Yearly Takeaways Legacy

At the start of 2025, I changed the format of Yearly Takeaways so each annual entry has its own post. However since the activity only started in 2015, learnings from prior years are captured here but after the fact.

Last Updated: 2025-01-01

2014: ???

…

2013: Most Solutions are Simply Obvious

I was miserable. After countless failures and difficult choices, I finally succeeded but with success, comes anxiety of new failures and difficult choices. My body was breaking down; I may have been puking out my insides! I sought professional help. I can’t remember her name I did remember, it was Dr Tamara Hartl but just from one session, I was put on the path to recovery. Somewhere in that one session, I took this away: you have to do what makes you happy, if you want to be happy.

It’s pretty obvious, right? To achieve any goal, you must work towards it. Duh! And just like goals, to be in a specific state, you must perform steps to get into that state. No need to overthink it. Most solutions are like that. If you are in trouble, obviously seek help.

2012: You can get what you want and still be unhappy

2012 was a year where I achieved so many “life goals” and earned things that I always wanted or thought would make me happy. Yet I was not happy.

Some of those accomplishments manifested in ways I did not expect, often with results that had negligent or even negative impact. Your dreams can come true; just not in the way you might expect them.

2011: Don’t Question your Motivation; Use it!

I tweeted this back in 2011 and it still holds true for me today. If you’re suddenly motivated to do something beneficial, just do it…even if the motivation is shallow or otherwise questionable. Use the energy it grants and get the results.

2010: ???

…