So another year draws to a close. It’s always interesting to reflect on what happened and what didn’t.
This was the year I mastered by health, my fitness and hopefully my anxiety.
In January, I started a fitness regime which if I fast forward to now has been pretty successful. I’ve lost almost 3 stone and my jeans no longer fit me properly falling down at almost every opportunity. Time to invest in either a better belt or some skinnier jeans. I’ve been basically walking, often indoors between meetings and calls. I was at times doing 100k steps a week. The aim now is to go further with it now that I know I can do it.
One plus point of exercise is mental health and helping to reduce stress and anxiety. For a good chunk of 2024, I suffered with terrible stress and was having really bad panic attacks which started during Covid but seemed to have gotten worse of late. I found a good book and some people online which helped and I feel right now that I have control of it all and I’m definitely going in the right direction. I never really thought anxiety and stress was a real thing but over the past few years, I’ve come to realise how real it is and how it can affect a person. It’s not a nice thing but there is help for those that need it. It’s been a bit of a journey but I feel good and know what works for me and what doesn’t.
I set out this year to make some big changes in my life. I didn’t manage to move house like I planned but maybe next year. The market has been tough and finding something that works for me has been tough. So if you see any detached houses with no neighbours, let me know. Must have good internet.
One change I didn’t bank on but it’s been a life saver has been getting involved with local football. Mainly a taxi driver for my son, I’ve been getting out and about watching the local team and helping the lad with his volunteering role. I can’t stress enough how good this has been both for me and him. He’s starting a new chapter in his life and it’s been amazing watching him progress. I nag him a lot about stuff and push him hard but I know he’ll find his feet. It’s a tough world out there and I just want him to do well. The football has given me a focus. I’ve started up a data website around Welsh football. I’ve found this year I am not as passionate about design as I used to be so needed to do something to try and kickstart it all so doing something that was design and data driven was a bit of fun and although I don’t think many really understand what it is or care about the topic, it’s been a lot of fun putting it together. I’ve always been a fan of side projects and think it’s a great way to learn and try new things.
I’ll be 47 at some point in 2025 and I feel now more than ever I know exactly what I want to do next and where I want to be so hopefully things fall even more into place in the next few months. For now though, that’s me done for 2024 so have a smashing Christmas. See you next year.
I won’t do personal shoutouts but thanks to those that have been supportive during the year and those that have been great with me and the lad. Sorry to everyone who’d doesn’t like football and are sick of me tweeting about it. I used to tweet about design non stop but football is where it’s at now.