2024 Year in Review - "Connection"
“Enthusiastically build an extraordinary reality day after day”
I’ve just wrapped up my annual review and planning, and for the past few years I’ve made it a point to share some of the highs and lows here. To help me remember things throughout the year, I use the one line a day notebook that lets you accumulate one thought about each day over 5 years. I just reached the end of my current 5 year book, and it’s crazy to think how many memories are contained within those pages. As I look at the blank one I picked up, I can’t imagine what these next 5 years of pages will contain.
Looking back through the photos and memories from the year, what stands out again are the everyday moments. The moments as a young family, the joy that our daughter brings to every day. My word for the year was “Connection”, and returning to it often helped remind me of what’s important, what direction I was trying to head in.
One of my favourite sayings is from Naval Ravikant: “A fit body, a calm mind, a house full of love. These things cannot be bought - they must be earned.” Much of what I’m focused on these days is earning those intangible, essential parts of a good life. Every evening, I have a list of questions I ask our daughter:
Were you happy today?
Were you kind today?
Who did you help today?
What did you learn today?
What interesting questions did you ask?
What was special about today?
This Christmas Eve, as I put her to bed, I added another one, asking what her what her favourite thing is about her dad. I’ll always remember her sweet look, as she said, Love. I love you so much daddy. That is everything, and it’s what sticks in my mind as the year comes to a close.
Here are a few of the things that stand out when I look back over 2024:
The Highlights – What Went Well
This year I celebrated turning 35, my wife and I celebrated 10 years of marriage, and our daughter turned 4. Here are some highlights that stand out from the year:
Personal
We took an epic trip to Spain for our 10th anniversary, visiting Barcelona, Madrid, Mallorca, Seville & Granada
I got out to many concerts, including Metallica in Seattle, 3 Inches of Blood, White Buffalo, City & Colour and Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour
We attended some wonderful weddings, celebrating the marriages of the Hobbs & Greene families
We found out we are expecting our second child, coming May 2025
We welcomed another niece into the family, with Claire arriving this year
We found out our next niece or nephew will be arriving next year as well!
There were some great travel adventures, including Spain, Seattle, time up in Whistler, Victoria, Alberta, visits with family in the Okanagan and camping trips with friends
Got a new vehicle
BookMark added some more readers
Business
I started my journey as an independent recruitment consultant (official launch of PlaceMark coming early 2025)
Grew LinkedIn followers to 11,380, while meeting my goal to post something every single day throughout 2024
Went to a few events, including Tech Talent north, Vancouver Startup Week, the Tiny general shareholder meeting in Victoria & InnovateWest. I also got to see Ryan Holiday speak again this year in Vancouver
Health
The highlight from this year was completing the Ironman 70.3 in Victoria
Biked 2,698 KM, which was more than last year! One of these years I’ll get above 3K…
Tracked HRV consistently, which was helpful to adjust training based on readiness score
Completed 75 hard again leading up to the IronMan. It was nice to incorporate some swimming into my routine as well
I’ve been consistent in the gym in the second half of the year, primarily following surfer Laird Hamilton’s strength training circuit
What Didn't Go Well This Year
I was let go from my role in September, which forced me to confront questions about my attachment to a certain identity and reevaluate what’s truly important in my life
There have been some family health challenges that have weighed on me this year
My wife had some health scares, and combined with pregnancy, job transitions, and general chaos that comes with a young family, this made for a very colourful year full of its share of challenges and emotions
Things I've Loved
I decided to turn this section into a post of its own this year that I will continue to update (Manual of Mark)
What's Next – What I'm Looking Forward To In 2025
The word I’ve chosen to guide me through 2025 is “Become”. I tried to think of all of the things ahead, the arrival of our baby, the beginning of a new business, the growth of our family. Who am I becoming through all of this? Thinking about being in a state of beginners mind, seeing things with a fresh perspective.
A few of the things I’m looking forward to in 2025:
Baby Friesen #2 (for both Friesen families!!)
My Dad’s 60th Birthday
Some big concerts (baby arrival permitting of course)
At least 1 Gran Fondo bike event
Business events and conferences
Officially launching PlaceMark & growing through its first full year
