2024 in Review
As the year winds down, I’m left marveling at how utterly bonkers it’s been. Work, in particular, has been a rollercoaster—one of those rickety ones where you’re not sure if you’re thrilled or just holding on for dear life. Raising alarms only to be told, “It’s my company, my risk, just do it,” has been the recurring theme. Collaboration? More like a solo act with an audience politely pretending to clap.
And don’t get me started on all the talk of diversity and inclusion—buzzwords that sound great but feel emptier than my inbox on a Friday afternoon. Honestly, 2024 has been the year of pretending. Pretending to care, pretending to collaborate, pretending it all makes sense. Spoiler: it doesn’t.
Here’s to hoping 2025 dials down the drama and brings a little more honesty—and maybe fewer meetings that could’ve been emails.
Being Human: Beyond Therapy Talk
We live in a time where words like “boundaries,” “triggers,” and “emotional labour” have become part of everyday conversations—a testament to breaking the stigma around mental health. But has this progress come with a cost? Too often, therapy language is wielded not to heal but to deflect, shifting blame or shutting down others. And in the rush to embrace vulnerability, we’ve developed a troubling habit of dismissing pain we don’t deem “real enough.”
The truth is, pain isn’t up for debate. Nor is there a one-size-fits-all formula for a meaningful life. With over 7 billion people on this planet, how could there be? What’s meaningful for one—working tirelessly to build a better future, chasing personal dreams, or embracing a quiet life—might not resonate with another. And that’s okay.
As Nietzsche said, “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” Our paths are as unique as our struggles, and the journey isn’t about judging others or competing over whose pain matters more. It’s about finding connection, giving grace, and, as Jim Carr wisely put it, learning to enjoy the passage of time.