Forty.

I used to rush to write this blog post every year, usually the day before my birthday on the 15th of December. But if this year had a theme, it was this: few things are rushed anymore. Things still get done. Just not in a hurry.

Less urgency. Less noise. More intention.

I turned 40 this year, and surprisingly, it doesn’t feel like a checkpoint. I remember turning 30 and spending a lot of time thinking about what I wanted to have achieved by that milestone. This year felt different. It felt more like setting the stage than checking boxes.

I was more intentional with my time this year and spent more of it creating space for what comes next.

A few years ago, I stopped setting strict yearly goals and started using themes instead. It’s given me direction without pressure, and it continues to work well for me.

Travel

I booked fewer trips for 2025 and a few tickets further out for 2026.

This year, I travelled to:

  • India
  • New Zealand
  • Poland

I moved between places at a slower pace than before and spent more time simply being where I was.

Most of this travel was about people. Catching up with friends, revisiting familiar places, and keeping things simple.

Fitness

Fitness stayed consistent, even when motivation didn’t.

There were good stretches and off weeks, but showing up regularly mattered more than doing things perfectly. Training gave structure to my days and helped keep everything else in balance.

Tech

This year reshaped how I think about building software.

I spent time learning to trust AI. Not as a shortcut, but as a collaborator. It changed how I approach problem-solving, debugging, and even thinking through ideas.

I also went deeper into Swift and SwiftUI, which stretched me in new ways. At the same time, I continued getting better at Ruby on Rails.

A lot of this learning came together while building cravingfor.app. It’s a product I’ve been steadily working on, refining, and living with day to day. This year was about getting it right. Shaping it patiently rather than rushing it out.

The app is close now, and it feels ready to be launched soon.

A Highlight

A few people asked what the highlight of the year was.

Swimming.

When I moved to Manly, the swim from Manly to Shelly felt like something I’d never be able to do. This year, I swam from Manly to Shelly and back a few times. Something that once felt out of reach slowly became normal.

Those swims weren’t about speed or distance. They were about getting in the water, trusting my body, and enjoying the movement.

Early mornings.
The ocean.
Steady breathing.

Love

This part of life stayed uncertain.

There were connections that didn’t last and lessons that took time to sink in. I handled things with more patience than before and felt less need to rush outcomes.

Projects and Space

This year, I stopped working on a lot of projects.

Some had been with me for a long time. Others just didn’t feel worth carrying forward anymore. Letting them go wasn’t easy, but it felt necessary.

The last few months, especially since August, were quiet. Sometimes boring. And instead of filling that boredom, I let it sit.

That space turned out to be useful. It helped clarify what mattered, what didn’t, and where my energy was better spent.

Overall

As I turn 40, I feel steady.

This year felt balanced. My health held up. Work felt intentional.

Here’s to 40.

Themes for 2026

  • More travel - Berlin, Norway, Barcelona, Lisbon, Qatar, and India
  • Apartment shift. Moving out of the apartment and finding a new apartment once I’m back
  • Spending more time building and growing cravingfor.app

No rush.
Just movement in the right direction.