That’s it for the year. This was a big one for me. I started a new role at Gear Patrol and was swooped up almost instantly in a giant wave of work, technology, processes, managing responsibilities and everything else that comes with a new job. It was daunting at times and overwhelming, but I got my footing about six months in and now I’m feeling looser.
This was also the year I fired this blog newsletter back up. This Hand & Eye project has been with me since 2013. I’ve tried to kill it multiple times, but it just won’t die. I now accept that I’ll be doing this until I can’t type anymore - long after everyone stops reading. I’m good with that.
2022 was also the year I…
Started wearing glasses
Got to visit the Reggae Archives.
Visited San Fruttuoso.
Had my first custom surfboard made. Thank you Marc Andreini!
Got love from a well-known YouTuber for my Swim Call newspaper.
Engraved a watch with a personal motto.
Got diagnosed with skin cancer and got treated for skin cancer (Learned I have to wear sunscreen more).
Planted more rose bushes at Fishers.
Surfed Freights Bay again.
Swam at Bagni Misteriosi in Milan.
Got into NFTs and crypto and got out of NFTs and crypto.
Taught my son to swim.
More than any of those things though, this was the year I found agency in my life again. A few years of therapy and sobriety helped me find and tell my story again. Not too long ago my mind was unsettled and chaotic and now I more intentionally author my life and live contently with my decisions. It’s such a relief.
Be well in the holidays and keep telling your story.
John
Notable Work This Month
This is a project Gear Patrol Studios put together with Braun and photographer Matt Sayles. I wanted to flag it because it stands out as a favorite from the year, something I went a little deeper into here.
Mark Ronson + Madlib + Coca-Cola
I’ll click on anything Mark Ronson posts. I find him amazingly inspiring. Whether it’s his show on Apple, his BBC masterclass stuff or his Insta, color me obsessed. This is a cool idea too. Basically, record a bunch of sounds from a recycling plan and remix them into some songs. Get it? Remixed music is just like recycling. Wink, wink. Well sometimes you can have all the ingredients right, but the dish still doesn’t turn out. Worth a watch anyway because Mark and Madlib.
Where Does all the Cardboard Come From?
Worth it just for the Todd St. John art, but really this is a fascinating deep dive into the material of the day.
Neiman Predictions for 2023
Sort of a must-read for anyone in the media. This one landed for me.
Merry Christmas to all !! 🎄
A rich and intense year. All the best for 2023✌