It’s time to say goodbye to 2017 and welcome another year.
Looking back, I must say this has been a wonderful year on my end as I compile all the great things that have happened:
- Welcomed the birth of a daughter into our family
- Wrote two books and published one
- Read 91 books after challenging myself to read 52
- Wrote 346 posts on this site, totaling 61,098 words
- Secured a permanent teaching position after being on contract for almost 9 years
- Sold my Dodge Charger to the tow truck driver after it died, preventing the headache of trying to sell it privately or through a dealer (I’m pretty sure it was used in a crime later that week, but I can only speculate)
- Helped found a dad’s group, meeting every month and building a fellowship while bettering ourselves as partners and parents
- Witnessed my little sister get married
- Celebrated my oldest sister’s 40th birthday
- Celebrated my parents’ 65th and 70th birthday
- Took my family to the east coast and walked my son to the ocean
- Pared down my belongings (especially my wardrobe) to get rid of much excess
- Fixed something in my house (I could take off my own head with a screwdriver, so this is a big one)
- Fixed the incoming email for this site
- Had the pleasure of spending time with friends from the west coast (family to my mentor)
I’m sure there are others in there as well, of which I noted elsewhere, but overall many events to celebrate.
What do I have to look forward to in 2018?
More writing, more reading and more family and friends time.
Seems simple, but it took me 35 years to come up with a simple philosophy to live by:
Time is more valuable than money and if it’s not a hell yes, it’s a no.
(with thanks to Derek Sivers for that last bit)
To live by this axiom and my “resolutions,” there are a few things I’m constantly working on (and will continue to do so for 2018):
- Make sure money isn’t an issue so I can enjoy the time (watch cash flow, spend less than I earn and continue to invest in boring index funds)
- Focus on what’s important and disregard the rest (most things are a distraction, including fear of missing out)
- Be 100% present to the moment
- Leverage technology in a way that makes sense… not just using technology for the sake of using technology
- Say no more than I say yes
- Stay the course and keep learning, pushing limits and exploring
Looking forward to another year filled with blessings, memories and joys.
May yours be abundant in all things that really matter.