It doesn’t feel right entering the new year without commemorating the best thing that happened to me in 2025.

I used to think the red string theory was nothing more than wishful thinking, something people relied on when seeking validation in their connections. But I made a friend this year who completely changed all of that. It’s funny because when we first met, I had absolutely no idea they would end up being such a huge part of my story.

Mackenzie and I became inseparable, fast. I have had many best friends throughout my life, who all mean the world to me in many different ways. But Mackenzie healed parts of me I didn’t even know were hurting, and I can’t imagine life without her in it.

I honestly had a pretty tough 2025, all of which I’m thankful for now, but even at my lowest, Mackenzie was there when no one else was. The little things were always what stood out, the constant check-ins, the calls that lasted for hours. Many times I cried into Mackenzie’s arms feeling hopeless, and she was always the first person to remind me who I am, what I’m worth, and why I need to keep moving forward.

It’s really hard for me to choose one particular memory to honor, because I’m not exaggerating when I say every moment we spend together is memorable. I spent a couple of days dwelling in preparation for this article, trying my very hardest to pick one instance to share. I decided to go with the moment I realized Mackenzie was not just my friend but a part of me I had been searching for. We were on a trip together, and almost every moment felt like it was pulled straight from a movie. The long drive filled with uncontainable laughter, creating handshakes, running around a mall to find a bathroom and barely making it. This trip was healing, and I don’t think I stopped smiling for even a moment. From running around the beach, forgetting where we were, nights blending into mornings, a few bad decisions made, ridiculous pictures taken, all played into the best vacation I’d ever been on. That was when I knew Mackenzie was a friend I had always needed and would never let go.

Everything we have done together, I will forever cherish. Many spontaneous trips, many days we drove around for hours just listening to music when words were too much to bear, many tears wiped, nights when I looked over and thought to myself this is the person I’d needed my whole life. So as we enter 2026, I have to honor the person who saved me in countless ways. The person I am so glad is by my side, the person who I hope will be my friend forever.

So yes, the red string theory is real. I’ve seen it firsthand. The most important people you never knew you needed come in the most unexpected moments, changing your life in the most beautiful ways. I’m so glad I found my greatest friend of all, and I’m so lucky our strings finally intertwined.

Cheers to 2026 and many more memories with the people who make us feel at home