2019 was a pivotal year for me. Pretty big changes. More than I certainly expected, partially because I just couldn’t clearly see some that were obviously coming straight for me.
The first, which has been a more gradual change, is that my wife launched a business. Always incredibly talented, she’s focused the last 16 years on being a stay-at-home mother and home-school educator to our daughters. When she left her great job at ExxonMobil in the early-2000’s, we didn’t have plans on the “if or when” she’d return to corporate America. All we knew was that for then, we wanted our children to enjoy the most possible benefit from having their mother nearby during their childhood, as much as possible. It’s something many parents wish for and it’s a costly decision in our modern world, to be sure. But we made it. No regrets in that regard. However, as the children have aged (all three will be in college this fall) they don’t need her tutelage quite as much or quite the same. This opened up the new door of “what next” for her and some 18 months ago she began formal training to become a Functional Nutritionist which I simply explain as a blend of dietitian and life coach. You can read more about what she does on her FB page (and you should because she’s amazing at helping people achieve key health goals!) but the point is that she completed that process and launched her practice this year. While that’s been an obviously big thing for her, I was along for the ride, perhaps moreso than I expected. In good ways of course but somewhat unexpected because I wasn’t paying attention to the full gamut of “us” starting “her” business. From the legal to the financial, the marketing to the mundane, we’ve started what will no doubt be a great venture for many years to come and will change the lives of many people along the way!
All of her nutritional knowledge has been quite helpful to me personally this year as I’ve had some pretty major changes myself. I began 2019 weighing around 300 lbs and I’ll end it some 70 lbs lighter. No fad diet, no pills, no gastric bypass. No, nothing that simple. Not for me! Instead of heeding her long offered encouragement to change my eating habits, which largely consisted of soda, chips and candy (the three major food groups!), I chose to persist in what was quite satisfying for my indulgences. That came to an abrupt halt Memorial Day weekend when I irritated my colon to the point of no return, resulting in a good case of diverticulitis that led to a lengthy hospital stay and was followed by some major nutritional changes. Obviously, my historical delicacies were off the menu and swiftly replaced by healthier alternatives, some not so much to my immediate liking. I traded in Coca-Cola and Mr. Pibb for Topo Chico and Perrier. Nutty-Buddies were no longer my friends. Kit-Kat bars were no-no’s for me. Chips got replaced for celery sticks, at least for a while, so I could continue to consume salsa and guacamole (but not as much queso!) I started walking, usually 3 miles per day, 4-5 days per week. The weight started coming off. And as is common in many cases of diverticulitis, I had an abdominal resection where they surgically remove the inflamed portion of the colon to minimize any further risks of that recurring. I’m happy to say that this change has been delightful, for the most part, but if you’d have told me 12 months ago that I’d have done all this, I’d have laughed at you!
Sometime late-2018 I began taking a very focused interest in this emerging technology called blockchain. I knew little about it, but what I did know led me to believe it was going to become a force to be reckoned with. In particular, I began to understand how smart contracts, business processes made possible by blockchain, were going to disrupt multiple industries including the maritime field that I’ve been engaged in for 24 years. So I started digging into it more by reading, attending conferences and asking lots of questions. I’ve long been a self-taught learner, choosing to deep dive in subjects of interest and that was the only way to really gain competency in this subject because there was, and still is, so little out there to really help one grasp what is so rapidly happening with it. Anyways, this trip down the rabbit hole led to me becoming a leader, of sorts, in understanding it for maritime related applications. I’m hesitant to recognize myself that way but really smart people keep telling me it’s true so I guess I’ll embrace it nonetheless. So much so that I started at speaking at conferences on the subject, quite a few of them in fact, during 2019 and with plans for more hereafter. I’ve become engaged in building solutions for industry which is exciting at multiple levels, not the least of which is the chance to help create standard-setting systems that will revolutionize certain business processes. Yeah, I get a little geeked out about it and am enjoying the new relationships it’s opening. Cool stuff!
Along those lines, I’m now celebrating 24 years in the maritime trade which is, in and of itself, something quite surprising for me. I proudly come from a small town in deep east Texas where there are no ships. Big bass boats but no ships. My only knowledge of ships growing up was the occasional glances I would get as we passed over the Sidney Sherman bridge that covered the Port of Houston’s turning basin, from which I could see ships unloading cars. That’s it. Didn’t know much more about them than that. But as fate would have it, I became an agent and worked my way up through the business over time. Managed multiple offices for multiple agencies. Weaved my way through the world of international freight from the sunny seashores of the ship channel. Now, all these years later, I’m on the cutting edge of the one of the oldest industries in the history of mankind. Never woulda thunk it! Wasn’t real sure what I wanted to do as a kid but this most certainly wasn’t something I was considering. And yet, here I am. That’s how life works boys and girls!
Speaking of girls, without a doubt the biggest change for me in 2019 is that my first baby became an adult. This time 18 years ago I was holding a tiny tot and trying to figure out why they cried so much. Still trying to figure out why they cry so much. I’ve watched her grow into the beautiful woman she is today – smart as a whip and headed to nursing school real soon. As much as I had no clue about how to raise a child then, I have even less knowledge about how to raise an adult now. I still want to hold and protect her while I know I must release and observe instead. Not exactly sure how to go about all that but going to try my best.
Lots of other stuff happened too. Traveled to China. Traveled lots of places in fact. Ate lots of great food, even with all the changes I made to my diet. Took some fabulous trips with my family, most notably to Hilton Head, SC and Savanah, GA. Had the privilege of being a college commencement speaker (twice!) and was awarded an honorary degree for it – that’s quite the first! Honored to sit on some new boards for community and industry organizations that are making positive differences. Tons of new connections in the business world. Shook hands with billionaires, generals, geniuses and peasant preachers – all equally humbling. Just really fantastic opportunities all around.
So suffice it to say, 2019 has been a big year for me. I’m grateful for it. I haven’t scored well in every column but, for the most part, it’s worked out pretty well for me. I’m better for it. I believe it’s set me in a good place of this next year which has, no doubt, even more exciting changes in store!
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