualities, achievements, goals, and uniqueness. This inspires me to keep meeting people, learning from their experiences, and helping them achieve their goals.

Priscilla: Surrounding myself with creative people definitely inspires my own creativity every day. Collaborating with clients gives us a shared purpose: taking their businesses and ours to the next level! It is all interconnected.

Greg: Being in sales and talking to potential clients is challenging, no matter where you work or what you sell. However, the team at Different Perspectives gives me a tool that many of my peers don’t have. I can offer solutions, products, and services, knowing the creative team will deliver above and beyond what I shared with the new client. “Under promise and over deliver” is a quote that comes to mind, but in my case, I am not trying to under promise. The team just overdelivers—every time.

Tarik: All these years, working at DP has always brought me challenges related to my way of working, managing expectations, and learning how to deal with obstacles. Today, I am certainly a more mature professional—someone who looks at challenges more focused on finding solutions than on how difficult something may seem.

Annabelle: Working at DP has helped me grow creatively. Every client inspires a new side of the content I get to create. Collaborating with the team has taught me the value of building something together, where each person adds their own spark to make the final result even better.

Allison: It confirmed that I’m pursuing the degree that’s right for me. I’ve also gained a deeper appreciation for how much of a team effort digital marketing truly is, and I have enjoyed seeing everyone use their unique skills to create something every day.

Alberto: The challenges and opportunities I face in animation always make me a better professional.

Renato: Working at DP is always a great challenge — every project is different, with unique opportunities and goals. This pushes the team to reinvent itself with each delivery, constantly seeking creativity and collaboration to achieve the best results for the client.

Marco: Working at DP made me see how creativity and collaboration go hand in hand. I learned that good ideas arise when we share, listen to each other, and are open to new perspectives. I also started to see more purpose in what I do—understanding the real impact of my work and how much it contributes to the whole has motivated me a lot.

Hugo: Our friends. Through our personal lives, professional relationships, and philanthropy work, we have met and cultivated a lifetime of meaningful connections.

Priscilla: I am so grateful that I’ll be spending Thanksgiving and celebrating my mom’s 80th birthday on the same day with her. Even more so since my brother, who lives in Australia, is joining us for the celebration! Since we all live in different countries, it is extra special when we spend time together.

Greg: Family. 

Tarik: I’m eternally grateful for having health, for having the family I have, and for so many dear friends who are part of my daily life.

Annabelle: My family, always. I’m so grateful to get to spend time with them during the holidays. Thanksgiving may be just one day, but to me, the gratitude doesn’t stop there. It lasts through the rest of the year, which is why these last two months feel so special and bring so much joy.

Allison: I am incredibly grateful for the time I get with my family and friends.

Alberto: I am grateful for my son. No doubts. He’s turning out to be an admirable young man.

Renato: Right now, I’m most grateful for my family — especially my daughter.

Marco: I am grateful for my health, for everything being well at home, and for being in a moment of personal and professional growth. Even with the challenges, I am growing, learning, and becoming a more prepared person. I am also grateful for the people around me, who make the day-to-day lighter and more productive.

Hugo: Our team. Some of our team members had to deal with personal issues, and I was impressed and inspired by how they handled them all.

Priscilla: I’ve completed my first year as the President of the Orlando Philharmonic Board of Directors. Even though I’ve been on the board for close to 9 years, in this role I’ve gotten a closer look at all the hard work involved in running a non-profit. I am also always very inspired by all the volunteers and donors who give their talent, treasure, and time to the orchestra and other non-profits.

Greg: My sister. I watched her completely take over situations that would take people months to solve and do it seamlessly and with complete confidence in herself.  For many years, I thought of her as simply my little sister. However, this past year, I was reminded that she is an incredible wife, mother, daughter, sister, and business owner.

Tarik: It was definitely Charles Watson, a professor specializing in Creative Process and Problem Finding, with whom I had the pleasure of taking a four-month course on creative process. The course was truly a turning point in how I view my future, both personal and professional.

Annabelle: (It was between my sister and my cat, and my sister gave me the official stamp of approval to pick the cat…because she knows the cat would be offended otherwise.) The reason my cat inspired me this year is because she’s a constant reminder for me to slow down, enjoy the quiet moments, and find happiness in simple things like sunlight, rest, and just being present.

Allison: My little sister had ACL surgery at the beginning of the year. Her strength allowed her to have one of the quickest recoveries, showing me that you can always achieve what you set your mind to.

Alberto: My son again. He is really thinking about his future, and that inspires me.

Renato: My daughter, because this year has been full of learning with her — her first words, first experiences, and so on.

Marco: Without a doubt, my son was my greatest inspiration. Seeing his evolution, witnessing his growth, and discovering the world through his eyes has been incredible. It motivates me to be a better person, more patient, and present. It’s a constant learning process that fills my heart with pride and gratitude.

Hugo: Take in every opportunity to learn something new that can add to you personally and professionally.

Priscilla: Keep learning, and take the opportunity to do the things you love and never get to do, like dancing! I had the best time this year learning bachata and country line dancing. I consider myself a good dancer, but learning line dancing was a humbling experience. 🙂

Greg: Prepare for the worst. Expect the best.

Tarik: Stop, think, and seriously try to understand what truly makes you happy every day—and try to turn that into reality. Discover the things you love doing the most, keep moving, don’t wait for things to happen or for others to give you the answers. Do things, experiment, test, make plenty of mistakes, until the process shows you who you really are. Don’t be afraid to try; it’s definitely not worse than doing nothing.

Annabelle: Continue prioritizing experiences over material possessions.

Allison: Everyone accomplishes things differently; what truly counts is staying committed and seeing it through.

Alberto: Don´t jump into another romantic relationship if you are not 100% certain.

Renato: Keep fighting and persisting toward your goals — in the future, you’ll be rewarded!

Marco: I would tell myself to continue trusting the process and not to be so hard on myself. Things happen in their own time. Stay focused, but remember to enjoy the journey, recognize the progress, and celebrate the small victories. Sometimes we grow more on quiet days than in great achievements.

Hugo: I highly encourage people to read Ryan Holiday’s collection of books. They are inspiring and motivating in their own way. Reading his books gives me a burst of energy and helps me be more understanding of others. Some of his books are:

• The obstacle is the way
• Stillness is the key
• Ego is the enemy
• Wisdom takes work
• Courage is calling
• And more

Priscilla: Do your best work, trust the ride, and the right opportunities will be presented to you. And don’t sweat the small stuff, or most importantly, don’t stress over the things you have no control over.

Greg: Show grace to those you interact with. You never know what they are dealing with privately. 

Tarik: “Most significant works come out of misunderstanding because you don’t know what you’re doing.” “The act itself is the path to discovery,” – Milton Glaser

Annabelle: Wabi Sabi is a Japanese concept that encourages us to find beauty in imperfection and accept things as they naturally are. When we stop chasing perfection and start appreciating the small, imperfect moments around us and within ourselves, we open the door to more peace, gratitude, and ease in our everyday lives.

Allison: Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain inspires me because he started from the bottom and, through hard work and dedication, achieved unforgettable success. A line that stuck with me is “Your body is not a temple, it’s an amusement park. Enjoy the ride.” 

Alberto: Be grateful for a simple day that you wake up breathing. It´s a miracle of life.

Renato: Never stop learning. Every person and every challenge has something to teach. It’s this constant movement that helps us grow.

Marco: I’ve learned that gratitude changes the way we see everything. When we begin to value what we already have—health, learning, good people around us—life becomes lighter. So, my advice is simple: don’t wait for the perfect moment to be grateful, because it’s probably already happening now.

Grateful for 2025 and everyone who made it special!

A huge thank you to our incredible clients and outstanding partners. It’s been a privilege to collaborate with you throughout 2025, and we look forward to continuing to support your success in 2026 and beyond.

We’re also grateful for the opportunity to give back to our community by supporting local nonprofits through volunteer work and pro bono projects that make a difference. 

And, of course, a special recognition goes to Team DP for their dedication, creativity, and passion. It’s their hard work that consistently elevates our clients’ businesses to new heights.

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