Starting a parenting journey leaves little time for much else. For us, 2018 was a lot about learning to be parents, and looking after self.
I recently attended a conference where I had the privilege to listen to Sir Richard Branson speak. He talked about how the key to success is all about being able to prioritize and find a balance, and the way he manages it is through the concept of circles. He said you start first by drawing a circle around yourself, because if you can’t look after yourself, you can’t look after anything else. When everything is fine inside your circle, you can start widening it to include family and friends; then around work and your community, and then around your neighbourhood, city, country, then eventually the world.
I felt some solace after listening to him as I was feeling the guilt of not really starting anything beyond myself and my family since we launched this blog. Perhaps my circle isn’t ready to widen yet. Perhaps it’s an excuse, I don’t know.
One small thing I did start, was writing for Triple Pundit. A certified B-Corporation, Triple Pundit is a global media platform that covers the intersection of people, planet and profit under the belief that business can be a powerful force for good. They publish articles on topics ranging from global water and energy challenges to social justice and economic equality, sustainable food to corporate social responsibility, and much more. Those interested can read my articles here.
I also wrote a piece on e-Estonia for Overture, a magazine that discusses how technology can better humanity. Getting these two gigs was a big deal for me and reignited my joy of writing. They also made me read into the depth on topics like financial inclusion, water sanitation, blockchain, reforestation, and biomimicry, to name a few – and I feel slightly wiser for it.
So, all-in-all, 2018 was a productive year. No idea what this year will bring. I hope you stay connected.