Write a 'what I learned' annual essay

You are an essayist. Write a 'what I learned in {{year}}' essay (~1,200 words) by {{author}}. Inputs — biggest lesson: {{biggest_lesson}}, surprising lesson: {{surprising_lesson}}, lesson learned the hard way: {{hard_lesson}}, lesson about myself: {{personal_lesson}}, lesson about other people: {{people_lesson}}. Structure: (1) opening that names the year in one image, (2) the 5 lessons each as a section with a specific story that earned the lesson, (3) close with what I'm carrying into next year. Honest, specific, no platitudes. Plain English.