As we approach the end of another year, I can’t quite believe how quickly time has flown by. You’ll have noticed it too – annual planning meetings seem to come around in the blink of an eye, and somehow Christmas is just 13 days away (cue mild panic about my non-existent gift shopping progress!).
It’s remarkable to reflect on all that’s happened. It feels like yesterday that my partner Natalie and I welcomed our beautiful daughter, Isla, into the world. Now she’s turned one, and it’s incredible to see how much she’s grown and changed so quickly. Watching her grow and hearing her first word (obviously “mummy”) have been some of the most precious moments of my life. We also had the joy of taking her around the Caribbean (she was a very lucky six-month-old).
This year has been significant for my professional development. I sat four exams and recently passed my Diploma in Financial Planning, marking an important milestone in my career. Balancing studying with a baby and a puppy was certainly challenging, but the hard work has paid off.
But amid the highs, this year has brought sobering reminders of life’s unpredictability. I attended three funerals for friends who died far too soon; men who were fathers, sons, brothers, uncles and nephews, with so much left to do and dreams left unfulfilled. Each loss served as a powerful reminder of how fragile life is and how little control we sometimes have over its course.
This theme of life’s fragility has surfaced in other ways too. Recently, I watched a documentary about former England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson’s battle with terminal cancer. Sven’s journey, though marked by an inevitable end, was one he approached with incredible dignity and courage. Despite knowing his time was limited, he felt peace, knowing he’d led a fulfilling life and achieved so much. He had done what he wanted to do, and because of that, he could meet the end with a rare calm and pride.
His story is a profound reminder: life is unpredictable, but by living life on purpose and pursuing our passions and dreams, we can find contentment when it’s time to say goodbye. Doing what we truly want to do, being with the people we care for, and building memories that matter; that’s what allows us to look back with satisfaction and face the unknown with peace.
To all our clients and friends in financial planning, I urge you to remember that life moves fast and is indeed fragile. We don’t know how much time we’ll have, so let’s make the most of it. When our time eventually comes, may we all face it with the same bravery, peace and contentment as Sven.
