2025 Year in Review - "Become"
“We cannot become what we want by remaining what we are”
Transitioning into another year, I took some time in December to reflect on all that happened in 2025.
For me, a lot of this year was about increasing capacity and patience. Becoming more of what Dr. Becky calls “sturdy”- a sturdy parent, leader, partner. Building resilience. Here’s a snapshot of what 2025 brought:
The Highlights – What Went Well
This year I celebrated turning 36, my wife and I celebrated 11 years of marriage, our daughter turned 5 and started kindergarten. We grew to a family of 4, with the arrival of Sophie. Here are some highlights that stand out:
Personal
We welcomed Sophie Aurelia into the world! What a crazy ride it’s been becoming a girl dad for the second time!
We welcomed another niece into the family, with Emma arriving this year. What an amazing experience to welcome these beautiful girls only a month apart!
Celebrated my dad turning 60!
I got out to many concerts, including Apocalyptica, BFMV & Trivium, AC/DC, Sleep Token & Psychedelic Crumpets. Also went to my first show at the Rickshaw.
I got to go skiing again- I also tried kickboxing & climbing this year.
Enjoyed a fun golf tournament
Finally got a paddleboard, and had some awesome adventures with Maddie
Maddie started kindergarten! Seeing how much she learns every day has been an amazing experience.
Started a tattoo project inspired by the girls, with a Sun/Moon Goddess theme.
Mostly local travel this year, with trips to Kelowna, Victoria, Calgary, Seattle & Great Wolf Lodge.
BookMark reached 100 months in a row- My 5 favourites from the year:
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Augustus by John Williams
The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness, and Greed by John Vaillant
The Masked Rider by Neil Peart
Tunnel 29: The True Story of an Extraordinary Escape Beneath the Berlin Wall by Helena Merriman
Business
PlaceMark grew through its first full year. There are pros and cons to being out on your own, but overall I’ve been thrilled with the progress this year.
Grew LinkedIn followers to 14,070+
Went to a few events, including Vancouver Startup Week, Web Summit and the TINY meeting in Victoria.
Health
Biked 3,004 KM’s! In last year’s review, I realized how close I was to the 3K mark, and made it a goal to track it more closely this year. There were points I wasn’t sure I’d make it with the string of rainy days at the end, but I got there eventually.
Biked up to Whistler in the Gran Fondo- my 4th ride up there. It ended up being a really smoky day, but the company at the end made it all worth it! This was the first year we stayed up there overnight, which was a nice treat.
What Didn't Go Well This Year
Challenges that come up throughout the year tend to be difficult to recall (you don’t usually take photos of the bad times). That being said, each year inevitably has it's hard times and setbacks. The main ones that come to mind from 2025 are:
My Grandma passed away in March, and both Madeline and I got intensely sick after the funeral.
There was a particularly crazy & challenging period right after Sophie’s birth, trying to close on our first home during back to back weeks of conferences.
Flat tires on both the car & bike were a frustration at different points.
Parenting has its many challenges, and lack of sleep was not easy.
What's Next – What I'm Looking Forward To In 2026
The word I’ve chosen to guide me through 2026 is Energy. We are still putting shape and definition around what the year ahead looks like, but energy management is something I really want to focus on. David Senra (Founders Podcast) talks about how “the great founders obsess over their energy levels the way athletes obsess over their training. They protect it. They optimize for it. They build their entire lives around it.”
I have some specific revenue targets with PlaceMark that I’m aiming for. I plan on remaining consistent with gym time and mobility work. There are a lot of things that will demand my attention and energy.
When training for my Ironman last year, I mentioned the concept of Misogi, a practice where one undertakes a challenging task once a year that is so difficult it has the ability to change you (this one event in the calendar informs the way you live the other 364 days of the year). I’m still looking to define what that will be in 2026, and I look forward to reflecting on it at the end of the year.
A few of the things I’m looking forward to in 2026:
Owning & moving into our first home
Concerts, including Ghost, Megadeth, Lamb of God and more
Skiing in Whistler
The Thomson wedding
More paddleboard adventures with Madeline
Cycling- after the 3K mark this year, I intend to be less goal-oriented and just enjoy the rides
Tofino trip? Other travel still to be confirmed
I was about to write “quality time” with my girls- but this quote from Jerry Seinfeld came to mind:
“I don’t want quality time. I want the garbage time. That’s what I like. You just see them in their room reading a comic book and you get to kind of watch that for a minute, or having a bowl of Cheerios at 11 o’clock at night when they’re not even supposed to be up. The garbage, that’s what I love”
Give me the “garbage time”, the everyday mundane moments. Saying yes, let’s read that book, let’s go to the park, let’s dance. Let’s sit and enjoy being alive together. I’m looking forward to walks to school, coffee dates, quiet weekend mornings, first steps. Here’s to entering 2026 with a ton of excitement and energy!
I started 2026 the same way I did last year- with a “polar bear plunge” in the Pacific Ocean!