MADE TO MOVE
🧭 Reflection Week 1 - Where Did I Go This Year?
This year didn’t start gently.
A wildfire burned just two miles from my house. My family evacuated, not knowing if we’d return to anything at all. At the same time, I had to let go of someone I cared deeply about, because feelings weren’t mutual.
Then, life expanded.
Traveled to Europe for the first time: France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Switzerland
Went back again to visit Ireland and Scotland
Explored new cities across California
Watched a historic 18-inning World Series game at Dodger Stadium
Hiked more
Got clearer on my goals
Forced myself to do hard things, even when I didn’t want to
Three Moments That Changed Me
Committing to, and finishing, a marathon
Starting Made to Move with a close friend
Watching people I loved get sick, losing a family friend to colon cancer, and growing apart from people I once held close
Fitness Win I’m Proud Of
Running a marathon, and building the habits that made it possible.
What Surprised Me
I can handle more than I think.
I used to quit early or get distracted. This year taught me that focus is a skill, and it’s trainable.
🧠 Reflection Week 2 - Travel and Growth
What New Environments Taught Me
I notice the little things more when everything is unfamiliar
Curiosity makes life richer
I take too much for granted at home
Asking for help is a strength, and kindness is more common than we think
Getting lost can be part of the magic
Where I Felt Most Alive
Denmark, Amsterdam, Switzerland, and Ireland. From the things I did, the people I met, and the lessons I learned, these places made me feel the most free during my travels.
Where I Was Forced to Grow
Ireland and Scotland.
That trip was a stack of stressors: delayed flights, 12+ hours of travel, jet lagged the entire time, trying to squeeze two days out of a place that deserved a week. Meeting a friend for the first time in person. Driving manual for the first time, on the opposite side of the road. Constant movement. Constant decisions.
It was anxious. It was exhausting. There were moments where it felt like everything could make me crash out.
But it didn’t.
I stayed steady. I problem-solved. I kept moving forward. And every challenge that showed up eventually worked itself out. Having the right travel buddy helped, but more than anything, that trip showed me I can stay calm in chaos.
Growth didn’t feel like confidence in those moments.
It felt like keeping my head when everything else felt loud.
Fitness Milestones
Movements that felt easier:
Starting again after stopping. Momentum comes faster than expected.
Disciplines that stuck, even when life got messy:
Running
Bodyweight workouts (push-ups, squats, pull-ups)
What I’m Proud I Started Doing for My Body:
Running consistently
Strength training
Improving my diet (including fasting once a week)
Life Lessons
A Hard-Earned Truth
You can’t count on anyone 100%. Accountability starts with you.
Also, closure is overrated.
A Mindset Shift
I became more protective of my time and energy, especially in business.
A Habit That Changed Everything
Running.
⏭️ Where I’m Headed
What I’m carrying into the next year
I’m carrying movement.
Not just physical, but forward.
I’m carrying curiosity into familiar places.
Consistency over intensity.
Systems over willpower.
Focus as a skill worth practicing daily.
I’m carrying the understanding that life will burn things down sometimes, but that doesn’t mean it’s ending. Sometimes it’s just clearing space.
Next year isn’t about becoming someone new.
It’s about continuing as someone more awake.
I don’t need certainty to move.
I just need momentum.
And that’s enough.
Until next time,
