Hi there! If you’re here for the family update but don’t give two hoots about what books I’ve been reading, what recipes I’ve discovered, or what my professional highlight has been this year… skip to the end. This year I’m diving right into all the #newandgood stuff first with a look at two of the very best things in life – food and books.
Best recipes
Best new culinary acquisition has to be Mike’s Christmas present for me, which was left unwrapped on our doorstep a good three months before Christmas. “Life is short,” I told Mike after I saw the box. “Why would we wait three more months to up our pizza game?”
I admit I was skeptical that it would be worth the money, but not anymore. We were already good at pizza in this house. Now we’re really good. Roccbox for the win.
I’ve also enjoyed adding these recipes to our rotation:
For dinner: Italian chicken meatballs with orzo, Oven-fried chicken, Thai fried rice, and these saucy gochujang noodles.
At breakfast, Alton Brown’s granola (but don’t add the extra sugar or maple syrup—totally unnecessary—and do add extra desiccated coconut, some flaked coconut, and throw some sultanas in before you bake.)
For desert, this caramel cake and this hot fudge sauce take out the 2023 prizes. They are both luxuriously, criminally delicious. But don’t try to ice that caramel cake with too-warm icing, and don’t eat the cake and hot fudge sauce together. Not even I could handle that much richness.
Best books
I won’t list any of the parenting, neuroscience, and neurodiversity books I read this year. There were a lot of them and they really deserve their own post (let me know if you want to see that list, as that’ll be incentive to actually make that list).
Some of the other books I really enjoyed include:
Beyond That, The Sea (Laura Spence Ash) – the story of two families living through World War II on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean and one child evacuated from Britain. This was so beautifully written.
The Girl In His Shadow (Audrey Blake) – historical fiction about one woman’s journey through medicine in mid 19th century London.
Only the Beautiful (Susan Meissner) – neat weaving of a pair of stories exploring the eugenics movements in the US and Europe during WWII.
The Last Bookshop in London (Madeline Martin) – I’m a sucker for books centered on bookstores. This is another WWII tale.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (Gabrielle Zevin) – two friends come together as creative partners in the world of video game design.
Tress of the Emerald Sea (Brandon Sanderson) – this fantasy novel was unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Fascinating and memorable alternative universe and stereotype bender.
The Ten Thousand Doors of January (Alix Harrow) – another unique and beautiful fantasy novel about stories, storytellers, and the doors they lead us through.
And in a nod to non-fiction… How To Be Sad: Everything I’ve learned About Getting Happier By Being Sad (Helen Russel) – An expert on the pursuit of happiness combines her powerful personal story with surprising research and expert advice to reveal the secret of finding joy: allowing sadness to enrich your life and relationships.
Best podcasts and TED talks
In part because of a work project, it was a banner year for podcasts and TED talks. Again, I’m going to leave most of the parenting stuff aside for now, but here were some of my favorites:
The Teen Mental Health Crisis Part 1 and Part 2 (NYT Ezra Klein show): This was actually sent to me as a must-listen by Mike. For anyone who has teens or kids approaching those years, these two podcasts are a really important listen. They do a deep dive into the neuroscience of teens and how that interfaces with smartphone use and social media.
What Alcohol Does to Your Body, Brain & Health (The Huberman Lab): This was the most personally confronting podcast I listened to all year, and it made me really glad that Mike and I had decided back in February of this year to restrict our drinking to Friday and Saturday nights.
Kiss Your Brain: Watch psychology researcher Christina Costa share about her journey with brain cancer and how gratitude has helped her. This one is gorgeous and gentle.
7 Ways to Maximize Misery: Watch this very funny “flip everything on its head” video—based on the work of Canadian psychologist Randy Paterson—about how to avoid happiness and wellbeing and maximize misery.
The gift and power of emotional courage: Watch psychologist Susan David talk about emotional agility and what it takes in the way we see ourselves, our thoughts, and our emotions to thrive in an increasingly fraught and complex world.
The Happiness Advantage: Watch this fast-paced and funny TED talk by psychologist Shawn Achor on how happiness inspires us to be more productive and effective.
Master Your Sleep & Be More Alert When Awake (The Huberman Lab): This is a great one for anyone struggling with their sleep. I learned heaps.
And if you’ve been thinking about making and breaking habits… Watch author James Clear speak about the power of habits and how to make healthier ones (Atomic Habits: How to get 1% better every day) and an illustrated summary of Charles Duhigg’s book, The Power of Habit.
Work highlight
In 2023, I continued to serve as The KonTerra Group’s Senior Training Advisor. A huge highlight was the formal public launch of the KonTerra Inventory of Resilience Builders. I’ve been spearheading the development group for this during the last couple of years. It’s been fascinating and a joy to be part of this project and see how this tool can help people reflect on their wellbeing and how to maintain and improve it.
Family Life
Now, here’s the promised family update.
Mike and I and the boys kicked off 2023 with two weeks in Tasmania where we visited Hobart, Strahan, Cradle Mountain, Freycinet, and Port Arthur. Even taking into account the four hours at Port Arthur where I would have happily checked my children into Point Puer juvenile penal colony for a week-long immersion experience, the trip was a rousing success. So grateful for the privilege of travel and all it can bring us.
Since then…
This year, Dominic’s primary passion in life has continued to be fishing. He finished primary school here in Australia, which ends after Grade 6. His highlights this year included a week-long school camp that headed north. The trip took the kids to Parliament House in Brisbane, the QLD science center, Surf School, K’gari Island, Australia Zoo, Dreamworld amusement part, and an overnight at Sea Life aquarium where they slept in a glass tunnel underneath the shark tank. Mike and I feel that grade six school camps have gotten a significant upgrade since our grade six days. #surfinglessons #dingoes #acquariumcamping.
Alex was in year four this year. He missed more than 20% of school days this year due to being unwell (damn COVID and other viruses!) but it didn’t seem to slow him down academically too much. He has also persevered with tennis training with the Clunes Club and Saturday comps. Alex is amassing a tidy collection of tennis medals, and it’s great to see him enjoying and growing in something active.
Mike’s delivered hundreds of hours of life and leadership coaching, and it’s been mostly business as usual for me on the work front. Mike and I did get away together for a quick trip to Sydney this year to catch a musical at the Opera House. We also took the boys on an overnight to SeaWorld to celebrate their birthdays. And after five years in the clear, I also did “get away” for a five day trip to Lismore Base Hospital in June with cellulitis showing up in both legs. June and July were pretty much a dumpster fire for me in terms of physical health, and I am not eager to see a cannula again. Like, ever.
Also this year, I sold the long distance relationships website that I launched when Alex was born and poured a lot of thinking and creative energy into a book proposal. Like parenting resources, the book proposal is a long story I’ll save for a different time. But the upshot is that I’m going into Christmas 2023 season feeling more relaxed in my head than I have for a long time, with fewer projects demanding my attention, and with more space to think about what I might want to do creatively in 2024.
I wrapped up my work this morning and am heading into three weeks of leave. Mike took the boys up to Dreamworld today. Sitting here today, I am acutely aware of how fortunate we are in the resources and choices we have available to us and in the peace that surrounds us where we currently live. At the same time, I am acutely aware that resources, choices, and peace are in extremely short supply for thousands upon thousands of others in different parts of the world. I pray 2024 brings safety, sustenance, and light to all who are currently suffering. And I wish for you all the blessing or an “ordinary” Christmas that is devoid of drama and high on meaningful connection with those you love the most. Here’s to a new year with new possibilities and new learning. May it come easy.
