By Malika Joshi
Hemanta Bhadari
Managing Director – Nepal 8th Wonder
This year, I’ve outgrown the comfort of telling familiar stories. For a long time, I stayed close to what I knew but Nepal is far bigger, deeper, and more diverse than that. I’ve realized that if I truly want to represent this country, I need to keep moving, keep exploring, and keep pushing myself beyond what’s easy. There are still so many people, cultures, and places waiting to be seen. That realization has shifted everything for me now, it’s not just about storytelling, it’s about responsibility.
Manisha Thapa
Content Creator – Stories of Manisha
This year, I learned to say no when I really wanted to say no. I stopped worrying so much about missing out and started enjoying my own time and my own company. I also gradually stopped caring so much about what everyone thought of me. These changes didn’t happen all at once; they happened in small moments, in setting boundaries, in choosing myself. And maybe that’s my biggest growth this year: learning that protecting my peace is not selfish, it’s necessary.
Aanchal Tamrakar
Actor/ Creator
This year, I’ve quietly outgrown the version of myself that constantly second-guessed everything. It’s been a journey of finding myself again, embracing the things I’ve always dreamed of and stepping into opportunities whenever they came my way. I’ve started choosing growth over comfort, and myself over expectations. In doing so, I’ve learned to trust my own voice and recognize my self-worth without seeking external reassurance. It’s not something I’ve fully paused to acknowledge, but in many ways, I’ve stepped into a more confident, self-assured version of who I am becoming.
Dr. Keshu Khadka
Miss Supranational Nepal 2022, Dentist
For a long time, I put other people’s comfort and convenience before my own. I thought that made me an accommodating person, but I realised it wasn’t the best for my well-being. I’ve embraced loving myself more, to choose myself first, and to be vocal about my boundaries. I’ve learnt to uphold them, and honestly, it has been quietly and sometimes loudly empowering. I’m loving myself louder than ever before, and I love it.
Abhinav Joshi
Food Vlogger – Nepali Food Traveller
This year, I outgrew my wariness of new people, that subtle bracing before every introduction, the quiet calculus of saying the right thing without worrying what others might think. Without fully acknowledging it, I stopped treating strangers as tests to pass and started meeting them as invitations instead. The shift was unglamorous but it was slow realization that conversation no longer exhausted me. I now enter rooms without rehearsing my exit. Somewhere along the way, the guardedness softened into genuine curiosity. I simply noticed one day that connection had become instinct rather than effort.
Sareeka Neupane
Food Vlogger – Lil Foodie
This year, I’ve outgrown the constant fear of what people think about me. There was a time when comparisons and opinions would affect my decisions, and I would hesitate, wondering how everything I did would be perceived. But over time, I’ve realized that no matter what you do, people will always have something to say. I’ve learned to let go of that pressure and focus on what truly feels right to me. Now, I move forward with more confidence, without overthinking or seeking approval, and that shift has been quietly empowering.
Manjita Manandhar
Food Vlogger – My Darling Food & Founder – Achar by Darling
This year, I’ve quietly outgrown the need to see everything solely through my own lens. Building my business has pushed me to listen more intentionally, understand people beyond surface-level assumptions, and accept things as they come. I’ve learned that growth comes from allowing space for different perspectives rather than imposing my own ideas on how things should be. In doing so, I’ve developed a deeper sense of empathy and awareness, recognizing that every person carries their own reasoning, experiences, and truths worth acknowledging.
