And so beings a new month and a new chapter.
Today is a balmy -3c here in Yuzawa, Niigata. And after receiving over the last 7 days from the Snow God 👼1.5+ metres of fresh powder snow; yesterday finally, was blue skies and champagne skiing.
Whist I'm still settling over here (only 2.5 weeks ago in Sydney in 40c+) and been keeping myself busy with the finishing touches to the apartment. I'm now afforded luxury of time time to pause, ponder and plan.
2023 was a crazy year of doing the work; because of the external expectations I had placed on myself. All decisions important to me i.e. renovations, relocations, sale of business, finishing studies and overseas travel.
However we're now a month into 2024 I'm trying to find the balance between expectations I've placed on myself (my word for this year is Completion), guilt (because I'm doing what I'm passionate about whilst leaving others behind) and enjoying the moment (because that's all we really got anyway).
In short, re-asking what are my core values? And what choices do I need to make, so that I remain aligned (aspired) and in the flow (on path of least resistance) whist on this journey to create my own version of an ideal life.
As I mentioned in my Good Bad & Ugly Report 2023, my goal this year is to finish writing, publish and promote "Free Your Way". A holistic personal finance book, sharing insights, inspiration and strategies that I have discovered and applied personally on my own journey to financial independence and retiring early.
The good news is that this goal is also aligned to my core values i.e., peace/security, freedom/choices, personal growth/learning/sharing, acceptance/appreciation and fulfilment/love.
Lofty goals and new age goo aside, accountability and action is where the rubber meets the road. As the saying goes "an inch of action goes further than miles of good intentions". Hence this monthly newsletter serves both as my public progress bench marker and a motivator for me to keep doing the work!
On that note, the snow has just started "again" and I'm going to go enjoy an onsen to warm up followed by a 15 massage in the 100Y zero gravity massage chair 🥰
February Goals
Finish website conversion (old to new site)
Progress book (minimum 2 chapters)
Improve Japanese (written & spoken minimum 30 new words)
Complete Japan apartment renovations (re-wallpaper, splashback, stove, bathroom tap replace)
Improve stretching (to touch toes with legs straightened)
Book flights, accommodation itinerary (Philippines)
Finalise sale of business
What am I reading/watching/listening?
Value. What Money Can't Buy. A handbook of Practical Hedonism by Stephen Bayley
Billions. Netflix. Hard-driving U.S. Attorney Chuck Rhoades launches a withering investigation into billionaire Bobby Axelrod, a win-at-all-costs hedge fund manager.
Japanese Disco, Funk & Soul 1972-1987. Spotify Play List. Great for skiing⛷️ 🏂❄️🏔️