I started picking a theme for each year after a friend told me about their habit of doing it. But rather than deciding on the theme on January 1 – I have a general direction in mind for the year, with resolutions and whatnot, and then let the theme emerge.
Four to six months into the year, the theme is usually fairly obvious.
By mid 2025, my theme was The Tide. Here’s how I came up with that, and how a favourite co-worker of mine inspired me to be more like The Tide.
We all met in Alberta, and then moved to Squamish, and then to Cumberland in 2025, always closer to the ocean. A personal goal of mine during this move from Squamish to Cumberland was to work on my own consistency – in work, life, and relationships. Consistency became a common theme during difficult blocks of work or when tough emotions hit.
I was inspired by one co-worker of mine – he showed up like the tide – Reliably, every day, he was always there.
The first, and main pillar, for The Tide was consistency. Now this is a big change in my life, because I can detail (and acknowledge) that I had a hard time accepting that good times, bad times, tough times, “whatever” times came and went.
When I was younger, I avoided the bad times. In my late 20s, and especially 30s, I started to embrace the ups and downs. I struggled with letting the good times end, to the point where I’d start thinking about the ending of a good moment or time while I was still having a good time….
**Good time destroyed**
But then I realized that this acknowledgement and experience of the good times and the bad times made life much better; ultimately it pushed me to pursue my crazy ideas, love and my own version of fulfillment.
Funny enough, this co-worker of mine was one of the best examples of taking the good and the bad, and supported this vision of mine to be more consistent.
The second pillar of The Tide is presence – and this builds directly off of consistency. Being present in the moment was the mechanism by which I was allowed to be more consistent and truly enjoy experience.
This co-worker of mine had this incredible ability to always be present.
The third pillar, which is more of an imagery pillar – less to do with the daily routines and mindset – everything to do with proximity to the ocean.
We moved to Cumberland, and have spent more time on the ocean this year then ever in our lives. We’re closer to the actual tide, and “The Tide” theme is complete with this imagery.
My best friend / co-worker was born near the ocean, on the opposite side of the country, in P.E.I. He always loved it there, and when he was at the ocean, he took it all in.
He loved the breeze, the sand, and he was incredibly social with the beach-going crowds.
I was truly inspired by my best friend. He came in quietly, like The Tide, always reliable, always present.
He didn’t speak, of course. But he understood everything.
I only met him four years ago, but he was there through big changes, through difficult ventures that didn’t work out, and he was there consistently, with me, every day. Sometimes all day, some days just part of it. His presence helped me balance life, start the day, work one more hour, take breaks, get outside, breathe, relax. He did this funny thing where he would lift a paw to ask for a pet if you hadn’t payed attention to him in a while.
And then this past year he started to slow down; he used to come on bike rides, and those had to end. Then there were good days and bad days. He told us how he felt, and we listened; he knew exactly what he wanted in each moment, and he made it clear.
He loved and wanted us present, whether the day was good or bad.
And then we’d travel, or we’d move, and he would come, and he absolutely loved coming along. When we packed our bags to go anywhere, he would lay near the pile of bags, as if to say “Ready when you are.” He came with us to the ocean.
Yesterday, he seemed a little off, but he still showed up for work. He went on a couple of walks, and then we came home for dinner. Reliable as always.
Later, I took him for a drive. I had to pick him up to get him into the truck, but he came along (he loved the truck). He loved coming with me, especially when we stop for fries at a burger place, like we did this time. We usually don’t tell mom about those trips.
When we got home, he looked a bit sad.
By 11:45, he was in so much pain he couldn’t get comfortable or lie down.
We were there to make him comfortable. He found some relief. We stayed right there with him.
We were there at 2:45 a.m. while he slept peacefully.
We were there at 3:00 a.m. when he left.
He wanted us there; he was ready to go.
The weight of you being gone is something we’ll always feel, but I wouldn’t trade a second of the time we had.
I love you, Kohen.
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