2022 was a weird and wonderful year.

It represented a transition back from the grip of a global pandemic, and I think it took some time for many people to adjust back to previous ways of life. The lock down really shifted a lot of people’s perspectives, social habits, and general life focus. Myself definitely included.

Reflecting back on the year as I write this now, in late 2023, this really was a hugely pivotal period in my life, as many seismic shifts took place during these years. As I haphazardly flung my way towards what is commonly referred to as “middle age”, an abrupt and jarring global “ctrl-alt-del” provided time and space to look inward, and to try and figure shit out.

In late 2021, I was able to move back into the Thunderbird house after roughly one year completing the renovation. The project was a success, albeit an expensive one (Helpful reminder from 2023 Bryan to 2021 Bryan: variable rate loans are, in fact, variable). One massive unplanned bonus was that I was moving back into the house with a new roommate: the brilliant, beautiful, and beyond inspiring, Dr. Mary Pines.

All of this coming together, along with a great community of new/old friends here in Squamish, set the groundwork for a period of significant change, and I believe, growth in mental and physical health space. It was some of the most challenging years of my life, as I forced myself to move away from my standard escapism techniques of self deprecation, substance abuse, and generally keeping myself overwhelmingly busy. It felt like for the first time in my life, I had the time, space, and maturity, to properly work on myself.

It feels a bit ironic to write this here, as when I look through the photos and events that took place over the course of 2022, it sure seems like I was keeping myself very busy. But the pace was definitely slower and more mindful. Having a stable home living situation made a huge difference, as did having some semblance of a routine for much of the year. My physical health improved significantly, particularly as I pulled back from a rising tide of substance abuse. Up until this period of my life, I was completely in the dark about preventative medicine, sleep, nutrition, supplements, and other key areas of health. Mary has done an incredible job educating me on these topics, and now when I look back, I am honestly shocked by my level of ignorance, and how I was treating myself.

A failure on my part, but I do feel this area is also a massive oversight in our current health care and education systems.

A lot of this stuff is definitely a part of age and maturity, and has little to do with pandemic-induced lock downs. I don’t want to downplay the devastating effect that COVID-19 had on the world, and individual health and happiness. But, reflecting back, one silver lining of COVID for me is that it provided an opportunity and space to begin a critical personal journey, and press that reset button. I feel like a significantly better person today, though it was a very difficult process involving plenty of counseling, meditation, habit breaking/forming, and a transition to embracing the dark and the challenging instead of running away.

I do owe my wonderful partner, now fiance, a huge amount of gratitude in supporting and guiding me along this path.

With all that out of the way, let’s get back to the good stuff.

2022 was filled with many wonderful experiences. It represented the first year of post-pandemic unrestricted social events, and boy were some of us missing those.

Sure, time at home reflecting on all your psychological bullshit can be good and all, but remember Burning Man?! Reliably booking travel without the overarching worry that a new viral wave would epidemiologically shit all over your plans!? Leaving your house without scrambling to find your last reusable face mask?! Dancing at a beautiful wedding?! Socially acceptable hut trips?! New deep connections and friendships?! Air travel with only the guilt of the ecological disaster that is air travel?!

Well, get ready 2022, cause it’s all back on the table, and it’s going to be exhausting!

Rogers Pass for Giles’ Birthday: