Best Things of the Year 2024

That time of year has arrived, the days after Christmas when time feels like it has lost all meaning and no one knows what day it is. Isn’t it the best? These “nothing days” feel like a gift in themselves, a rare stretch of time where you have the luxury to choose: fill them with everything, or nothing at all.

Normally, we would have a list of things to get done, household improvements, a few gardening projects, or maybe heading away for a bit. But this year, we’re giving ourselves permission to do nothing.

Well, trying to. Turns out, doing nothing is actually really hard. There is this nagging guilt that sneaks in, telling you something productive should be happening. I have been making an effort to do as little as possible, but I still catch myself lopping branches off trees or cleaning out the garage when I should be relaxing.

Maybe doing nothing does not have to mean sitting still all day but instead giving yourself space to just be, without guilt, without a todo list. It is not about the absence of activity but about letting go of the pressure to always achieve something. And honestly? That is a lot harder than it sounds.

Still, these quiet days are the perfect chance to reflect on the year that has been, its highs, lows, and everything in between.

Work

Work had an interesting year. Being at the University of Canberra as a contractor, life was pretty good. Things were really ramping up for the Digital Master Plan decadal strategy, and I was regaining my confidence in the workplace. I found myself doing some interesting work, helping to address some of the university’s bigger problems around student and staff experience, and diving into the nitty gritty of it all. I was surrounded by great people, building strong working relationships, and things were just clicking.

When I was made permanent in July, it felt like everything had fallen into place, an interesting job where I felt I could make a real impact, the chance to develop new skills, a role that fit perfectly with a busy family life, and it was close to home. It was near perfect. I was on my way to really establishing myself as a key member of the team. It was great.

But then October came. A new interim vice chancellor, Stephen Parker, was appointed, a respected figure brought back to “save” the university. I had no idea things were bad, but when the town hall meeting announced job cuts, I felt that all too familiar anxiety creep in. It triggered memories of losing a job in 2023 and the exhausting, never ending job hunt that followed.

I got to work straight away, reaching out to my network to see what was out there. It was probably premature, but I could not face the idea of heading into Christmas without a job. Not again.

Fortunately, the job market seemed much better than in 2023, and I soon found myself in promising conversations with recruiters. Before long, I had a couple of interviews lined up. One was for a product manager role with Allhomes.com.au, which sounded like the perfect fit. However, the first question in the second interview saw me come undone, it was a marketing based question, and I don’t have much experience in that area. I think the rest of the interview went well, and I enjoyed the line of questioning, but it was clear I wouldn’t get the job. And honestly? I’m good with that.

The other interview was much quicker, over in about 30 minutes. It was for a business analyst role in the Australian Public Service. Not my dream job, but it seemed like a better option than staying on the sinking ship at UC. I secured the role, which is great, although it’s a contract position, so there’s not much security. Then again, my recent experience with “permanent” roles has made me question how permanent they really are.

I’m three weeks in, and so far, it’s OK. I think there’s a lot of opportunity for improvement, and I’m hopeful I can have some influence. It’s not the perfect role, but for now, it’s a step forward and that feels good.

Running

I didn’t get to the gym as much as I would have liked, but signing up for the Kosciuszko Ultra Trail 50 earlier in the year pushed me to focus on running. I probably should have followed some kind of structured training plan, but instead, I cobbled something together by looking online, asking ChatGPT, and just running.

This year, I ran more than I ever have, surpassing 1,300 km, an increase of over 600 km from last year. Most of that happened in the second half of the year. Running for Resilience started up a UC run, which worked really well while I was still at UC, and I hope it continues in 2025. I also ran a lot with my bro in law and his mates, doing awesome long runs around Canberra. Running really is such a great way to explore places you’d never normally go.

Highlights included my first road marathon with Benny (

Energy

) and

Singh

as part of the Sunday Sippers 100km fundraiser for Running for Resilience, and Nedd’s Uncomfortable Challenge, where I ran 10km every day for 10 days and raised just under $1,000 for Mobilise, a charity helping the homeless. Doing that while single parenting was intense, but with all the support I received, I couldn’t let people down.

I also hit some personal bests this year at a few races: a couple of Sri Chinmoy events, the Canberra Times half marathon, and the ReBoot Bermagui 15km race with Ben (which included a brutal beach section). The whole ReBoot Bermagui weekend was amazing, it’s packed with activities for everyone, and I’d highly recommend it for next October!

The main event of my running year, though, was the Kosciuszko Ultra Trail 50. I completed it in 8 hours and 31 minutes, so achingly close to my 8:30 goal. The bottleneck in the first 7–10 km probably cost me that minute, but over a 50km race, I’ll take it! It feels like this race is becoming my annual big event, and I’m already thinking of signing up again for 2025. Maybe I’ll even follow a training plan next time... or maybe not!

The most important part of all this is that I am absolutely loving running. It’s not just about the races or the distances, it’s about the connections I’m making, spending time outside, exploring and proving that I’m more capable that what I ever thought.

Connections

This year has been a wonderful mix of reconnecting with old friends and forming new relationships. It’s reminded me how important it is to nurture the people in my life.

I had a great BBQ with my Canberra family, which was such a good time. I also caught up with the Wollongong crew and made plans to spend a weekend there in January, something I’m really looking forward to that.

On the other side of the world, I’ve reconnected with my cousin in Germany. His daughter is moving to the Gold Coast for a year on exchange, which is such an amazing opportunity. I’m excited about the chance to strengthen that relationship and we’re making plans for her to come and visit Canberra.

Next on my list is connecting with the family in Greece. It’s something that’s been on my mind for a while, and it feels like the right time to make it happen. It’s well overdue, and it’s a part of my life that I need to put effort into, especially now that my Dad isn’t here to manage it. Keeping that connection alive feels more important than ever, not just for me but also for my kids. I think it’s important for them to know that they have family over there, to understand that part of their heritage, and to feel connected to where we come from.

One of the highlights of my year was definitely the DJ gig. Everything just came together perfectly, and I had an absolute ball. It felt amazing to be back in that space, doing something I love.

I’m also lucky to be part of an amazing group that keeps me motivated and mindful. It’s easy to slip into autopilot, but being surrounded by such intentional and grounded people reminds me to stay present and focused on what really matters.

And then there’s the kids. Honestly, they’re just the best. They’re such great little humans, and spending time with them is endlessly fun. Whether we’re out exploring or just hanging at home, they remind me how much joy there is in the simple things.

As I look back on all these connections: friends, family and my own little crew, it’s clear how much they’ve shaped my year I feel so lucky to have these incredible people in my life, and I’m excited to see how these relationships grow in the year ahead.

On the whole, I’m really happy with how things are. I’m living a life I genuinely enjoy. How good is that?