2024 did not go according to plan. Almost comically so.

I was hoping I would have emerged with some sort of well-packaged wisdom — something to teach others.

You’d think by now, I’d know better than to expect such things.

Maybe next year.

A lot happened in 2024. And I think I might have even learned a few things.

But as a disclaimer, anything below that might seem like a “life lesson” is only meant to be a reminder to my future self, not advice for anyone else.

Ironically, the more I learn, the less I feel I have to teach.

When the year began, I had no intention of traveling to five continents, riding a dogsled on a glacier, solo traveling in Japan, performing at a standup comedy show, driving from NYC to Phoenix, paddle boarding through the canals of Copenhagen, or writing this essay from Florianopolis.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let me start at the beginning.

Last December, I started a new job at a three-person startup. I was really excited about it.

My plan was to spend the year living and working in NYC.

Narrator: “Things did not go according to plan.”

On February 1st we decided to wind down the company. I spent that night applying for new jobs, feeling bad for myself, and wondering what I was going to tell my parents (roughly in that order).

On February 2nd I put my job search on hold, stopped feeling bad for myself, and booked a one-way flight to Tokyo (leaving two days later). I figured my parents would understand.

Narrator: “They did not understand.”

I spent the next week exploring Japan solo. It was my first time traveling alone and Japan had been at the top of my list for a while. Needless to say, it was awesome.

At this point, my parents had also gotten on board. Things were going quite well. Apparently too well.

The universe felt the need to humble me.