Thanks for writing and sharing across the year Ben. Always earns a read when it pops into my emails.
Haven't written a yearly review but it's arguably been the toughest year in over a decade for me. Whole host of reasons combining rather than one shocker.
Key thing I learnt was my physical health is arguably the key determinant of my mental health. Have always prided myself on being mentally robust, and I think I am, but when physical health took a beating in 2024 it cascaded to mental health. No serious disease or anything but chronic pain, a back issue, and recurrence of a hernia all together was quite simply f#cking awful.
I now just think of it all as health. Mental and physical are too intertwined.
Key message is don't hesitate to get something checked out. It's unlike to just magically go away. Get on to it ASAP.
Cheers Huw and great key message. Would love to read your review if you do write one and totally agree that physical and mental health are linked. Sorry to hear about the injuries, but what exercise can you do?
Exercise wise I can't really run much anymore, which is disappointing as I loved it. Cycling seems to be the best bet as it's virtually no impact and doesn't need much trunk stabilisation. I do enjoy it but it's not as efficient from a cardio/energy burning point of view as running which is key when you don't have time to go for a 4 hour ride! Swimming should be OK but no convenient swimming pool near me right now. On the weights I can do upper body fine but no squats or deadlifts etc which again is annoying. So it's not like I can't do any exercise but just not the stuff I'd like to do.
Mini review:
Personal Growth
- not so much growth this year but my reslience was challenged like never before and whilst I got through OK I certainly struggled at times
- again not so much growth but confirmed what I'm good at (speaking/writing/communication and problem solving) and realising that I'm actually bloody good at it copared to peers. Conversely also realise what I'm not good at!
Family and Friends
- Got married finally after being delayed by COVID and then having a daughter! 5 years late :D
- All the immediate family still about but all showing signs of age and starting to struggle with some day to day bits so that'll become a challenge over the next 5 years
- Lucky to have some great friends who I've known for decades so never take that for granted
Work
- Changed jobs as part of relocating back to Aus; doing the same old thing (tech and AI consulting) which pays the bills quite well but not passionate about it
- Lots of BS politics at work at the top management level which cascades down so lots of morale issues and people just focus on themselves; no real sense of wider team
- First time seriously considered if a career change was possible at this stage in life
Health
- annus horribilis
- chronic leg pain most likely due to sciatic nerve aggrevation (no final diagnosis yet and no idea how it happened as no traumatic event that would cause a bulging disc or the like); was quite bad needing pain killers and led to disrupted sleep and not able to do basic things like bend over to pick something up at it's worst
- hernia flared up again despite being operated on 2 years ago, again no obvious event to trigger it so just monitoring it and seeing if surgery is an option again
- not being able to exercise for the better part of a year meant I put on some weight as well which is never nice
- Not my health but our cat broke his leg (still don't know how) and it cost a fortune to fix and he was stuck in a cage for the best part of 2 months
Other
- Moving back to Aus after almost 14 years overseas, majority in the London. Big life change. Lots of stress and faff from logisitcs to sorting my wife's visa (she isn't Aussie). Moving is the worst!
- Having travelled a lot and now viewing things as a dad considering what's best for the family and how that changes decision making on everything from where to live to what to do with your time. Questioning whether big city life, which I'm use to, is actually best or not. Quality of life arguably much better elsewhere.
- Got to see my first Wallabies home game in a long long time at the new SFS and been a pleasure seeing progress under Schmidt
- Tahs got the wooden spoon :(
Best Buy
- Host of things but the general category of spend was getting back into some childhood hobbies (RC cars, scale model tanks and planes, and painting some Warhammer figures). Great nostalgia, fun and sense of achievement building things.
- Boring mid life purchases like a leaf sucker/mulcher and a wood chipper for the garden lol.
Best Read
- Didn't get through much this year but latest Stormlight Archives book was sensational if you're into epic fantasy. I read a lot of research and technical stuff for work so personal reading is mostly fiction.
Looking Ahead
- Just hope to resolve health issues mostly! Everything else will be a breeze if that's sorted.
- Get settled back in Aus. Finding a place to live etc. Been great staying with family but need our own space.
Great review mate! Looking forward to seeing how things progress on the health front as I agree everything else will be a breeze once it's improving. PS: Lions tour will be epic!
I enjoyed reading your post.I enjoy reading all your posts.
Ben, you are pretty hard on yourself. Sometimes life is a score board, sometimes it's not.
Sometimes you play well but lose... look at our Wallabies. Sometimes you don't play well but win.
I quietly observed you working behind the bar at The Dock when we first met. I am a good judge and I have a good antenna.
You are a quality leader. Keep leading and stop looking at the score board. That will look after itself.
I will definitely be down shortly and contact you in advance.
James Mathers
Cheers James and I agree. The scoreboard always takes care of itself.
Awesome review Ben and encores me to do something like this before setting my yearly and beyond goals. All the best for 2025
You too Trevor
Great review Ben 😊.
Sounds like a lot of personal and professional growth.
Glad you enjoyed man's search for meaning 😁. It's a cracking book (although I'd love for a bigger print version 🤣)
Thanks Clare! Ikigai is another great read that expands on Frankl's logotheraphy if your interested.
I actually have read Ikigai as well :). But a few years ago now. So I might need to revisit it 😊
Thanks for writing and sharing across the year Ben. Always earns a read when it pops into my emails.
Haven't written a yearly review but it's arguably been the toughest year in over a decade for me. Whole host of reasons combining rather than one shocker.
Key thing I learnt was my physical health is arguably the key determinant of my mental health. Have always prided myself on being mentally robust, and I think I am, but when physical health took a beating in 2024 it cascaded to mental health. No serious disease or anything but chronic pain, a back issue, and recurrence of a hernia all together was quite simply f#cking awful.
I now just think of it all as health. Mental and physical are too intertwined.
Key message is don't hesitate to get something checked out. It's unlike to just magically go away. Get on to it ASAP.
Cheers Huw and great key message. Would love to read your review if you do write one and totally agree that physical and mental health are linked. Sorry to hear about the injuries, but what exercise can you do?
Exercise wise I can't really run much anymore, which is disappointing as I loved it. Cycling seems to be the best bet as it's virtually no impact and doesn't need much trunk stabilisation. I do enjoy it but it's not as efficient from a cardio/energy burning point of view as running which is key when you don't have time to go for a 4 hour ride! Swimming should be OK but no convenient swimming pool near me right now. On the weights I can do upper body fine but no squats or deadlifts etc which again is annoying. So it's not like I can't do any exercise but just not the stuff I'd like to do.
Mini review:
Personal Growth
- not so much growth this year but my reslience was challenged like never before and whilst I got through OK I certainly struggled at times
- again not so much growth but confirmed what I'm good at (speaking/writing/communication and problem solving) and realising that I'm actually bloody good at it copared to peers. Conversely also realise what I'm not good at!
Family and Friends
- Got married finally after being delayed by COVID and then having a daughter! 5 years late :D
- All the immediate family still about but all showing signs of age and starting to struggle with some day to day bits so that'll become a challenge over the next 5 years
- Lucky to have some great friends who I've known for decades so never take that for granted
Work
- Changed jobs as part of relocating back to Aus; doing the same old thing (tech and AI consulting) which pays the bills quite well but not passionate about it
- Lots of BS politics at work at the top management level which cascades down so lots of morale issues and people just focus on themselves; no real sense of wider team
- First time seriously considered if a career change was possible at this stage in life
Health
- annus horribilis
- chronic leg pain most likely due to sciatic nerve aggrevation (no final diagnosis yet and no idea how it happened as no traumatic event that would cause a bulging disc or the like); was quite bad needing pain killers and led to disrupted sleep and not able to do basic things like bend over to pick something up at it's worst
- hernia flared up again despite being operated on 2 years ago, again no obvious event to trigger it so just monitoring it and seeing if surgery is an option again
- not being able to exercise for the better part of a year meant I put on some weight as well which is never nice
- Not my health but our cat broke his leg (still don't know how) and it cost a fortune to fix and he was stuck in a cage for the best part of 2 months
Other
- Moving back to Aus after almost 14 years overseas, majority in the London. Big life change. Lots of stress and faff from logisitcs to sorting my wife's visa (she isn't Aussie). Moving is the worst!
- Having travelled a lot and now viewing things as a dad considering what's best for the family and how that changes decision making on everything from where to live to what to do with your time. Questioning whether big city life, which I'm use to, is actually best or not. Quality of life arguably much better elsewhere.
- Got to see my first Wallabies home game in a long long time at the new SFS and been a pleasure seeing progress under Schmidt
- Tahs got the wooden spoon :(
Best Buy
- Host of things but the general category of spend was getting back into some childhood hobbies (RC cars, scale model tanks and planes, and painting some Warhammer figures). Great nostalgia, fun and sense of achievement building things.
- Boring mid life purchases like a leaf sucker/mulcher and a wood chipper for the garden lol.
Best Read
- Didn't get through much this year but latest Stormlight Archives book was sensational if you're into epic fantasy. I read a lot of research and technical stuff for work so personal reading is mostly fiction.
Looking Ahead
- Just hope to resolve health issues mostly! Everything else will be a breeze if that's sorted.
- Get settled back in Aus. Finding a place to live etc. Been great staying with family but need our own space.
- Lions tour.
Great review mate! Looking forward to seeing how things progress on the health front as I agree everything else will be a breeze once it's improving. PS: Lions tour will be epic!