51. 2023 End of Year Wrap Up

You need no introduction!!!! It’s the annual Blogs & Dogs End of Year Wrap Up!!! Let’s go! 

1. Quote: “We’ve all done things that we said would make us happy.”

2 things:

1. Well remembered, I did include this quote in the last blog post

2. No, I can’t actually remember where I heard it

So all in all, a fairly solid start! 

Though half-arsed December efforts aside, I do find this to be one of those ideas that although fairly obvious, really resonated with me. 

It’s very similar to the whole “When I get X, then I’ll be happy” trap. 

We’ve all been there. Salary. Promotion. Fitness goal. Side hustle. Whatever it is.

1. We get it

2. We get a little peak in mood/general zest for life

3. We then pretty quickly return back to our regular levels of misery 

It’s a bit of an inconvenience really. But I do think that an acknowledgement of this can be beneficial in a couple of ways. Firstly, to help us pre-empt & offset that post achievement slump. And secondly to remind us to take more satisfaction out of the actual doing of the thing (as opposed to just the fleeting moment when we get the thing). 

We've all done things that we said would make us happy.

2. Podcast: Modern Wisdom ft. David Goggins

This was a toss up between David Goggins on Modern Wisdom, or Andrew Huberman on Modern Wisdom.

I know, very basic, but both are so good.

A special shout out to Huberman, which is a class listen for all things health-related. Though Goggins edges it, just because… well, he has to. 

I did think it was a bit of a slow starter (though perhaps because my expectations were so high), but when it gets going, it gets going!

I bloomin' love Goggins. Although, understandably, he’s a bit much for a lot of people’s tastes, I’ve personally found him to be up there with the most inspirational people I’ve come across. He’s pretty much the guy when it comes to resilience, adversity, set backs, and generally just doing a little bit more. 

Admittedly, probably not the podcast to listen to whilst we’re trying to live our best Chocolate, Cheese & Booze-filled lives over the Festive period, but definitely a good one to kick start 2024. Highly recommend both. 

3. Book: Mankind, Have a nice day! (A tale of blood and sweatsocks)

Hmm, yeah, a slightly left field choice this. 

The obvious one would have been Goggins’ 2nd book ‘Never Finished’, however in the interest of putting at least a little bit of variety in here, I’m going for Mick Foley’s 1999 autobiography.

I came across this book when I was sorting out my childhood room over the summer (Mick Foley is a professional wrestler, which I was obsessed with as a kid) and decided to give it a read. I absolutely loved it. 

Not just for the secondary benefit of finding the brutality of what wrestlers put their bodies through to be quite inspiring, but just reading something for the pure enjoyment of reading it.

Which although quite an obvious thing to do, is something that I find I probably don’t do enough of. 

4. Purchase: Martial Arts UltraBreathe Lungs Exerciser

I love a rogue health-related purchase/gadget. 

I bought this thing because as odd as it may sound, I’m a terrible breather. Shallow, mouthy, chesty… basically everything that constitutes a poor breath, I’m guilty of. 

The knock on effects of this; tight diaphragm, regular tension headaches, and a load of stress in general, is a pain in the… well, head. 

And I’ve found that this Lung Exercise jobby really opens up the lungs, makes you more conscious of breathing, and helps offset some of the above issues. It’s great.

5. New Exercise: Hip Mobility Exercise

My hip flexors, man. There are times where I literally feel about 193 years old. 

So hip flexibility/mobility stuff is something I need to regularly do to at least try and do something about it.

I have no idea the name of this, but it’s bloody good. This bloke has got a few exercises, but I've found the first one (screen shots below, IG link here) to have been particularly useful. Thank you topless man.

6. Influencer: Andrew Huberman

1) The big man was unlucky not to scoop an award earlier and 

2) I’m also slowly losing motivation to think/write much more

So Hubes, you’re in! 

7. Learn: Making Instagram Reels is fun

I used to watch TikToks & Instagram Reels and think “fuck me that looks like an effort”... And, well, I suppose it is haha. 

But I’ve realised that despite Zuck Judasing me and randomly uploading them with no sound and the colour all over the place, they’re also pretty fun to make. 

So yes, I imagine a few more honking reels will be coming out next year… Let’s go! 

8. Drink: Glühwein Amaretto

The fact that Glühwein Amarettos are finally catching on in the UK is absolutely delightful. This was the festive drink of choice for yeeeears back in Luxembourg (still in denial that the family don’t live there anymore 😭) and they’re class. Delicious, and absolute rocket fuel. So the fact that they're becoming more and more common over here is beautiful news. Per the above point, LET’S GO! 

9. Word: Paradox

If you’ve read any of the recent blogs (which I appreciate is a big if), you may have noticed that I pretty much use this word at any opportunity. 

It’s nice on the ears, and it makes you sound clever when you use it. Win Win. 

10. Christmas song: John Legend, Bring Me Love 

Obviously, the undeniable GOAT is Shakin’ Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone.

However, in terms of more recent years, goodness me this is a banger.

Bring me laaaaaav this Christmas cos I've been gooood this year!!!!! 🎵🎄 SO GOOD!

And all that leaves us to do is fire it on, thank your fine self for reading, crack open a Coro, and get stuck into Xmas! Come onnnnnn!!!! 🎄🎉🍻

MERRY CHRISTMAS ONE AND ALL! X