Photo by Nick Morrison on Unsplash

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No sooner than the year begins does it seemingly end, the flight of time - ponderously slow in the moment - somehow seemingly fast when the view is backward, over its long arch. It truly is a trick of time. As 2020 morphed into 2021, what thoughts I had came together around Rebuilding Better, the premise being that 2020 had been a year of significant disruption - and deconstruction - with 2021 a fresh chance to begin again, to put together what was broken in a better way with twelve objectives concretely describing that for me. Now that 2021 has morphed into 2022, it feels like a good time to revisit all that, so here goes.

In 12 objectives

  1. Attain NACE Corrosion Specialist Certification: Progressed this significantly with the first part of the application done and submitted. I await feedback in late January/ February on the peer review bits which, fingers crossed is positive. This should allow me cross this off in 2022. I’ll call this a HIT
  2. Change one (specific) deleterious habit: This was an epic fail, which is all I am going to say about it. MISS.
  3. Clear credit card debt: Managed this by November, although running the numbers showed me that for the ‘free’ cash I could generate far superior returns in the stock market so I re-upped this after clearing the backlog. HIT
  4. Complete U of T Data Science Course: Completed this with aplomb achieving a 96% average score over all modules. What this showed me is I have a real appetite for this data thing. Bring on the AI/ML apocalypse I say. HIT
  5. Develop a daily practice of prayer and bible study: This unfortunately was an epic fail with this happening only on 55% of days. MEH
  6. Deliver three value add projects at work: Did ok here I believe as one such project was fully delivered as well as identifying a second opportunity which was progressed through to engaging a third party to execute. I’ll call this a HIT
  7. Read 25 books: 14 of 25 downed with several half read. I’d call these mixed results. MEH
  8. Buy a new house in London: Times and life changed the priorities here but one which is back on the agenda in 2022. MEH
  9. Resolve blood pressure issues: Being slightly overweight and genetically disposed to high blood pressure, managing this is one of my key health focus areas. MEH
  10. Speak to Dad weekly, siblings monthly: Much improved but hardly stellar performance. I’ll this a MEH
  11. Weigh 90 kg or less: Epic fail, ended the year at 100+ kg from a low of 93kg in May. MISS
  12. Write a blogpost every week: I’ll call this a HIT, by the skin of my teeth

In the 7 Dimensions

Going back to the life plan framework, here is my current status ranked with previous year’s rank in brackets

  • Spiritual: 2 (3)
    • Not sure where I stand, christian stuff still pulls me but I feel like my practice does not match my beliefs in anyway, and to quote taleb if the
  • Physical & Health: 2 (3)
  • Financial: 4 (3)
  • Relational: 3 (3)
  • Work & Career: 4 (3)
  • Personal Development: 4 (4)
  • Causes & Charities: 5 (5)

In four charts

Well, L happened!