Links 51.2022 // Annual Review & Goals
On a Personal Note
Merry Christmas everyone. I hope you are enjoying the holidays...and the very fact that only the most worthwhile newsletters will hit your inbox during the sole time when the social contract (i.e. not to bother anyone) really works. Speaking of worthwhile newsletters, I will continue my "Special Editions" series with a little "Annual Review" and some goal-setting. Enjoy!
Annual Review
I did a rather extensive "Annual Review" two years ago—and that was fairly popular. So, I thought I would bring back some of the questions that would fit best for 2022. I tend to think that regular reflection is the best way to grow as a person. And so as I said last time, if you feel like sharing your reflection, just <reply> to this E-Mail. It would be an honor to see your own 2022 review.
When have you felt proud of yourself in 2022? what were you doing?
This is a tough one. I feel like I haven't lived up to my potential in 2022. Do not get me wrong. I am grateful for all the opportunities I got this year and I didn't f*ck up anything or even disappoint my harshest critic (aka myself). But there was also not enough personal growth so that I could be really proud of myself. A lot of this year could be described as "evolution" and an even tougher "grind"; however, this doesn't spark pride in me. Excellency is beyond that.
If you had to teach one thing you learnt this year (that would improve one’s quality of life) what would that be?
Always take the bill. Whenever you have a coffee, drinks, or lunch with somebody, take the bill. Only good things will come from this. Trust me!
What kept you up at night with excitement this year? Was it worth it? Would you want to do more of it?
After COVID, even the most introverted person (ahem, me!) got excited to hang out with real people in real life. That literally kept me up so many nights this year. Often to an unreasonable degree. Let's put it that way: Matthew Walker (and my health insurance) should not have access to my sleep tracker, especially during seminars; but I do not regret the massive sleep deficit that I was running this year.
How did you have fun differently in 2022?
See above. Much more people-based. (For reference: In the past, my fun was much more determined by external stimuli, like books, music, or food.)
What people/kind of people did you spend less time with in 2022?
Since I left my political position as Secretary General of IFLRY, I am blessed with the ability to be fully in charge of the decision with whom I am spending time. And that gave me the great gift of erasing almost all toxicity from my life. Alhamdulillah!
What people/kind of people did you spend more time with in 2022?
Strangely (if you consider what I just wrote above), I kinda spent more time with people that I knew from IFLRY: Ahmad, Hussam, Daphnie, Michel, and me formed a somewhat surprising group that emerged as the stable to my 2022. Couldn't be more thankful for having this bunch in my life.
What did you feel guilty for in 2022?
For not living up to my full potential this year. There is nothing more daunting than becoming "genuinely mediocre" or "unreliable." Fighting these tendencies is why I wake up earlier and go to bed later than others. But I am not always sure, I am winning those battles.
What new habits did you create in 2022? Which ones would you want to keep?
10k steps each day without compromise.
Using Saturday/Sunday for digital housekeeping (i.e. closing unread tabs, deleting files, etc.)
What new thing did you spend a lot of money on in 2022?
Flying business class. While I obviously fly a lot, the overwhelming majority of those flights are booked for me—and that means economy. So, in the rare case, I am flying for personal reasons, I now book business. Frequent flyers will understand, especially if your home airport mostly offers night flights.
What do you feel you’ve gotten a lot better at in 2020?
Spending money, see above. As a proper Swabian, I tend to be very frugal. Yet, I learned this year how to treat myself much more without feeling (too) guilty. Recommended!
At the end of next year, if you are drastically exceeding your expectations, what would you be doing?
Relaxing. Hence, not spending the End of the Year like this year...and the year before...and the year before...etc.
Focus Areas 2023
Quick reminder of my Focus Areas 2022:
Value Pluralism
Foucault & Oakeshott
Austrian Economics
Russian Classics
If you followed the content I put out in this newsletter throughout the year, you will not be surprised to hear that I was not doing so great in devoting sufficient time to any of those categories. Instead, I spent a lot of time on this whole exploration of Eurasianism and the continued deciphering of Dugin and other radical right-wingers. Moreover, I rediscovered my passion for business and finance. After too much time in the Ivory Towers of the world, this was such a welcome change, that I devoted most of my free time to reading books about amazon, analyzing balance sheets, and finding out which stock market podcasts are actually not absolute trash. Finally, I went down the MacAskill/Effective Altruism rabbit hole again. And that was not a very pretty or productive endeavor either. So, it's time for some better resolutions for next year:
Geopolitics: Obviously, this is a somewhat obnoxious and esoteric category that blends together all the bad aspects of international relations, history, political science, and geography. But (as we all know) intellectual messes attract me and I just love the intellectual fringes. So, let's see whether I am able to extract the most interesting nuggets and kernels of truth from the muddy waters of pseudo-science.
Orthodox Christianity: No need to say that I have an ambivalent relationship with spirituality. And some might argue that this roots in the fact that I am not only homeless in the material world; but also when it comes to transcendental matters. Yet, whenever I engage with the Eastern tradition of Christianity, that changes. Something feels (and is) different. But as a liberal with enlightenment urges, this cannot be explained without a deep rationalistic investigation. More to come on this.
Leo Strauss & Oakeshott: Oakeshott remains on the To Do list...and it feels that Leo Strauss might be a more suitable (and complementary) companion than Foucault was. Obviously, I have read my fair share of Strauss without being too hyped; but I feel the learning curve when it comes to Strauss is very similar to the one of Heidegger: S-shaped.
Atatürk: Contemporary Politics of Turkey: check. History of Turkey: (more or less) check. While I seem to have a reasonable grasp of the very basics to make sense of Turkey (at least for a yabancı), Atatürk rather remains a blank slate for me. I haven't come across any good (English) reading yet. That should change. Any recommendations?
Goals 2023
Let's start with recalling my Goals for 2022:
35+ Books
40 Newsletters
21k run
Master Guardian (Counter-Strike)
This ain't as bad as my "Focus Areas"; but also here I can only claim victory on 2 out of the 4 goals that I set for myself: I miserably failed my reading ambitions (I think I won't even hit 20 books this year) and unless there is another Christmas miracle, I will only be able to report a maximum distance of 15km this year. And don't you dare asking about the time these 15km took me. Of course, I have excuses: A lot of work, bad weather, injuries, etc., etc. You name it. But you are right: That's pathetic. So, let's move on.
Here are my goals for 2023:
40+ Books: When in trouble, double. Usually, that's a bad investment philosophy (Cathie Wood, please listen ffs!) but since I failed my reading goals in 2022, I probably need to double down for next year. Wish me luck...and request more book updates this year!
Taking a prolonged vacation: If there was one thing that I am worse at than taking days off, then it would be taking a whole vacation. It always feels like there will be this sudden opportunity that requires me to jump on a plane and work the next day. That's why I never really block anything in my calendar...and I just let it gradually fill up until each week is covered. And so, I haven't really been on a proper vacation for 3 years or so. I would be even happy to chill at a beach on the Maldives or so. Any other suggestions? Madagascar, Malaysia etc. seem tempting.
Returning to the Mentoring Sessions: During COVID, I started to offer open slots that many of you used for some mentoring sessions. When I announced this, I wrote a whole post about the importance of finding a mentor, so I won't repeat all of this here. I myself benefited greatly from mentors and so I want to extend that arm to all those who feel that I (of all people) could add something to their lives: I am happy to help you out with any sort of study, career or whatever questions you might think that I can answer. My most valuable friendships came out of the courage of some to ask me for such guidance. So, do not hesitate because of some false sense of pride or whatever...
Finish my PhD: This is self-explanatory. I had to postpone my plans too many times due to other projects, my relocation, and COVID...and fortunately everybody at King's was very understandable. Yet, I will need to finally make a decision whether I will return to my thesis (and devote the focus that this projects demands) or whether I will move all of the work I have done to some other place and time. Tough choices ahead!
Peace,
SG