2022 Annual Review

Hey there - Welcome back. I hope you had a nice holiday.

Every year from 2013-2019, author James Clear published an Annual Review based on the following three questions.

1. What went well this year?

2. What didn’t go so well this year?

3. What did I learn?

Today, I’m diving into these same questions - attempting to distill my biggest wins, losses, and lessons from the year into succinct takeaways.

Stay tuned til the end, where I’ll be sharing my favorite quotes, photos & music from 2022.

An important note: as James Clear mentions in his annual reviews, this is a highly personal process. Just because I’m answering these questions doesn’t mean you should. Nor is any of this material advice. 

Rather, this newsletter is my documentation of the year 2022 - a year in which I set out with no goals, but rather just a Compass Question - an idea I came up with in 2021 that involves using an intentional question to guide decision-making.

My Compass Question for 2022: How can I show up to integrate, elevate & embody?

When I came up on a decision or a challenge, I asked this question. I’ll share more about this concept in next week’s newsletter, but in the meantime, I hope that these reflections spark something within you - whether that's a new idea, a novel perspective, or just the motivation to reflect as we wind down the year.

1. What Went Well This Year?

Let’s start with the good.

Writing Consistently. Looking back at old journal entries is a raw & revealing process. But after reading through every entry from this past year, I’m happy with 1) how much I journaled and 2) how I utilized writing to prepare for big events. The simple practice of writing out how I feel in the moment and/or how I want to feel in the future was/is fundamental for building emotional health & intentionality.

In May, I published my first Medium article– The 4 Lessons Learned From My Last Two and a Half Years Podcasting. Writing on Medium had been a goal of mine for years, yet perfectionism held me back from hitting the Publish button. Although the article has only been viewed 24 times, facing my fears and sharing an article online showed me that it's possible and encouraged me to continue writing publicly, which I plan to do, consistently, in 2023.

Around the same time, I launched the Discover More Health Newsletter - an effort I describe as “a creative container where we can collectively dive into our curiosities, learn from one another, and redefine what a healthier future can look & feel like.” Since its inception on May 5, 2022, I have published 27 newsletters and the subscriber count currently stands at 70. So if you’re reading this, I appreciate you deeply.

Deepening Into Relationship. I don’t usually like to share publicly about my romantic relationship because it’s something close to my heart. Yet, upon reviewing my journal entries & pictures from the past year, I realized I’d be remiss to not mention the incredible partnership I’m building with Nadine Clopton.

Relationships are by no means easy. For the past 16 months, we’ve been doing long(ish) distance, which has been an exercise and teacher when it comes to communication, collaboration, and patience. At the same time, though, I'm learning that relationship can be a transformational container for exploration and growth. In 2022, we went to three weddings in the course of a month, traveled to Colorado & North Carolina together, played lots of music, and ate some of the best meals of my life– farm to table, for the win.

Honestly, I’m shocked by & proud of how conscious our relationship is and is becoming. We support & love each other in ways that bring the best out of one another, and we navigate conflict with effectiveness & compassion. Questions like, “How would you like to be supported?” and “how can I show up better?” are commonplace and I am confident in saying that I am becoming a better man because of this partnership. Much gratitude.

Taking Risks In the Pursuit of Alignment. At the beginning of this year, I was only three months into a position as a Sr. Financial Analyst at the largest health insurance provider in Philadelphia. The company is focused on building health equity in the city (a topic I care deeply about), and the job itself was pretty easy. I could complete my job responsibilities in roughly 20 hours/week, which granted me the time & energy to pursue my passions outside of work. But the work itself though was far from stimulating or fulfilling.

In May, I was introduced to the CFO of Gardyn, a start-up focused on reimagining the food system through at-home hydroponic gardening. When I first heard about the company, I was shocked that I’d never heard of it - it seemed like a dream come true. Their AI-driven hydroponic technology supports fresh produce, healthy habits, and sustainable living - a few of my favorite concepts. Alignment had arrived.

Over the summer, I decided to leave my comfy healthcare job to pursue this fast-paced startup, a decision that was difficult at the moment and has created some challenging weeks these past six months. Yet, taking a step back, I recognize that it’s for the best.        I want to be co-creating the new paradigm rather than contributing to the old.

As outlined in his book “Food Fix,” Mark Hyman reveals the food system is at the root of nearly all the world’s problems - obesity, mental health, chronic disease, environmental harm, and food access, just to name a few. I am excited about reimagining a new food system and committed to working towards a future in which we all have the ability to eat healthier food in a sustainable way.

Selling My First Business. This newsletter was born from my work as co-host of the Discover More Podcast. In March, I realized the mission to educate & empower listeners could no longer transcend the challenges I had working with my business partner. So, as much as I loved podcasting, I stepped down from my position and sold my half of the company.

While I still miss podcasting & the creative outlet it gave me, I now recognize the growth & lessons it provided. I learned how to build a brand vision, conduct engaging interviews, and create content that provides value. Although it’s no longer mine, I am grateful for the Discover More Podcast, the many conversations that I co-created, and the friends & memories I made along the way.

Walking 30 Miles in Silence. After first hearing endurance athlete Colin O’Brady describe the 12 Hour Walk, I knew it was something I had to try. Created by O'Brady and available to anyone, the 12-Hour Walk involves exactly that - going outside and walking for 12 hours, without the use of technology. You can take as many breaks as you want, the only rules are staying outside and off technology.

So on Sunday, August 28, I set out with no phone service, music, or podcasts. It was just me, myself & my thoughts. Over the course of the 12 hours, I walked from Bethlehem to Easton, PA, and back again. Just over 30 miles. The experience was incredibly difficult, but strangely enjoyable, and the time in solitude helped me integrate some ideas that were on my mind at the time. Here's the newsletter I wrote about the experience.

2. What Didn’t Go So Well This Year?

Alright, now for the not-so good.

Running. One of my biggest goals for 2022 was running a sub-4 hour marathon. After running a 4:28 in Philadelphia last year, I figured working with a coach and incorporating some speed work into my training would do the trick. But six weeks out from the race, my body gave me a clear as day signal to sit this one out. 

Instead, I opted to run the Philadelphia Half Marathon, setting out to set a PR of sub-1:50. When the chilly morning race came, I ran hard, but still came up short, running a 1:53:12. Could I have trained harder? Probably. Throughout the fall, I played in a soccer league every Saturday morning, which made scheduling long runs extremely difficult. My body was not recovering enough. But did I enjoy this time spent playing soccer with friends more? For sure. Heading into 2023, I’m reorienting my relationship with fitness & sports around the following questions: 

• Why am I taking part in the exercise modalities that I am? 

• What is the feeling that I’m after with exercise?

• How might I maximize the results I’m after, while minimizing the effort? 

Sacrificing Social Relationships. Since starting my new job, I’ve had way less free time than I was anticipating. Work hours are rigorous and things pop up out of nowhere, regularly. This seems to be the nature of startups. Adjusting to this new pace & responsibility has been a challenge for me, and unfortunately, spending time with friends & family has been one of the main things that have been sacrificed in the process.

Reflecting on this year, I realized that more than 80% of this year’s best moments were spent with other people. The power of friendship & shared experiences is real. One thing is for sure– leaning into friendships, building relationships (new & old), and finding community will be my primary intentions for the year to come.

Making Simple Mistakes. I have made a ton of mistakes during my first few months working at Gardyn. Experiencing a learning curve is one thing, but many of these mistakes were the result of working too fast and/or forgetting to check my work.

Taking ownership of my mistakes has allowed me to see the through-lines of what I was missing, while developing processes within my workflows will limit the chances for future mistakes. The lesson here, work & otherwise, is always take a step back & observe. See if it makes sense. See if it feels right.

Wasting Time. One of my favorite quotes is John Lennon’s, “Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted.” The productivity-minded Enneagram 3 in me always tries to keep that in mind. This year though, I spent a lot of time scrolling Instagram & watching YouTube - two things that aren’t productive nor do I enjoy. These were both places for procrastination. Procrastinating has been a problem for me since high school, but it becomes more notable when there’s more complexity to life than school & sports. This upcoming year, I’m committing to using my time more wisely by building systems to effectively manage it.

3. What Did I Learn?

I learned a lot in 2022. Some of these lessons were fun to learn, but many were not. Here are some of the main takeaways.

Less Expectations, More Engagement: During the 12-Hour Walk, mentioned above, I realized that I’m happiest when I’m engaged with life. Engaged, meaning, feeling naturally drawn to something and taking action towards it. The walk, for example, was filled with moments of engagement. Radical presence.

Expectation, on the other hand, is widely considered "the thief of joy." With expectations, we may feel satisfied, but we rarely experience more than that. We cannot feel true excitement or joy when we expect things to happen because we saw it coming. In that way, expectation limits our capacity to feel & experience.

Just as Expectation Closes Us, Engagement Opens Us.

Events Are Neutral Until Perspective Is Applied. This one has been a game-changer for me since hearing Julie Piatt articulate it in an interview with Rich Roll, her husband and one of my favorite podcasters. It’s a simple concept with the understanding that the same exact event can take on two entirely different meanings, depending on your mood or circumstance. For example, the same Uber ride could be the best thing in the world (because the driver played music you enjoy) or devastating (because all you wanted is peace & quiet). Nothing about the Uber ride itself is different, but your perspective determines whether you have a positive or negative experience.

In short, We Create the Meaning in Our Lives. Let's Create Accordingly. 

Refinement is the Path to Continuous Evolution. In February, I FaceTimed my 95-year-old Aunt Grace and asked her how she would describe her life philosophy. She taught yoga & meditation at Esalen for decades, hosted Alan Watts for Easter, and fasted 60 days for her 60th birthday— so I figured she’d have some wisdom to share. Her response was simple but profound: life is an ongoing refinement process. She describes the refinement process as “doing what I was drawn to,” following her “inner knowing,” and “getting rid of” what no longer serves. I used to think of refinement as a process of improvement. But now, I understand it to be a practice of experimenting & clearing space for deeper alignment.

The concept of alignment can sound complex & even vague, but it’s relatively simple. Alignment, in my experience, is a way of being. A way of living in representation of our values. When we honor & act in accordance with what we value, often, we create a life that feels good. Refinement is the process that continuously brings us deeper into alignment and personal evolution.

4.  Some Quotes I Meditated On:

• “How you change the world is by how you see the world.” Paul Selig

• “The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.” William James

• “Your healing is the greatest message of hope for others.” Julia Cameron

• “A genius is the one most like himself.” Theloneous Monk

• “Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness.” Eckhart Tolle

• “The only response to outrageous pain is outrageous love." Marc Gafni

• "This is the real secret of life - to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play." Alan Watts

5. Photos of the Year:

6. Music of the Year:

In 2022, I attended 6 concerts, including, John Mayer, Trevor Hall, Coldplay, ODESZA, Dave Matthews Band, and Andy McKee. 

Ever since 2019, I've created an annual playlist with my favorite music that was released during the year. These playlists are shown below for your exploration & enjoyment.

I appreciate you reading.

Next week, I'll be sharing more about the concept of the Compass Question, and what mine is for 2023.

If you feel called, send me a message - what were your biggest wins, losses, and lessons from 2022?

Wishing you & your family a happy New Year.

Much love,

Aidan