So the wheel has turned and we’re waking up in the year 2025. And if we can just take a second to enjoy that, it does have a nice ring to it. Twenty twenty five. Twenty, TWENTY five. ’25. Two zero two five.
Taking a second is one of my two personal goals for the next 365 days, and beyond. Claire’s hockey coach, Ryan, says it to her all the time. “When you get the puck, count to one” and combined with effort, focus, attitude, and time that seemingly simple piece of advice has made for an outsized improvement in her game this season.
One.
My other focus is to better manifest the sometimes contradictory advice I share with Claire most every morning when I drop her at school:
- Default to kindness. Both in how you treat yourself and other people.
- Be unyielding in the face of things you know are wrong. See something, say something.
One.
Whatever blend of excitement, trepidation, or sameness you foresee in the coming annum, my best wishes for you are the presence to enjoy the good moments and the power of spirit to overcome the worst ones.
I am going to start with the small things I can easily sort. Trying not to pedal around with those figurative pebbles in my shoes or small rocks trapped in my tire knobs annoyingly tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-ticking against my fender. Pull over and deal with them. And when I need to sort something out that’s beyond my experience, ability, or just simply isn’t a one person job, ask for some help.
One.
I’m taking a short break today and then it’s back to finishing off the MEATengines Awards for ’24. Yes, next year I’ll use a shorter – days and words – format. And on that note, I’ll end this dispatch with the reminder that I’m always open to feedback.
Happy New Year.
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