Open Heart, Open Road: Reflecting on a Life-Changing Year

Turning 44 this past October felt especially big this year but this isn't a post complaining that I'm getting old, that's a fact I can't change, it's a reflection on the year past. Looking back, 2025 has been a full-blown whirlwind. From open-heart surgery to being "restructured" out of a job, to traversing ancient ruins and welcoming a new career chapter, it's been a lot. But I’m still standing, I’m recovering, and I’m incredibly grateful.

Before the health drama took over, I managed to squeeze in some amazing travel experiences. I finally made the pilgrimage to Gallipoli in Turkey, which was a massive bucket list item for me and has been for 20+ years. Walking that terrain, you see the impossible odds firsthand and it really put life in perspective. While we as a society complain about trivial matters on Facebook, these soldiers put themselves between enemies and the freedoms that we mostly take for granted these days. The difference between the planned landing spots and Anzac Cove is staggering and horrific. I even found shrapnel and canteen pieces still sitting in the trenches. But the thing that stuck with me most was the people. I met three Turkish men who asked where I was from, and when I said Australia, they hugged me and called me "brother".

The trip was bittersweet as we lost "Papa Papa" while I was flying. He was an adventurer who had never been to Turkey and was so excited about my journey there, so in a way, I felt like I was taking him with me. I promised to celebrate his life rather than mourn it, and what a life it was.

Then it was on to Greece. I spent days exploring archaeological sites in Athens, amazed by the history locals walk past every day without a second thought. I had a laugh with a vegetarian friend I was travelling with at a restaurant; when we asked for meat-free options, the waiter suggested "seafood". Pretty sure he was joking, but I'm not 100% sure on that. I had also planned to visit Santorini, the "most beautiful sunset in the World", but with the hundreds of earthquakes happening there at the time, I asked myself "if Ericka and the boys were here, would we go?". The answer was no, so I played it safe.

I wrapped up the travel adventures with my first WordCamp Asia experience in Manila, connecting with the community despite some horrible flight times. We also did a couple of trips to Sydney to visit Amanda (I'm writing this from her dining table actually) which is always lovely.

Just as I was settling back in, life threw a curveball. I went from feeling fine to finding out I had a faulty aortic valve. It was a congenital issue that I now know affects about 1% of people. The surgery at the Royal Adelaide Hospital was successful, but the recovery was a lesson in patience. I went from being active and playing basketball twice a week, to not being able to lift anything heavier than 4kg and feeling gassed going up the stairs. Not being able to pick up Ethan was the hardest part, but rehab got me back on my feet and I consider myself fully recovered at this point. I'll be dealing with medications and lifestyle adjustments for the rest of my life but the alternative is not worth thinking about any longer.

Through the surgery and recovery, Ericka was my absolute rock. She carried the extra load with the boys while I healed with the help of family and friends. As for the boys? Jaxon is growing up too fast. He conquered reception and his fear of the big slides. He won awards for maths at school and spoiling me with a Minecraft coasters, pictures and stories regularly.

And then there's Ethan. He is a wilful, confident, cheeky, beautiful little boy, but he has been hard work! Sleep is an ongoing battle for us. I have, however, come to treasure our early morning playdates. It's our special time, and it gives Ericka an extra hour or two of much-needed rest.

My career took a hit at the worst possible time when I was "restructured" out of Awesome Motive right before my surgery. It was clearly a rough year for the tech industry in general and I can't even count the number of colleagues and friends affected. We are seeing layoffs everywhere, even if companies don't want to call them that, and Google's algorithm changes are wreaking havoc on lead generation for digital and software companies. It blows the mind the amount of power that these tech giants have over the livelihoods of literally millions of people.

In saying that, stress and anxiety can be a good motivator. Facing surgery inspired me to launch Si Forte, a platform to help families organize crucial info for emergencies. I needed to know my family would be okay if things went sideways. By June, I landed on my feet with a new role at LevelUp. I consider myself fortunate to have landed on my feet given the current climate and even more so to be back to it so quickly with such a welcoming and amazing team of people to work with and learn from.

It was a tough year, but our hardest moments show us who we really are. Thanks to everyone who checked in, sent love, or just tolerated my travel spam. Here’s to a healthy 2026, probably a little more quiet on the travel front as we save for our family home!

Here's to bigger and better things!