My year of distress + transformation

"I’m so glad I didn’t get what I thought I wanted"

Hello!

If this feels like I’ve ripped Emily Sundberg’s selfie-at-the-beginning-of-every-letter-idea, it’s because I have

Wowee. We made it. Somehow, we bloody made it.

I’m in Australia at the moment. And I seemed to have forgotten how fast the days fly by in the lead-up to the Christmas shutdown period. I, somehow, workwise had never been busier. I entirely underestimated how difficult it would be to get it all done.

But alas, we’re here. We made it.

I’m taking 3 weeks off work for a restorative holiday break. And 2 weeks off Substack so I can completely immerse myself in my summer holiday. I’m very excited for it. I know it’s exactly what I need.

As such, this is my final letter of 2024. It’s been such a pleasure bringing you my thoughts each week. I’m so appreciative of this little community we’re creating, and thank you for your acceptance, encouragement and understanding as I have navigated what has been some really challenging but evolutionary months. (Mmmm this time of year makes me so sappy!)

This letter was born out of my desire to re-connect and express myself after closing the door on a major chapter of my life. I had just wound down my first business. I was looking for myself again.

I was having this conversation with another founder a few days ago. They have a very prominent, very cool company here in Australia. The kind everyone wants to work for. The kind that seems to just be “killing it” online.

They were on the brink of burnout. We lamented how easy it is to loose yourself in business. How natural it is put your clients ahead of your growth. Your team ahead of your peace. The bottom line ahead of your happiness.

I absolutely did this with my first business.

In the middle of this year, I decided to reclaim my joy again. The first step towards this was deciding to close the business. The second was moving to London. The third was… starting this letter.

I didn’t know where it would end up (in fact, I still don’t). But I knew that writing and sharing in this way made me happy. Writing each week makes me feel self-expressed. Connected to something greater. It’s something I plan to continue to do for a long while. Thank you for joining me on the ride.

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24 things I learnt in 2024

Some kind of end of year reflection

In light of this time of the year, I thought I’d share 24 lessons I learnt in 2024 across work & career, relationships, friendships & love, relationship to self, money, and ageing.

Let’s dive right in.

1. You can only push so much. At some point, you have to sit back and receive.

2. No amount of work will dictate an outcome. If it’s meant for you, it will happen. If it’s not meant for you, it won’t.

3. Just because something is delayed doesn’t mean it’s not coming.

4. Joy and play are the keys to creativity. Creativity is the key to solving problems. Solving problems is the key to business success.

5. Learn how to walk even when you don’t know where you’ll end up.

6. I’m so glad I didn’t get what I thought I wanted. Life right now is so much better.

7. People can change.

8. It’s not that you’re not right for each other. It’s just that you haven’t learnt how best to support them. And they haven’t learnt how best to support you.