<aside> 🪴 Each year, I spend a significant amount of time reviewing and thinking ahead on what lies ahead, and how I will navigate it. Though much of this exercise is personal, I have found that sharing it inspires dialogue, accountability and puts me in a position to align with like-minded folks who are trying to better themselves.

I am still working on my 2022 strategy and how it will fit into my 10 year plan. If you are pursuing a similar endeavour, I’d love to speak with you about your experience.

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One second a day

YouTube chose the thumbnail, sorry Francesca 😜

Life is fleeting, and the mundane, small matters of our existence should be honored just as much as the highlights. I truly love this exercise, and appreciate being able to see glimpses of a past once experienced.

This year was overcast once again by a pandemic, but my lovely life partner Viv, our friends, neighbors, insects, animals, flowers, waves, wheels, and of course @lilernesto made it another glorious trip around the sun.

Memories and milestones

I was granted permanent residency in Australia, leaving behind a great deal of anxiety about my future, particularly during COVID.
Began a new job in an exciting industry, at Investible.
Made efforts to get more involved in the startup/venture ecosystem, judged a pitch event, coaching student fellowships with Startmate, and making new connections atop which I can continue to build relationships.
Attended three weddings, three housewarmings, and spent time with local friends (and dogs) at parks, beaches, and in nearby nature.
Viv and I evolved our life partnership more boldly. Made significant plans for the future, and discussed the big picture stuff more openly and excitedly.
Improved my health, physically and mentally by seeing specialists, and spending more time doing the work.
I’ve officially become a morning person. I’ve journaled a bit on the topic but I find it poetic that when I lived on a Western shore (California), I thrived with the setting of the sun — as a night owl, doing work, experiencing the world and its people. Now, I live on an Eastern shore (of the same great ocean nonetheless), and I rise earlier than I ever have. My most productive, reflective and happy hours are in the morning.
I consumed as much media as ever, podcasts, TV shows, books, music, and sport. I’m not tracking this as closely as I once did. I’ve avoided the plague of ‘sequels, prequels and reboots’ as much as I could.
- “If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.” — Haruki Murakami.
- “I follow the Lindy effect as a guide in selecting what to read: books that have been around for ten years will be around for ten more; books that have been around for two millennia should be around for quite a bit of time, and so forth” — Nassim Taleb
Didn’t take the chance to ‘get away’ during. We only spent a few nights away from home this entire year. Our one big trip (to South Australia & the outback) was cancelled due to COVID, but we also missed the opportunity to explore the state, particularly its natural blessings.
Two grandparents passed away, strange and lonely to be far from family, to experience the grief and process, some firsthand, some through the feelings of my kin.
Falling into distraction and unhealthy habits is still an on/off struggle. The ability to rejuvenate through social interaction has remained difficult with COVID.
Continued experimenting with cooking - it feels wonderful having grown some of our food.
Got a new tattoo.