Reflecting on a Year of Growth and Gratitude!

12 months ago, I began a journey to launch Jordan’s Shorts. During that time, I have published 62 newsletters, over 40 videos, gained 1,000 followers, and now have over 800 subscribers. Whether you are a subscriber or a follower, I wanted to take a moment to say thank you for the support, the comments, and the ideas—or better said, the inspiration—to publish every week.

As this is the final edition for the calendar year 2025, the topic for this newsletter is about appreciating what you have versus always believing the grass is greener elsewhere. Today, we have terms like FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and YOLO (You Only Live Once), along with social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and more, which often amplify feelings of dissatisfaction or disappointment in ourselves and our situations. Why is it that we can’t simply appreciate what we have?

It’s a profound question, and one I’m not entirely sure I’m qualified to answer, as I too find myself caught in this paradigm from time to time. Who hasn’t seen someone walking down the street, smiling or wearing a stunning outfit, and thought, "I wish I felt like they do"? The irony is, we have no idea what’s going on in that person’s life. While they may seem to have everything together on the outside, their internal world could be in turmoil. They might be broke, lonely, battling illness, or facing even worse challenges.

As humans, it’s natural to feel jealousy, insecurity, or a sense of being left out. But finding a way to appreciate what you have is, in my opinion, the key to success and happiness.

In the 1860s, George Eliot coined the phrase, "Don’t judge a book by its cover." Back then, there was no TV, internet, or social media to amplify comparisons, yet the wisdom still rings true. Keeping this phrase in mind when observing others might be one of the easiest ways to shift our focus from what we lack to what we have.

This principle doesn’t just apply to our personal lives but also to our professional ones. People often leave jobs because they perceive the grass is greener elsewhere or receive an offer they feel they can’t refuse. Don’t get me wrong—money is important. But working for the right company, surrounded by the right people, often outweighs a slightly higher paycheck. After all, we spend 80% of our time working, and prioritizing culture and fulfillment over money is usually the better choice.

In conclusion, I realize this mindset is easier said than done. I struggle with it myself and occasionally fail to appreciate what I have. However, as I grow older, it gets a bit easier to avoid jealousy and FOMO and simply focus on gratitude.

As we turn the calendar from 2024 to 2025, I hope you’ll join me in embracing the life we have today, rather than the one portrayed on TV, Instagram, or elsewhere.

Happy New Year!