The Road #21 - A Year of Transformation
Rounding off a year filled with challenges, achievements, and growth.
Hey everyone,
As we stand at the threshold of a new year, it's time for a bit of reflection. What a year it's been – full of ups, downs, and everything in between!
The year kicked off with a tough start. An existential crisis hit me hard, leading to some serious soul-searching and a big decision: leaving my job. It was a challenging period, but looking back, I realize this crisis was the catalyst for the amazing things that followed.
My journey to recovery was marked by some significant milestones. I hit the gym hard and managed to reach 75 kilos (I was 59 when I started). Along the way, I met some incredible people, dedicated myself more to creating content, and guess what? We smashed the 10K followers mark on Instagram! Isn't that something?
Reflecting on the goals I set at the year's start, I feel a sense of pride. Sure, it wasn't all smooth sailing. There were moments of procrastination, laziness, and boredom, but with a mix of discipline and a little (okay, maybe a lot) of coffee, I managed to overcome them.
This year also brought a profound and unexpected moment – for the first time, I celebrated Christmas at home. Though I was alone, it was a day filled with mixed emotions and turned out to be one of the most reflective and meaningful days of the year for me. On the morning of the 25th, as I woke up, I received the heart-wrenching news that my grandmother had passed away. The shock was deepened by the fact that I had dreamt about her all night. It was a surreal and poignant experience, making me realize the fragility and beauty of life. This Christmas was a time of peace, reflection, and a deeper appreciation for the memories and moments we share with our loved ones.
Looking ahead to next year, I'm brimming with expectations. A major focus will be on the goals I didn't quite hit this year, like posting videos on YouTube. Last year, I didn't quite frame that goal SMARTly. This time around, I'm reorganizing my ideas and priorities to make it happen.
Our community has grown incredibly this year, and I'm both happy and amazed at what this newsletter has become. So, as we bid goodbye to this year and welcome the next, I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for making my year.
Happy New Year, everyone! Here's to more growth, more achievements, and more coffee in 2024!
Catch you next year.
Updates
My Favorite Tech & Gears of 2023
The last post of the year. Read here.
Planning My 2024: Crafting a Year of Growth, Goals, and Groundbreaking Moments
How I plan my 2024. Read here.
Habit Tracker Notion Template
I dropped my very first Notion template and I'm very happy for this. This template is a simple, minimalist way that I use every day to help me create new habits and sharing it with you makes me very happy.
To my delight, just a few days after launch, the template was published in the Notion template library.
My Top 5 Life-Changing Reads
Also posted a new article sharing the 5 books that changed my life. Take a look.
How I Craft My Aesthetic Videos for Reels and TikTok
A new gem on my blog. Breaking down how I make my videos.
Spoilers
Lisbon Diaries | Getting My Life Together
Great news for my subscribers! I'm excited to share that, after a year of anticipation, "Lisbon Diaries" is finally launching this January 7th. This series is a heartfelt exploration of my life in Lisbon as a Software Engineer and Content Creator. Kicking off with the first episode titled "Getting My Life Together," you'll get an authentic glimpse into my world of balancing work, creativity, and personal growth in this vibrant city. Stay tuned for the premiere, subscribe my Youtube channel – it's an episode you won't want to miss!
Link Lowdown (Best Of The Year)
A collection of links to stuff I think are worth sharing.
Notion - Simply the best Note taking app ever.
Headspace - I use everyday for my meditation.
Offscreen - Very good screen time tracker and also include features like Pomodoro timer and Lock screen.
LARQ Bottle PureVis - The self cleaning water bottle.
CleanMyMac - Clean my Mac.