Was 2022 the best year yet? A half truth: Friday’s with Filar #008

As we head into a major holiday weekend and less than 10 days remaining in the year, people around the globe will begin to reflect on the 2022. Was 2022 a good year, bad year, average year, or the greatest year of all time? 

For those who have been reading my weekly blogs, I usually divide them up into sections - with the core segment being called ‘The Main Idea’.

But todays main idea is so fascinating for me to write about, that Im devoting the entire blog to it. 

So… was 2022 the best year ever? 

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My assumption when people look back on this year, is that it was finally the year we broke away from Covid. Yes - it still is out there. And Yes it is still impacting people around the globe. But we definitely returned to a state where people got back to their old habits - traveling once again, seeing friends and family of all ages, not wearing masks, etc etc. 

I think this was a huge milestone for us. There was a lot of built up anxiety and stress with the pandemic that this year people pulled themselves away from that. There was less debate with your co workers on right and wrong but more conversation around what you were doing on the weekend again. 

But that wouldn’t make this the best year ever. So what about technological advances? To try and bring humans closer together, Meta spent over 10 BILLION dollars on VR this year. For anyone who listened to Zuck (autocorrect, his name is not Suck) speak at the Meta conference a couple months ago, this was a core takeaway for me - is the mission of facebook/meta is to bring people closer together through technology. Or I read a blog that 3D printing organs, specifically bladders, had a number of successful operations this year 👀

Or how about bigger companies are getting further involved in web3 and finding function in NFTs to connect with their consumers. Nike builds dotswoosh in hopes of creating a new community experience to give you the opportunity to co create the future of Nike. Or Starbucks releasing their NFT loyalty plan just a couple months ago. 

Or just good things around humanity include the first woman lead referee at the World Cup, the first person of color heads up British government, or a Burger King employee who never missed a day in 27 years received 270k in donations from his daughter who set up a gofundme.

But Dave, youre just talking about other people or business successes - none of this has anything to do with me.

And you’re right. That still wouldn’t make it the best year ever for you or us. So how do we define if this was the best year or not? In my opinion, as I get older, it always comes down to one thing - do I have my health, and does it remain in good tact with consistency throughout the year. 

Personally speaking, if that’s my only defining factor then yes, I had an unbelievable year. But if were talking health from a global perspective, Im under-educated to make a statement if its in a better place than where it was a year ago. 

For the select number of people who actually read this, I even dug up my goals I wrote down at the beginning of the year.

The ones blocked out are not for the worlds eyes, yet. 

So how did I stack up? 

• No one from my family passed away

• My parents are still relatively healthy

• I ate (moderately) healthy all year round

• I put in over 600 miles running this year

• I traveled to two new countries - Portugal and Slovakia (thats my minimum each year)

• I took a leap of faith into start up land and joined Endstate after leaving an amazing brand after almost 8 years. And I fucking love this new job.

• I tried a lot of new things - embroidery, painting a mural, spray painting, new foods, etc etc

But I also failed at some - didnt run an iron man, didnt make a video every day (although I did 75 days straight), and didnt learn to meditate.

And overall, Im stoked with how the year went. But there’s always two sides to the story. And this blog is here to showcase that.

THE HALF TRUTH: 

I struggled a lot this year.

Its easy to write this blog and focus on the highlights. But I (and a lot of others) don’t write nearly enough about the struggles. I tend to block them out with a positive perspective. And I believe in that strategy - it works. 

But it shouldn’t be dismissive of the real-ness that we all as humans face. I hate that most people don’t share what’s really going on inside (definitely myself included in that). And thats even with me being wildly public on most social platforms on the day today. I just never share any deep down personal info.

So here’s some insight:

• This year I spent a lot of time alone.

• I fill my days to capacity so I dont have to sit alone.

• No amount of work that I do is enough for me and it drives me mad.

• Ive burnt out more times this year than in the past.

• People told me I work too much, way too much.

• I’ve been jealous a lot this year - and compared myself to others alot. (I got better in the second half of the year for sure)

• I lost a lot of ‘friends’ in my job transition

• I still haven’t found a meaningful personal relationship

• I still haven’t found peace in life. 

So my goals for 2023 will include a lot of the above - or counterbalancing the points above. Theres a lot to work on. Theres a lot to improve. But thats why we live - to constantly get better at this beautiful journey.

I seriously wish you all the healthiest, happiest, most joyful holiday weekend ahead. If anyone ever needs anything - you can always reach out.

With that:

See you next Friday.

Good things.

DF