2019 Personal year in review - Theme: "Suck it up"

Introduction

2019 has been a rather challenging year for myself, family and friends. Normally, as I did last year, I would list the goals I had made for myself, then list the ones I had achieved, not achieved and changed. This was mostly technology related with a few exceptions. This year was different and as a result, this post will be a little different. However, it would be of little value to anyone if I didn't call out the learnings from the year, so that others may possibly benefit, relate or even be able to utilise in some way.

 

Technology

First and foremost, this is less about the technology. Tech has always been my interest, passion, skill in life but this year, it took a backseat for the most part. Still an important part, and I still love it, but a backseat nonetheless. To that end, I will list my general tech based goals, not the detailed list I usually come up with at the beginning of each year. These were:

  • Augmented reality / Mixed reality / Virtual reality
    • To me, this is exciting and a major growth area.
    • I certainly felt like I achieved this. I even managed to complete a VR version of my house to scale, and walked through it using my VR headset (this was a specific goal of mine)
  • Back to basics
    • Properly learning and creating things in PowerBI
      • Did this and created some reports I can re-use for company improvement metrics.
    • Some framework experience for the ones I had little exposure to.
      • Caught up on the latest react techniques for the most part.
  • Cloud
    • Google and AWS. I know Azure, but wanted to better know the others and get up to speed with the latest.
      • Completed an associate google cloud engineer course and am pretty happy with the learnings from that.
      • Also got into parts of AWS I had not touched before like "Athena" which showed me the good and bad of these AWS services.
  • Domain names
    • Wanted to aggregate the few I had into one provider which was pretty easily done but was just putting it off for this very reason for so long.
  •  Azure Cognitive Services

 

  • Things I listed but didn't do.
    • Blazor - do more than a hello world, small bit of learning, cursory type examination.
    • More on service mesh's.
    • Look at 'Parcel' and also look in detail at 'Flutter'

 

Context

Challenges

One of the main challenges this year was family/friends with cancer. One family member had 2 different types of cancer at the same time. One cancer was removed successfully and the other is also being treated with success. Another family member found cancer not so long ago, and went through some pretty painful chemotherapy before having a part of their body removed. Again a successful treatment.

Yet another family member had a part of their body removed due to cancer concerns, but luckily this proved non cancerous.

A family friend of over 40 years lost their battle with cancer and I attended their funeral on December 23rd, only a few days ago.

That is a lot of cancer related issues and it took a lot of mental, emotional and financial support to keep it all together. Continuing to be functional, to work, to provide stability, to assist and to keep positive.

My daughter was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and accepted it in her stride.

A friend lived with us for a while just to get back on their feet as they could not afford to live elsewhere

Another family member continued their battle with depression and anxiety, and smashed it out of the park in terms of achievements and going well and truly beyond their comfort zone so this is actually a massive positive but also was a challenge. There were quite a few mental health related challenges throughout this year for various people I know and in all cases, it is damn hard for them and those people who want to help.

The bushfires here in Australia have been horrendous. So many families affected, houses lost, people died, firefighters working tirelessly. It is currently over 40 degrees celsius outside with firefighters continuing to work to through this hell. I admire their efforts and am thankful they are doing what they do best. Everyone in Australia has been affected. Our national leaders are poor. This is listed not as my personal challenge but a nationwide one. I encourage you to at least donate to their cause.

 

Some nice positives

I was blessed with another 2 grandchildren this year, bringing the total to 5. I am slowly building my own consulting company through organic growth :-)

I mentioned a family member really working through their anxiety and depression issues to do something that is challenging for those without those afflictions, it made me proud and still does. It was a joy to see a massive difference from this same time last year. This was one of those times where years of working though things, have finally really shined through. This helped to validate the way we did things many years ago, when  we were so unsure of whether we are doing the right thing.

 

Unexpected wins

I worked with a team to create an augmented reality application that was showcased at the United Nations in August, which was an honour to be a small part of.That same application went on to become part of an exhibit at the Powerhouse museum, and is still there currently.

I did a talk on male mental health in November as part of Movember to raise awareness. However it was more about mental health in general and touched on people in my life whom have struggled in this capacity, 2 of which lost their battle with it and opted out of life, others are still struggling. This talk proved to be more important that I had ever realised and more difficult to deliver than I had anticipated. However, its potency and value were huge and I am glad I did it.

We put in place a detailed financial plan for our retirement. This included a Will, estimating our lifespan, and planning the finances accordingly (not so easy a task). We previously did investments in various ways just trying to get a portfolio that will reap benefits in the future. This time, we really identified the when, what, and how much of retirement with large accounting changes. Another start on a new campaign of our life.

 

What did I learn / conclusions.

There is so much more than this, some of it you learn like muscle memory more than words. However, here are some of the main points.

  • Sometimes, you have some bad times - just have to "Suck it up" and keep going.
  • The real challenges in life can take a long time - many years before bearing fruit or looking like you are making headway. Keep going. Tenacity is important as is belief.
  • All of this year made us/me tired - switching off was absolutely necessary. If you get good at that, your stamina for bad stuff increases by a large margin.
  • Tech stuff was secondary - still my passion but felt like I was fitting that in, between everything else. I became very good at maximising small amounts of time and not taking up all my spare time by "catching up in tech". Quality over quantity.
  • Software/tech fundamentals do not change and they are the key to building good systems. Not new frameworks, not Microservices, not monoliths, not service meshes, not containers. Learn the new tech and apply good fundamentals. Side note: The number of companies "doing microservices" just because is both funny and annoying. There have been many instances where this made things a hell of a lot worse, not better. This was not because of Microservices per se.
  • Cultivate good people and/or good situations. Remove the bad ones, avoid bad situations. This is for the benefit of you and your family.
  • Mental health - there is more of it than you realise. Asking "Are you ok" only has value if the question and intent have depth and are prepared for some shitty answers. Even helping those that are helping others, is still very valuable and massively helpful. Asking carers if they are ok is one way of helping.
  • As I write this, it is December 31, 2019 4:32pm. I went on holidays from work December 20th, and I have been sick ever since then, right up until now where I am still stick as a write this. This seems to reinforce the theme to just "Suck it up". Concentrate on what needs to be done and move on.

 

If you have read this far, thanks and I hope it has proved at least interesting, maybe even helpful. I hope you have a great year in 2020, see you there.

74 Comments

  • گریل یا همان دریچه ابرو بمنظور استفاده در رامپ پارکینگها ،کف آبراه موتور خانه ها ،بام ها،پوشش آبراه در ورودی شستشوی پارکینگ ها، تعمیر گاه ها ،کارواش ها، حیاط ها ، پمپ بنزین ها،پالایشگاه ها،اماکن ورزشی و تفریحی، اماکن اداری و تجاری ، آشپزخانه های صنعتی، بیمارستانها،کارخانه ها ، و دامداری ها و .... به کار می روند . اندازه و ابعاد گریل دریچه آبرو با عرض 15 و20 و 30 و 40سانتی متر می باشد .

  • Utilize one of our checked 11 Wayfair promotion codes and arrangements. Get up to half off furnishings, bedding and more with Wayfair voucher code.
    Visit: https://www.voucherpro.co.uk/wayfair.co.uk

  • Ista Polymer Sharif is a producer of water tanks in Tehran and other big cities such as Isfahan, Shiraz, Mashhad, Chabahar, as well as the history of manufacturing tanks in neighboring countries such as Afghanistan, Kabul, Iraq, Baghdad and Karbala. Tanks can be prefabricated and built on site according to customer needs. Depending on the needs of customers, water tanks may be constructed as groundwater source, air tanks, stair tanks, cubic, cylindrical, book and.. For water tank purchase guide and more information, you can refer to the page of each tank and get comprehensive information.

  • I write many post about cancer topic as a blog writer and this topic that is a lot of cancer-related concerns, and maintaining everything requires a lot of mental, emotional, and financial assistance. Maintaining your capacity to operate, perform, offer stability, help, and be optimistic

  • It's fantastic that you're offering such a useful resource at no cost to the users. I'm always happy to find a new blog that recognizes the importance of giving away useful information for free.

  • Can I say it is such a relief to discover somebody who truly knows what theyre preaching online? You actually have learned to bring a problem to light and make it crucial. More people should see this and can see this side of the story. I cant believe youre no more well-known simply because you definitely contain the gift.

  • Thanks for some other fantastic post. The place else may just anyone get that type of information in such an ideal method of writing? I have a presentation subsequent week, and I’m at the look for such information.

  • People having top class services are best and I wouldn't like the way you got it here. thanks

  • Hi,
    I really enjoyed reading your article and it's indeed good information you shared. I would definitely share it across my social media channels.
    Thanks for sharing this.

  • https://www.jarahonline.com/the-best-mammoplasty-doctor-in-tehran-cost-and-work-sample/

  • https://www.jarahonline.com/the-best-breast-lift-doctor-in-tehran-cost-and-work-sample/

  • Enjoy the sensation of luxuriously soft locks with a healthier shine that lasts. Your hair will feel incredibly touchable

  • Thank you for sharing such an informative and useful content as I was looking for this only. I'm surely going to bookmarked this one. Looking forward for more such articles.

  • Discover unbeatable rates on cheap car insurance in Toronto with Insurance Genie. Our team works tirelessly to find you budget-friendly coverage without compromising on quality. Get a quote today and experience peace of mind on the road.

  • 6Mushrooms, your trusted Toronto mushroom dispensary, invites you to embark on a journey of wellness. Immerse yourself in the therapeutic properties of our thoughtfully curated mushroom products, crafted for your overall well-being. From natural remedies to mood enhancers, each offering is a testament to our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. Experience the transformative power of mushrooms with 6Mushrooms – your destination for premium, health-focused products.

  • As August’s hot temperatures approach, it’s critical to understand the dangers of dehydration.

  • Diphtheria is caused by bacteria that cling to the lining of the respiratory system. These bacteria create a toxin that harms cells in your respiratory tissue.

  • You are sharing a really great and informative post.

  • After watching his mother battle breast cancer, Frank Raja saw the power of cannabis first hand, but wondered why no dispensary made it easy or enjoyable to access it thc gummies brisbane, thc gummies Australia. His initials being T.H.C. thc edibles canberra, it only felt natural for Frank to make the industry jump from construction to cannabis. Frank founded THC FRIENDLY in 2021 on a mission to provide the best, easiest, and most enjoyable cannabis experience to consumers in thc gummies canberra, weed gummies australia, weed gummies brisbane, thc edibles qld, thc gummies adelaide, delta 8 gummies australia, delta 9 gummies australia, australia thc gummies, thc gummies au,

    https://thcfriendlyclub.com

    https://thcfriendlyclub.com/thc-cart-australia/

  • After watching his mother battle breast cancer, Frank Raja saw the power of cannabis first hand, but wondered why no dispensary made it easy or enjoyable to access it thc gummies brisbane, thc gummies Australia. His initials being T.H.C. thc edibles canberra, it only felt natural for Frank to make the industry jump from construction to cannabis. Frank founded THC FRIENDLY in 2021 on a mission to provide the best, easiest, and most enjoyable cannabis experience to consumers in thc gummies canberra, weed gummies australia, weed gummies brisbane, thc edibles qld, thc gummies adelaide, delta 8 gummies australia, delta 9 gummies australia, australia thc gummies, thc gummies au,

    https://thcfriendlyclub.com

    https://thcfriendlyclub.com/thc-cart-australia/


  • As a cannabis user, we’re sure you are looking for high quality products buy edibles online legal that provide you with the effect that you like to enjoy. If you are looking for the best dispensary in Australia, then look no further than the team at The 420 daily high club. With over a decade of experience in providing our customers with a range of high quality products to cater to their way of life, we provide everything that you need to get the most out of your experience. We feature an outstanding range of THC edibles in Australia designed to cater to your unique way of life.weed delivery app australia, 420 near me, 420 delivery perth, buy weed melbourne, buy edibles online australia, buy weed online australia, edibles weed melbourne, weed delivery sydney, where to buy stiiizy pods near me, weed delivery melbourne, buy weed in melbourne.

    https://420dailyhighclub.com/product-category/cartridges/
    https://420dailyhighclub.com


  • As a cannabis user, we’re sure you are looking for high quality products buy edibles online legal that provide you with the effect that you like to enjoy. If you are looking for the best dispensary in Australia, then look no further than the team at The 420 daily high club. With over a decade of experience in providing our customers with a range of high quality products to cater to their way of life, we provide everything that you need to get the most out of your experience. We feature an outstanding range of THC edibles in Australia designed to cater to your unique way of life.weed delivery app australia, 420 near me, 420 delivery perth, buy weed melbourne, buy edibles online australia, buy weed online australia, edibles weed melbourne, weed delivery sydney, where to buy stiiizy pods near me, weed delivery melbourne, buy weed in melbourne.

    https://420dailyhighclub.com/product-category/cartridges/
    https://420dailyhighclub.com

  • When in need of transportation in Leamington Spa, rely on Taxi in Leamington Spa for convenient and reliable service. With a fleet of well-maintained vehicles and experienced drivers, we ensure prompt and safe journeys to your destination.

  • Visit Raiment61 for a classy assortment of men's pants available online in Pakistan. Explore elegant men's trousers that effortlessly combine comfort and elegance, from sporty men's chinos to adaptable cargo pants. Transform your wardrobe with classic items made for every situation.

  • GreenLight Group uses cutting-edge distributed energy and microgrid technologies to improve grid stability and energy security. They provide communities with dependable, resilient, and sustainable energy systems via the integration of cutting-edge technology, guaranteeing continuous electricity and promoting a more environmentally friendly future for all.

  • Transform your online presence with our expert web design services in Plano, TX! We create visually stunning, user-friendly websites tailored to your brand, driving traffic and boosting conversions. Partner with us for innovative designs that set your business apart.

  • Writing a graduate-level dissertation is a monumental challenge. Breathe easy - let the native PhD writers from My Assignment Help lift that burden off your shoulders. Get an expertly crafted, plagiarism-free dissertation that meets all academic standards guaranteed. With 24/7 live support available at your fingertips, you'll have help whenever you need it. If you're not 100% satisfied, you'll get a full refund - no questions asked. And you won't have to break the bank, because their prices are the best in the industry. Relax and let My Assignment Help deliver the dissertation you need to take that final step toward your degree.

  • Bob Bly your website about copy writing is amazing. Your blog is very informative and helpful for me and a lot of people. I am very glad to read your blog. I hope you will share your next post about this discussion. Thanks for sharing and keep sharing. <a href="https://vairt.com/">Available in Real Estate Investment Trusts</a>

  • Yes! Excellent motivating blog. I am genuinely inspired from your efforts and appreciate your writing skills. Thanks for nicely sharing. Keep it up! I want to read more articles like these topics.
    <a href="https://vairt.com/" >Real Estate Investment In USA</a>

  • MEP estimating services provide detailed and accurate cost assessments for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems in construction projects. Our expert team thoroughly examines project plans and specifications to deliver precise estimates for equipment, materials, and labor. These services ensure effective budgeting, efficient resource management, and smooth project execution, helping to optimize the performance and cost-efficiency of MEP systems.

  • Good to read the details of the 2019 Personal year in review - Theme: "Suck it up" and I like it with the ideas in it. It is hard but with this many details people can learn how to learn more about these reviews. Many people make a complete year in review, but this one is easy to understand.

  • These are the best thoughts that help people learn what they need to know. Also from these thoughts people can learn and get what we need. Thanks for sharing the personal year in review.

  • These are so good topic to read. I got best knowledge from here. thanks for sharing i was exploring from so long. Plz keep sharing.<a href="https://vairt.com/" >Best Real Estate Investments</>

  • Just restocked my home office with products from Garafour. Their site is easy to navigate, and shipping was fast!

  • If you're searching for a convenient and peaceful spot to park your RV, Orange TX RV parks are the perfect choice! With top-notch facilities and friendly service, these parks offer a great stay for both short-term and long-term visitors. Definitely worth considering for your next road trip!

  • The apartments are well-designed, with modern features and spacious layouts.

  • Our Millwork Estimating Services offer precise and detailed cost assessments for custom millwork, cabinetry, and finish carpentry projects.

  • Very informative article! I totally agree with you, and maybe Ill come back to see whats new. If you are interested in online games, you can visit this link https://www.flooringshermanoaks.com/, namely the link to log in and register for the official online lottery and its security is guaranteed.

  • Really very interesting information, here I found what I was looking for. If you are looking for a place to play games, I recommend https://ward8online.com/

  • Very interesting and very useful article, this is really a very interesting work, here I recommend a place to play online slot games, if you are interested you can go straight to here https://ward8online.com/

  • Every time around to find a good article like this, thank you very much. If you are interested in upcoming or ongoing football articles, you can go to <a href="https://shotsgoal.com/world-cup/">link gratis nonton pildun</a>.

  • Very useful article! always look around for something like this, thank you. If you are interested in online toto games, you can visit this site https://berbagicuan.com/

  • Very interesting and useful article. If you are looking for a lottery bookie providing the most complete 2024 Toto Macau results, you can visit this site https://integremedia.com/. Abutogel is a site that provides the most complete Macau Toto results by providing the fastest and most complete results.

  • Its a really interesting article, its really very comfortable here, I really like your writing, its very neat. If you are interested in football information that is always updated, you can try going here <a href="https://shotsgoal.com/world-cup/">susunan pemain indonesia piala dunia 2026</a> . Which is a football information site, here you can also watch matches for free on live matches and can see game predictions. Not only that, here we also provide the latest news which is continuously updated and accurate with a response like lightning.

  • HVAC estimating services provide detailed cost assessments for HVAC installations, repairs, and maintenance, tailored to your project needs.

  • Very quality article, you put it together very well, thank you! Dont miss other quality sites that provide complete and up-to-date information about football which is always updated with useful and hot news. <a href="https://shotsgoal.com/world-cup/">link nobar gratis piala dunia 2026</a>

  • Didnt expect to find an interesting blog like this, thank you. If you are interested in the official online lottery game site, you can try playing here https://gass3kg.com/, which is a trusted site, has super fast service and has lots of attractive offers.

  • Thank you for this wonderful blog. I also write about football on my blog, if you are interested you can read more at <a href="https://shotsgoal.com/">yandex live bola</a>

  • What a very interesting blog site, you put it together neatly, thank you. Here I also have a blog which is very suitable for entertainment on meme4d. Meme 4d which is a trusted repository of online slot and online lottery games that are easy to maxwin every day, for more complete information you can visit https://seruberjaya.com/

  • Thank you for the information, this is really a very interesting work, you present it with explanations that are easy to understand. I also have a blog that is interesting to read, namely at <a href="https://shotsgoal.com/world-cup/">indonesia world cup 2026</a>. Which is a platform for news information, match scores, predictions and live streaming of football, this site is designed for football fans, so they dont miss any information.

  • What a very interesting blog, always around for interesting information like this, thank you. If you are interested in the most popular online games, you can try Atas4D, lots of new players have joined this trusted site. For more complete information you can visit the site https://alternatifvip.com/

  • Very informative information, here I also wrote some useful information about Indonesian esports, so that you will understand more about Indonesian esports. For more complete information, you can visit the website https://pansaka.co.id

  • Very informative blog! you put it together very neatly, I also have an informative blog at <a href="https://shotsgoal.com/laliga/">klasemen pildun 2026</a>

  • Thank you for the explanation, I really like this kind of writing, it is very easy to read. I also have other interesting blogs at <a href="https://shotsgoal.com/world-cup/">live streaming bola piala dunia 2026</a>. Which is a blog that provides the latest football information that is always updated.

  • Thank you for the information, you are indeed an expert in this field, I also have a blog that will provide interesting information about useful football, for more complete information please visit <a href="https://shotsgoal.com/world-cup/">situs nonton piala dunia 2026</a>

  • Very informative article! Thank you for sharing, maybe I will come back again to see something touching, dont miss other interesting sites at https://ristorantealburgo.com/

  • Very informative article! You write very well, and easy to understand, thank you. I also have an interesting article to read, regarding the results of football matches in <a href="https://shotsgoal.com/world-cup/">hasil pildun</a>.

  • Thank you for the information, this is really a very interesting work, it is really very comfortable here. I also have a blog that contains ready-to-eat football meat, namely at <a href="https://shotsgoal.com/world-cup/">link gratis nonton world cup</a>

  • Find other useful information at <a href="https://shotsgoal.com/">live bola malam ini</a>

  • Thank you for the information. If you are interested in a similar topic, you can click the following link for further information https://waktogel.eu/

  • Very useful information! Dont miss other information that you can access via this link https://honeyandfigskitchen.com/

  • Wow, thanks for the explanation! This is really very interesting and insightful. For those of you who want to play slots and lottery online with a place that has a good reputation, I have the right site for you to try. For more information, visit our site now! https://nikmaticuan.com/

  • Very inspired by the information shared! If you are interested in playing online slots or lottery with a safe and reliable platform, I would like to recommend a site that has proven quality. Dont hesitate to find out more by visiting our site at https://scroll-viewport.io/

  • Thank you for the very interesting information. I also have a blog specifically designed for football fans, which makes it easy for them to get the latest information. You can visit the blog at <a href="https://shotsgoal.com/world-cup/">link gratis nonton piala dunia 2026</a>

  • Thank you for the very interesting information. I also have a blog specifically designed for football fans, which makes it easy for them to get the latest information. You can visit the blog at <a href="https://shotsgoal.com/world-cup/">susunan pemain indonesia piala dunia 2026</a>

  • Free templates for Avery 5877 for Microsoft, Adobe & more. Use Avery Design & Print Online for pre-designed templates to customize and print your project.

  • Really very interesting information, thank you. Here, I also have a blog that provides interesting news. Dont miss out on the latest information, visit our website to stay updated on https://jurriaanpersyn.com/

  • Really very interesting information, thank you. Here, I also have a blog that provides interesting news. Dont miss out on the latest information, visit our website to stay updated on https://patriciaeustaquio.com/

  • Thank you for the information, this has really helped me. Here I also have a blog specifically designed to help online game fans, to increase their winning numbers. If you are interested, you can go directly to the site https://zeuspeak.com/

  • Very interesting article, you are indeed an expert on this matter, thank you. If you are interested in information about online games that have big jackpot prizes, you can see other information here https://8499225.cc/

  • Very informative article. Here I have also just written news that will be useful for you, where you will get information regarding the division of groups in football, for complete information only at <a href="https://shotsgoal.com/world-cup/">pembagian grup piala dunia 2026</a>

  • This is really very interesting writing, this is truly a very interesting work. Here I will also share other interesting information regarding <a href="https://shotsgoal.com/world-cup/">line up indonesia piala dunia 2026</a> which will make Indonesia proud.

  • Assignment Help Jordan ensures timely delivery of plagiarism-free, accurate solutions designed to support students’ educational success.

  • Comprehensive Marketing Assignment Help offers plagiarism-free, customized assistance designed to support students in tackling marketing challenges effectively.

Add a Comment

As it will appear on the website

Not displayed

Your website