Once a week, I like to take a trip back through my phone camera pictures and see if there is enough cool stuff to aggrandize for a lifestyle post. Today I look back on the year that was 2023.
Each year, I savor the end of the year and think about the many challenges, and often lament on the notion that I have not made as much progress in certain areas that I planned to. Must be a generational thing but I find it really helps to cherish the happiness in moments past as well as prepare for the best year ever.
There was Winter
It is funny to look back on Zekelies from January of last year and see a bit of foreshadowing for what this Jan will be like. Plenty of snow and outdoors, parks and dogs having the time of their life. This was a New Year's resolution made last year and I made it a point to get the little dood out to the forest once a day if I could.
I have dozens of shots from this exact spot and I resolve to turn them all into that 4-seasons slideshow I have been teasing a while. That and spend some time here daily whenever we can swing it.
Let there be FOOD!
When you are in the business with restaurants as clients, there are generally plenty of opportunities throughout the year to enjoy some pretty fantastic food. One of my favourite places this year has evidently Revival House and these sliders and skewers were a divine addition to our grand opening.
This was a couple months before the first shot when I was invited to a menu tasting for staff and critics. Reminds me I used to have plenty of fun reviewing restaurant visits when
@tasteem was a thing.One more food post because I love Indian food and that of one of my most delicious clients https://rajastratford.ca/ Besides that, this wonderful meal is one donated to a family in need through the local multicultural association https://maph.ca Charity and food blogging are definitely among my new years resolutions.
Jiu Jitsu
Only long time followers who have been paying attention would know I am a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. This is because I have pretty much taken the year off to pour my money and time into building a business. Shitty excuse I know and I think daily how much I miss working with the team and staying active in the coolest way I have ever known.
Despite my hiatus, I had the chance to spend a week training and partying with these black belts and another 50 other people on a cruise in early summer. Legends and friends I am privileged to know.
Despite my change of focus, I have the honour of being the dad to a blue belt in BJJ, and that is fantastic enough. What is even better is that she has continued to train during my year away and is actually paying for her own membership. Besides that, she has not only mustered the courage to compete in regional tournaments, she had earned medals, and has fought against the world champion at blue belt. Not many people can claim to have trained 8 years in BJJ by the age of 17. Even fewer have competed and a small segment of that exclusive crowd can claim to have fought against a world champion!
Despite an off year, I have re-upped my membership, will begin training again this week. and have a resolution to get back and stay training with forever in my vision.
The sun may have gone down on an eventful 2023 but I have plenty more highlights to share during this mercifully slow start to the year. I hope your 2023 was full of victories and failures that will lead to more wins this year!