Reflecting on 2022

Jan 4, 2023

Hi, I'm Scott, and this is my often weekly newsletter about life, learning, and whatever else runs through my head.

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What did you love, learn, and lack during 2022?

(This is inspired by Jen Vermet's monthly reflections.)

Before you can move forward, you need to know where you came from. For me, 2022 was about health and process.

These are what I'm bringing forward with me:

Fatherhood. My daughter owns my heart. I especially laugh when she goes limp and throws a tantrum on the floor. Just no public crying.
Building a life with a wife who puts up with me and is willing to put in the work to make our relationship better. Our long-overdue honeymoon (and first post-lockdown vacation) to St. Thomas was pretty cool, too.
Huge fitness gains! I dropped 20 pounds this year and had a strong half-marathon to punctuate a year of consistent running.
The opportunities I got to spend time with friends, whether over a meal or a weekend in Pennsylvania at a best friend's wedding.
The family ended the year in good health, despite some scary moments.

It's all about the process. Lean into the process and make it mandatory. My head and heart always choose tomorrow, if given the choice.
The areas I made the biggest gains were those where I was most consistent: running and weight loss. But the target needs to be small and easily repeatable, like a mile/day.
Progress compounds over time. My average distance per run was lower than in years past, but the end-of-year results speak for themselves.
We are defined by actions, not thoughts. You're a runner because you run. A leader because you lead. You're only a good partner if you actively support your spouse, not because you think you are.
Growth requires discomfort. If you fail to take risks or rattle any cages, you're not going anywhere.
Learning requires action. Put knowledge to work or write it out. Passive intake leads to stagnation and false confidence.
Have the courage to be disliked. If no one dislikes you, it means you're living according to their wants and expectations. Not yours.
Your behaviors are a reflection of your CURRENT desires, even if you’re not aware of what they are. They're not simply the result of past experiences.
We all have stories to tell; the most relatable and teachable moments are those occurring within our everyday lives.
Being a Dad/Parent is life's hardest and most rewarding job.

Investments into building and sustaining relationships.
Positive conflict resolution strategies with my wife -- I need to listen AND express myself better.
Consistent writing. When I stopped writing, I lost the motivation to continue learning and reflecting, which further delayed more writing. Nasty little cycle.
Creative fulfillment. I need to TAKE RISK and push myself further into discomfort. For the first time, I glided at work. My excuse is that it allowed more of a focus on family, but the truth is probably closer to fear and a defeated mindset.
Blackberry cobbler. Our Christmas plans got nixed and I never even made my own!

These were my goals outlined at the beginning of 2022:

✅:🏃 Run 1 mile EVERY DAY for a year.
- 348/365 = 95% and 1202 miles.
- COVID ended my streak for the year and a medical procedure in August taught me about motivation as I mentally broke BEFORE the procedure.
- Surpassed my TOTAL 2021 mileage on July 9.
✅:💒 Host wedding with Tiffany.
✅:🥗 Follow the Tim Ferris slow-carb diet for two weeks.
✅:💪 Work with a personal trainer for a month. (Actually ended up at six.)
✅:🧑‍🏫 Complete two courses this year.
- Retook Building a Second Brain and Write of Passage (mostly)
- Approachable Design by Nate Kadlac. Great course and a brief overview.
- A Portfolio of Small Bets whose ideas are compelling, but I'm looking for my courage.
✅:💰 Create a financial plan for retirement. Working with a Wealth Advisor.
✅: 🏁 Complete an ultramarathon (at least 50k) prior to 12/31/22. Completed John Holmes 50k on 10/29.
🟨:🙏 Return to routine religious practice.
- Tried a daily reading challenge and immediately failed.
- Returned to regular services in the last month of the year.
❌:📰 Publish a newsletter every week during the year. 19/52 = 37%.
❌:📕 Publish 12 Book Notes. Finished 3/12, with two additional ones ready to be posted.
❌:📈 Revise my website along with adding an "open page" for living transparently similar to Steph Smith.