2022
My year in review
Contents
🧐 Looking ahead
An intro to what I thought the year would be like before it started.
🔢 By the numbers
Any year is impossible to quantify, but some metrics are fun to track.
🎬 Best movies of the year
2022 was a mediocre year for movies, but there were some greats.
📚 Favorite books of the year
My reading was more back to “normal” this year.
✈️ Places I visited
I snuck in a couple continents.
😄 Highs and lows
There were more highs than lows, but I reflect on both.
📸 My year in pictures
Enjoy a snapshot—or several, rather—from my year.
✏️ Featured updates and musings
My public writing was less than normal, but my podcasting was up.
🚀 Projects and pivots
I experienced some pretty great pivots this year.
👀 Looking back
As I reflect on the year, here’s how it leaves me feeling.
Looking ahead 🧐
I turn 40 this year. While that may make some quiver at the thought, I’m excited for it. I still feel like my life is just beginning.
That said, as I prayed entering into the year, asking for a single word upon which I could focus heading into 2022, I heard the word “Time.”
Perhaps that’s appropriate. With the “hill” fast approaching—or rather, me quickly approaching its crest—I feel a new sense of urgency, even as I also feel excitement.
My own age isn’t the only thing on my mind, either. With my two eldest children now in their teen years, it’s also time with Riley, Tolan, and Beckett that I want to maximize. I won’t ever get these years back with them, and I hope to make the most of it. I know we can. Given the decision Nicole and I recently made to sell our house and travel abroad during the forthcoming summers, I know this is going to be a big, game-changing year in the life of my entire family.
Still, as I think ahead to all that 2022 might be filled with, I remain trepidatious. The last 2 years have been difficult to say the least (as they have been for the whole world!), even while they’ve also been filled with growth and joy through the process. My learnings from last year are ones I don’t want to forget heading into 2022. I’ll do my best to stay focused on what matters most and regain some of the weekly time back that has been required elsewhere of late.
There isn’t as crisp of a theme to these considerations as there was last year. Still, while my sight might be a bit cloudy entering this year, I know that God will do with the time what He will. That is a truth as reliable as ever. As I enter this year, I’ll try to keep the wise words of C.S. Lewis in mind, who said…
The present is the only time in which any duty may be done or grace received.
Thank you for your present and never ceasing grace, Lord Jesus.
Considered on…
January 7, 2022
Word for the year
Time
I’m 43% of the way to age 90, all the years I want
By the numbers 🔢
175
Movies watched
40
Books read
5
Places visited
30
Updates shared
6
Projects prioritized
2
Pivots made
Also, I read the Bible 359 days of the year, I launched over 200 new webpages of content, my company grew 188%, and I crossed 4 activities off my bucket list. Numbers surely aren’t everything, but they’re fun to review.
Best watches of the year 🎬
Out of the 175 total movies and 86 new movies and miniseries I watched this year, these were the ones that made the best impression on me.
1️⃣ Everything Everywhere All at Once. At its sweet, gooey core, this movie is all about the heart of a parent and the longing of a child, touching on themes of love, failure, regret, hope, and more. But it is wrapped in a story that is wilder than any I’ve ever seen—and I absolutely adored it.
2️⃣ Top Gun: Maverick. Maverick is back, as is some sweet nostalgia. This flick is so well crafted, so expertly edited, that it’s a high speed blast from beginning to end. This will probably be the movie I rewatch most from this year—and I’ll enjoy the ride every time.
3️⃣ The Fabelmans. Steven Spielberg tells his own story through a slightly tweaked telling—a fable, if you will. It’s a lovely tale about family, art, heartache, hope, growing up, and oh yeah, movies.
4️⃣ Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio. This is not to be confused with any other telling of Pinocchio. GDT spent his whole life dreaming about making this movie—and it shows on every frame. I was unexpectedly moved by this film and it’s one I encourage the whole family enjoy.
5️⃣ All Quiet on the Western Front. If you want a full-scale assault of a film illustrating why war is terrible, this is it. The most anti-war war film I’ve ever seen, I was devastated watching this piece of cinema. Not a film for everyone.
6️⃣ The Northman. A well made mythological—though historically accurate—telling of vikings, revenge, and legacy. Every scene is absolutely stunning.
7️⃣ Barbarian. This film isn’t for everyone, I understand, but if you like dark comedy, a little horror, and monsters getting their comeuppance, I highly recommend it. This was the film I was most surprised by all year.
8️⃣ The Menu. Ralph Feinnes is at his sardonic best. It’s more dark comedy than horror, but there’s a taste of that here, too.
9️⃣ The Women King. Viola Davis brings the ferocity and pain. Thrilling from beginning to end.
🔟 Thirteen Lives. The verisimilitude that’s displayed in this true story made for the screen is amazing to behold. Hold your breath and watch heroism at its finest.
📣 Honorable mentions (i.e. they made my top 20) also include Hustle, Avatar: The Way of Water, The Batman, The Outfit, Glass Onion, Lightyear, Resurrection, Nope, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, and White Noise. I suspect Tár, Women Talking, and She Said could shift my list’s order a bit, too, but I haven’t seen those flicks yet. I plan on it, though.
👀 There’s more, too. Check out the other 155 movies, miniseries, and television shows I gave at least one watch over the year. My IMDb list is the spot.
Favorite books I read 📚
I got back to reading more this year, getting 40 books in over 2022. Here were my favorite reads of the year, not including any of my rereads.
1️⃣ Satisfy Your Soul by Bruce Demarest. If you’re looking for more practical ways to improving your relationship with Jesus, I haven’t read many better books than this one on the subject. This book provides tried and true ways from biblical wisdom, church history, and more to experience more depth in your walk with Christ.
2️⃣ Her Gates Will Never Be Shut, by Bradley Jersak. The Holy Spirit did a number on me as I read this thoughtful, thorough, and compassionate review of infernalism, annihilationism, and universalism. In other words, it’s about hell—but it’s a heavenly rendition on the subject. If you’ve wrestled with this challenging topic, I highly recommend this book. “Love obligates us to such hope.”
3️⃣ Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools, by Tyler Staton. I have long prayed that I might become a man of prayer. While I pray, I wouldn’t say it’s my go-to “instinct,” or the thing I do “without ceasing,” as the Bible encourages. This book gave me fresh inspiration and the Holy Spirit used it to gently, but also firmly, challenge me onward and further my desire in this arena. Continue Your work in me, Abba.
4️⃣ 48 Laws of Spiritual Power, by Frank Viola. This is a helpful handbook to all believers, giving both biblical and practical wisdom on how we might be further conformed to becoming humble, meek vessels of the Lord’s glorious, mighty power on the earth. The wisdom shared here, though, is nothing like the “power” that is too often sought by those within the church. Read this!
5️⃣ Victory in Christ, by Charles G. Trumbull. This was my first Trumbull book, and it certainly won’t be the last. As I read it, I was reminded of my favorite author, Watchman Nee—and it comes as no surprise, because I discovered he translated one of Nee’s books, The Life That Wins. If you want power over sin, not just pardon from it, read this book as soon as possible. It’s a must-read for believers.
📚 I also read (or re-read*) The Alchemist*, The Bible, Christ, the Sum of All Spiritual Things, Classic Christianity, A Confederacy of Dunces, A Course Called Scotland, Deeper Experiences of Famous Christians, Disney U, Do Nothing*, Dune*, Encounters with Silence*, The Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism, Falling Upward, The Furious Longing of God*, Go Tell It On the Mountain, The God of Israel and Christian Theology, God Tells the Man Who Cares, The Great Omission, A Guide for the Perplexed, The Indwelling Life of Christ, Insurgence*, Letters to the Church, Life on the Highest Plane, The Message of the New Testament, Molecule of More, Mornings With God, The Normal Christian Life*, Postcards from Babylon, Reading While Black*, Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God, Sit, Walk, Stand*, Spiritual Authority, A Table in the Wilderness, The Secular Creed, and Weapons of Mass Instruction
*Obviously, if I’ve re-read it, I probably love it, even though it’s not on my top 5.
I visited 5 other spots 🗺
The year was filled with some incredible travel, including an entirely new continent for me. And in fact, my family and I didn’t just “visit” these places, we ended up living in one of them for nearly two-and-a-half months. It was a life-changing year.
🏰 Anaheim, California was a nice little pitstop for my family on the way to South Africa, allowing us to enjoy a one-day getaway to Disneyland before we boarded for nearly 33 hours of travel to follow. I also made my way through LAX a couple times this year.
🇿🇦 Cape Town—and all of the gorgeous South African countryside that we experienced—was an absolute joy of a first city to live in as we explored our first summer abroad. Read all about it. I don’t count it, but my family and I did get to take a quick jaunt through the Amsterdam airport on the way to South Africa, too.
🌲 Winter Park, Colorado proved a fantastic place to retreat with Journeyage, even meeting some of my team members for the very first time in person. Though I didn’t enjoy burning the flesh off my left arm and knee while I went down the alpine slide. 🤕
🏴 My best friends and I crammed an action-packed day in London, England on the way to celebrate my 40th birthday in the Scotland highlands. We even happened to do it on the day that the Queen died, which made it all the more memorable.
🏴 I crossed another item off my bucket list as my friends and I traveled to spend 8 days in Ballater, Scotland, driving all over the Scottish highlands to enjoy the birthplace of golf and Mecca of whisky. It was the trip of a lifetime.
❤️ Though I myself didn’t go on the adventure, I was thrilled that Nicole and Riley got to celebrate our daughter’s 16th birthday by enjoying a week-long trip in Paris, France with their best friends. Incredible.
There were highs 😄
Some of the highest highs, in fact.
South Africa was a gift to my family, and we fell in love with the people and country; specifically, meeting the people of Life Church made our trip all the more wonderful
All of my 40th birthday trip with my best friends is impossible to top, but the standout highlight was the gift of my brother, David, being on the trip and what he shared with me; it was overwhelming
Holding my first book in my hands was pretty sweet—not to mention seeing it in other people’s hands
On the topic of authorship, it’s been sweet to talk with people (all around the world, surprisingly!) I didn’t know about the impact the book has had on them
Surprising Nicole with seeing her brother, Ian, before we left for South Africa was a real treat
Entering into a new season with our church community has been a gift, allowing everyone to host rather than just us, and we’ve appreciated the change greatly
Riley’s successes on the stage have been so fun to watch, and I couldn’t be more proud of her
I crossed off some significant bucket list items
Paragliding in Cape Town was magical
It was a joy to join the wedding party of my first authentically Jewish wedding—congrats Shermans!
Nicole and I had some real parenting wins with all of the kids; we really love having teens
For the first time in many years, my work time was only spent on one business rather than two or more—phew
Be Do Go You, my purpose discovery course, finally went live after a year of delays on my part
My reading was back on point, and there were several books that changed me from the inside out
The food around the house we moved into has been dangerously good
And there were lows 😩
2022 wasn’t perfect, of course.
My mom suffered a stroke and way too many trips to hospitals, recovery centers, and doctors’ offices
The physical and emotional toll of the stroke on my dad and mom was hard to watch, and I didn’t always know how to best help or support them
Leaving our home on Gleneagles was a sad day for all of us, even if bittersweet
Riley’s sadness over and challenge with our move was difficult to navigate before we left for South Africa; Nicole and I wanted to be compassionate, but her lack of perspective at times made the ongoing conversation difficult to navigate
Saying goodbye to the people we met and loved in South Africa was very difficult
I didn’t make strategic business decisions as early as I should have, and my delay resulted in a number of failures and regrets that I will learn from heading into next year
My engagement in Journeyage over the summer was more difficult than I had imagined as I was away in South Africa; I learned a lot for future years
Relationships were somewhat strained, though they felt improved by the end of the year
My physical health routines have remained terrible ever since COVID, and I need to fix them
A hernia I’ve had in my gut got worse near the end of the year, and it’s still not fully resolved
My arm skin getting scraped (i.e. burned) off as I skid down the alpine slide in Winter Park was not fun—though I did still win 3rd place in our game, somehow
📸 My year in pictures
I wrote...some 📣
I really didn’t write that much on the personal front this year, though I did enjoy spending time talking on podcasts with others about the principles of faith, rest, and Spirit-led work that I wrote about in Do Nothing.
Hello, 40
I can finally see over the hill. Here’s what I see…
South Africa is looking rather blurry right now
This is why we decided to live our summers abroad.
Nuzzled
A poem to my son, Tolan, on his 14th birthday.
Without a map
An invitation from our family to yours—in poem form.
#cottrellsabroad
Follow along with our family as we travel abroad.
Interviews about my book
P.S. I’m still open to speak if you have a podcast, too.
Projects and pivots 🚀
There were 2 major pivots that happened in 2022, one of which was just seeing through the decision Nicole and I made at the end of last year to sell our house. That was fast, going from “idea” to living in another country less than 6 months later. I also finally added a new title to my resume—published author. Though I certainly don’t feel like an author still, it’s nice to have that out in the world.
As for the projects I worked on in 2022, it was a year of whittling down and refinement.
I stopped all other shared-time initiatives with other companies and focused 100% of my workdays on Journeyage. We grew revenue significantly, celebrated some big wins, and added new team members, while also losing some great ones. Onward.
Do Nothing finally got published and it’s been a joy to see how people have engaged with it. Have you bought and read your copy, yet? If so, 5-star reviews are certainly appreciated!
Stories of Color was a blast to continue supporting on nights and weekends alongside Nicole. She grew the catalog to over 2,250 titles and we saw it reach people in over 80 countries. Wow.
Be Do Go You went live. Finally. The main thing I was dragging my feet on since 2021 was producing the video lessons, but I found a good way to get those done before Black Friday, and I’m really happy it’s live for people to now enjoy. It was built for you.
My personal website (yeah, the one you’re reading now) was something I dabbled with this year, but did less on in 2022 than I had in 2021. I still managed to add some solid new how-tos, though.
The Foundation, the church community we’ve called family for 12 years switched from meeting solely in our home to meeting house-to-house, just like the church in Acts 2:46-47. That said, I have a hard time calling this a project any longer, as it really is just our shared Life community at this point. I’m thankful.
Looking back 👀
It’s been a big, BIG year. Frankly, it feels like my family and I crammed 3+ years of activity into 1 action-packed period of 12 months.
We formed new relationships that we are confident will last a lifetime. We experienced places and adventure that we never expected. Our kids grew up so much this year, and we got to be there right alongside them, learning with them through the process. Many things grew. Some responsibilities lessened. And all the while, we had fun as we went.
I am truly grateful. The time the Lord granted me with my family and friends was just unreal—a dream come true. When I was in Scotland, listening to the bagpiper that my friends surprised me with as we arrived in Ballater, I thought to myself, “I could die a happy man right now.” It’s true. The year, just 9 months in—and my life, 40 years in—was a gift of epic proportions. 2022 put that truth into clearer view than ever before, even though I remain grateful for the low years, too.
With all that excitement and adventure, of course, there also came a great deal of effort. My mom’s stroke was completely unforeseen, and that was extremely difficult for me emotionally, leading us to even reconsider leaving for South Africa. Getting out of Phoenix to South Africa proved quite a challenge, too, with some unexpected COVID exposure for our youngest just before we left. And then there were the teenage emotions about leaving our home to navigate, as I mentioned in my lows of the year.
As I look back on the year, I must also admit my failures. There were business decisions I should have made earlier that I hesitated, hemmed, and hawed on too long. I was too optimistic about some things occurring (a fault I can regular encounter), and I didn’t do what I needed to do when I needed to do it. It was my mistake, and one that I won’t—and can’t—make again next year. I have a lot of things on my mind about what I need to do next year, but I’ll save that for my year in advance rather than this review.
In short, I’m thankful—wildly, stupidly, unapologetically thankful. It was a year to remember, and I still feel like I’m just getting started.
Thank you, Jesus, for yet another year of Your incredible presence, Grace, and freedom. You are truly Life abundant, and I praise You with my hands lifted high.
Reflected on…
December 29, 2022
Emojis for the year