Right this moment is my birthday. Yearly, since I turned 18, I’ve written a weblog submit with some private reflections on the earlier yr and a few plans for the longer term.
This yr was notable for the conclusion of my twelve-month Foundations undertaking, which I technically completed final month. I made a decision for logistical causes to work on and write about my very own Foundations undertaking three months forward of the Foundations course and articles revealed right here. So although this yr was largely centered across the undertaking, to keep away from confusion, I’ll save my ideas for when the course wraps up on the finish of September.
I had a great yr. I traveled to Mexico and North Macedonia, which gave me an opportunity to make use of my Spanish and Macedonian once more. I ran my first marathon. I learn over 100 books.
Greater than something, this yr had a great work-life stability. Since having youngsters, I’ve undoubtedly softened in my ambitions. Lots of the potential achievements that might have been attractive in my early twenties now really feel like traps in disguise. I’m reminded of a quote I heard someplace that, on the finish of your profession, the one people who find themselves going to recollect you labored additional time are your youngsters.
On the similar time, I’m acutely conscious that stability is a luxurious. I’ve pals with companies much like mine who’ve needed to downsize significantly. Success, as a lot as onerous work and good selections, issues on this line of labor. I’m grateful that mine has continued so far.
Plans for the Subsequent Twelve Months
I’ve quite a lot of initiatives I’m hoping to complete over the following yr.
For work, certainly one of my largest goes to be holding the second session of Foundations. We’re planning on operating the course to line up with the 2026 calendar yr, letting in college students in November. Final time the course felt prefer it began a bit abruptly, so this additional time ought to assist us correctly put together the scholars.
This time, we’re additionally attempting to create a e-book/journal/habit-tracker with among the important details about the undertaking to accompany the course. We plan to make it accessible for individuals who are unable to affix, to allow them to observe alongside.
I even have some future course initiatives I’m going to start out researching for subsequent yr. Whereas the Foundations launch was an excellent success that propped up our enterprise over the past yr, it’s clear that we waited a bit too lengthy between choices—Lifetime of Focus, my earlier providing with Cal Newport, is sort of 5 years outdated.
Outdoors of labor, I’m going to proceed operating. I’m hoping to run the Vancouver half marathon subsequent yr, together with a neighborhood 16 km race that begins at sea degree and winds up on the prime of a mountain. I’d additionally wish to strive a triathlon in some unspecified time in the future. I really feel pretty assured with swimming and operating, so it’ll largely be a matter of constructing extra confidence on the bike.
Intellectually, I’m hoping to make use of this yr to broaden my breadth in studying a bit. I had set such a excessive bar for my studying throughout the undertaking final yr that it made it onerous to make time for off-topic books.
I’m additionally hoping to cycle by the Foundations undertaking for a second time, pushing myself in a couple of of the areas I wish to deepen and firming up a few the areas the place I wish to do a greater job.
Greater than something, I really feel extremely grateful. My life has been good, and I do know that I owe loads of that to the assist from readers such as you. I hope you’ll proceed to observe me subsequent yr, and I’ll do my greatest to share no matter I study with you!
