HALF / LIFE

December '25

Today's email: ~ 450 words | 3 min read

… Looking Back, Looking Forward

Earlier this year, I did something I'd never done before.

I signed up for an adventure trip to free dive and swim with humpback whales in a secret location with 7 people I'd never met and 1 person I'd talked to once at a breakfast spot in La Ventana.

For me, that was a first. And honestly, a risk.

To swim eye-to-eye with a humpback whale is an otherworldly experience. It literally takes your breath away. Life-changing stuff.

But here's the thing — that's not what I'm most grateful for.

What I'm most grateful for is the experience of the unknown and the courage it took to pursue it.

I know that sounds strange. But when was the last time you took a real swing at something unfamiliar? Something where you didn't know what would happen, who you'd meet, or how it would change you?

That trip gave me a crew I never could have assembled on my own. Sisters from Lebanon. A fire inspector from LA. A couple from Georgia. Two guides from Baja. A social media influencer now living in Australia. People I still talk to. People I'll probably adventure with again.

And it reignited something in me — a renewed passion for sea life and the beginning of my journey toward free dive certification.

All because I took a risk. I grew from it. And I'm thankful.

Looking Ahead: 2026

Here's what I know about myself: I can hold my breath for a decent amount of time underwater. I work at it. Not enough, but I do.

I look at breath-hold training as two things; an enabler of experiences I want to have (floating weightlessly underwater, checking out sea life) and a survival skill (being held under longer than expected while doing water sports).

Turns out, when I was 16, I was taught the wrong method. And I used that wrong method for decades.

So in 2026, my goal is to get free dive certified.

I don't need to set a world record. I just want to swim down and chill with sea life. Maybe spearfish. Right now, I'm not even close to overcoming that initial feeling of running out of air. But I want to make real progress.

I don't know where my free dive journey will end. I just know it'll be hard. And I know it'll be worth it.

December's a good time to take stock.

What risk did you take this year that paid off in ways you didn't expect? And what's the thing you want to chase in 2026 — even if you don't know exactly where it leads?

Hit the button if you want to share. I read everything.

'Tis The Season!

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Stay in Motion

Whatever risk you took this year, big or small, I hope it taught you something. And whatever you're chasing next year, I hope you go after it.

This is the first of four December check-ins. Next week, we're expanding the circle. Looking at the people who made this year matter and the ones you want to bring into 2026.

Until then, keep moving.

All the best,
-Tim
HALF / LIFE

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