As we approach the year end it’s a great time to reflect, give thanks, and re-calibrate for the year ahead. Here are some of the things that I’ve learned, enjoyed and written this year. I hope you find it useful.
Most of us began the year with fire in our bellies. We were determined to move on from the pandemic and leave behind the testing, mask wearing and lockdowns that came with it. We set goals, made plans and got our lives back in motion.
Heeding the call to live once again.
But hope and forward momentum were soon dashed on February 20th with Russia’s assault on Ukraine. A complex political situation that has, once again, led to war with considerable casualties on all sides. While the conflict rages on, our way of life remains turbulent.
Unfortunately, that is the way life is. Turbulent. It can be cruel, confusing and discouraging at times. Suffering is guaranteed.
What matters then is not so much about what’s happening, but our response to what’s happening. How cool, calm and focussed we can be when chaos ensues. How much resilience we can find when life kicks us in the teeth.
Notes from 2022
Despite the cost of living crises, I’ve had a good year personally and professionally. Ten Bulls continues to grow and provide many challenges, on the business side as well as the creative side. Reading and writing continue to play a central role in my life while I aim to enhance the overall Ten Bulls experience.
In 2022 I:
- Read some great books including, Stress Without Distress by Hans Selye, Do The Work by Steven Pressfield, and Accelerating Excellence by my good friend James King.
- Wrote 100+ articles. The simple goal of writing two posts per week and limiting any activities that conflict with that (mainly social media) is life changing. I wish I’d made that commitment sooner. It gives you great focus and forces you to get better.
- Made some security and performance enhancements to the website. You may notice it loads a little faster now and should be easier to read as well as navigate.
- Took the ‘Logo Design: From Concept to Presentation’ course by Sagi Haviv. I’ve seen a few YouTube video interviews featuring Sagi and jumped on the course as soon as I realised it existed. If you are at all interested in branding and design, I highly recommend it.
- Travelled to Hiroshima for the second time. It’s a modern city that bears the scars of war. The Peace Memorial Park offers hope while serving as a permanent reminder of how destructive we can be.
- Continued with my meditation and movement practice. I’ve been working more on ball skills to keep up with my son who’s learning fast and racking up game time for Gamba Osaka Juniors.
Essential reads from 2022
Ten Bulls is now two years old and beginning to take shape. The more I write, the more patterns and connections I can see. There’s a lot of ground to cover, and there are many days when I want to skip ahead, but slow and steady progress remains the focus.
Here are the most essential posts of the year:
- Breathwork: A Beginner’s Guide
- 3 Beginner Breathwork Exercises
- Box Breathing Technique and Tips
- Everyone Needs a Practice
- How to Develop a Reading Habit
And here are a few for those who have been struggling with mental health issues:
- Powerful Men’s Mental Health Tips
- Simple Breathing Technique for Stress
- How to Limit Social Media Use
- How to Survive the Energy Crises
I’ll be using the next 10 days to read, journal and enjoy a quiet Christmas. I hope you have a fantastic festive season and I’ll see you in 2023.
Thanks for your continued support this year.
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