It’s December 23.
I say this, not because you asked me what the date was (I’m aware that you can make sense of a standard calendar) but because the team and I are about to log off for a week.
So, I wanted to take this opportunity to say, sincerely, and from the very bottom of my heart – thank you.
I genuinely appreciate you opening up your metaphorical door for me every week. It’s an absolute privilege for me.
Cool, now that’s out of the way, let me go back to talking about me ?
It’s been a big year. And I wanted to send you a little wrap up of some key highlights, and key learnings. Because, like I said, I’m grateful that you’re here, and I like chatting to you.
First up, thank you for all of your support of my book for teens, Good Selfie. It certainly wasn’t an easy project. It cost double what I had planned, and took double the time as well. But, I learned a lot (like, y’know, checking that the warehouse is open when your shipment of books arrives. Oh, and to always, always, always be nice to the customs guy).
But when I hear feedback like this “Thank you for making me see life in a whole new and beautiful way” from 13 year old Zara, or stories like this “Our 14yo has been fixated with it. She really needs this right now, and I just want to say THANKS”, it makes it all worth it.
I also want to say a big thank you to our students in my School of Champions.
When people ask me “How did you rebuild your life?” – this is my answer. Having a goal and taking the steps daily to achieve – that’s what got me here.
It’s the answer to whatever it is you want to do in your life – whether that’s run a marathon or be a better parent or get that job promotion. I’m so proud of my SOC-ers and next round, I want to be even more involved in helping them get where they want to go. In our next round I’m committing to 3 x live coaching calls with all my SOC students … #frothing!
Behind the scenes, we’ve been working very hard here at TPI (that’s Turia Pitt International – I really tried to insert my aspirations of world domination into my business name ?) to set up systems and processes so that things run (more) smoothly and so we can do more of what we love.
Also, I’m on maternity leave in, like, two weeks. So we needed to get things up to speed.
I like systems and processes, but the process (haha) of setting them all up, and then ensuring compliance has been painful.
It’s the kind of stuff that I wish I knew how to do when I was first setting up my business years ago, so, with that in mind, we’ve put together a guide of all the processes and tools and software that help our team get things done while working remotely. I’m frothing to share that with you in January. If you want to start or really grow your business in 2020, I think you’ll find it really helpful. And really, everyone loves a sticky beak behind the scenes, don’t they?!
On that business-y front, I’m unbelievably excited about a new project I’ll be launching in Feb. I hate to be so cryptic (I don’t. I actually love to be a mysterious in a Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego kind of way), but it’s something I think a lot of people in this letter gang of ours will really get behind.
I’ll be giving birth pretty much the day the project gets released, so, it’s not ideal timing, but that’s why we’re doing so much work now to get everything set up! Worth it, I think. I’m excited to tell you more about it next year.
Lastly, I want to thank my partners for backing me and helping me do some really cool things this year. I got to take on the Kathmandu Coast to Coast Mountain Run in February, which was an insane challenge and such a good experience. Thanks Kathmandu for backing me.
The guys at Avène also helped me go to France for a few weeks for more treatment on my skin, which was incredible. Their products genuinely help my skin feel and function better and I’m so grateful for that.
I realise that I’m in an incredibly privileged position to work with companies whose products I genuinely use and recommend. And it’s thanks to the support of Mitsubishi, Kathmandu and Avène that I get to keep making and doing cool stuff that helps people get happier and more confident.
And on that front, next year is shaping up to be bigger than ever.
I’m launching something that will really help business owners (and wannabe business owners) in Feb, I’m getting more involved with the legends in my School of Champions, I’m excited to see the rollout of My Wellness Essentials, I’m doing my next fundraising adventure on the Larapinta Trail with Interplast and I’m releasing my next book!!
On that note, I better get off my email and back into finishing the damn book.
I have loved writing this one, but it is so different to my other books and it’s been a massive undertaking. I’m pumped to share it with you …. Just as soon as my editor and I actually get it done! Gah!
Happy holidays to you my friend.
I hope you get some time to reflect on your year, and I’m pumped to share 2020 with you.
Can’t wait to see what we get up to!
Big love,
Turia x
PS – So this doesn’t become a one way street with me just screaming my 2019 wrap up into the ether, can you let me know how your year was in the comments below? I’d love to know what the biggest highlight for you was, and what you’re looking forward to in 2020. I’d genuinely love to know, and so would the other legends who read this blog! Share with us!
You asked about my year? My year was awesome. I was inspired, invigorated and enthusiastic (about everything non work related). Thank you for your messages they really helped my mental and physical well being. Good luck for the new year and best wishes to you and your growing family.
Firstly thank you Turia for a year of arsekicking me via SOC into ‘doing’ a lot of things I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve started a business and it’s going great guns and started writing that book I thought I’d never get to! So – Next year – it will be exercise for me. All the best with baby no 2 and Merry Christmas to you, Michael & Hakavai from me & mine xx
My biggest pleasure was getting to know you and your sound advise on staying motivated….
Thanks for a great 2020
Good luck with the delivery of your little miracle and please keep us posted..
Merry Christmas ? and definitely a Happy New Year..
Still trying to figure out how I can meet you so that you can give me a good talking to and set me straight !
Kind of like a talk with my $*** filter
I don’t want to be a bystander in my life anymore …33yrs and feel 85
Hello Turia!
I have loved reading your letters, and thought I would share some achievements this year.
1. I bought a house and moved in with my partner.
2. We adopted our second greyhound and now we have a house of love and fur!
3. My partner asked me to marry him… Bring on June 2020!
4. I started ballroom dancing, and achieved a High Distinction in an exam – fear conquered!
And probably lots of other things, but these are my favourite.
Thanks for everything you do for us.
A.
Thanks for all your awesome emails direct to my inbox. I’m taking four months long service leave at the start of 2020 and can’t wait. It’s a reset. Reading your emails and book and then a whole bunch of routine life stuff enabled me to see the time was now. You’re a blessing. I hope you know that. Thank you for all your openness, honesty, humour, grit, generosity and love. May 2020 be filled with divine adventures.
Hi At 48 I’m onto my 4th career, this year I started a Cert 3 in individual support (disability) and spent the last 2 months laughing, dancing, talking more than I ever have. So next year I hope to finish my course and get a job in this rewarding industry. I want more work/life balance in 2020 and I think I’m on my way!
I look forward to your emails. 2019 has been a crap year for me health wise. It’s literally been one thing after another. I’m so over it, give me a break. So 2020 had better be 2oo% better. I would like to start a blog next year I’m a pretty good wordsmith. I’m a survivor not a victim. I’M interestedi n the Alanna and Madeline foundation. I wish there had been something like that around when I was growing up, then maybe my life would have been different. Do you have any advice for me about how to start a blog. Thanks Turia.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family . Also wishing you a drama free birth story for number two child.
Dear Turia
Thanks for the inspiration and guidance, all the time. It’s been just what I’ve needed, so thank you, and Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Wishing you a wonderful 2020.
Sue Ritchie
Hi Turia,
I really enjoy receiving your positive, inspiring emails. My year has been massive, one of change. I now live in a remote community in Central Desert Australia while working in an aboriginal Art centre. If someone had told me that at 55 years old I would be having such an adventurous, creative life I would never have believed them. Sure it’s challenging at times though so rewarding. I spend all my spare time exploring and painting the incredible surrounding landscape of Yuendumu. Life is an ever changing landscape!
Enjoy your gorgeous growing family.
Meagan Jacobs x
Dear Turia. Thanks for your messages that appeared in my inbox throughout the year. My year has been a big one.
I’ve had lots of amazing learning experiences and met some great people along the way to achieving my degree in nursing. It took me 5 years to get here as I balanced family and work commitments with study, but it’s been well worth it to finally complete my course.
Next year will be another big one as I embark on the steep learning curve of my nursing career. I’ve met some amazing nurses during the course of my studies and I hope they keep coming my way next year, guiding and mentoring me to be the best nurse I can be.
I’m also hoping to have a bit more family time next year, now that I no longer have uni assignments to do (I’m not sure how this is going to pan out considering the new job, but I’ll do my best).
Wishing you all the best for next year with the expansion of your family, and for your work projects.
Merry Christmas, Lee
Dear Turia,
I love reading all your emails whether they be short stories, ways to achieve mini goals or even emails about just being human and being in the moment. The beached whale story sticks out in my memory as well as having routines in place to keep sticking to a goal even when you don’t want to.
I’ve started pole dancing this year (last 3 months) for fitness, toning and fun and have committed to 2 classes a week. I’ve really noticed a change in my body shape and can actually move myself around the pole with some grace now rather than landing and stomping around it like a wildebeast in a stampede, haha.
I noticed how I’m addicted to going to the classes and so much more motivated to exercise because I love it-really makes a difference.
I have balanced toddlerhood with my 2 year old’s crazy moments and working 3 days a week with special needs students and have continued to manage our family home with my partner, step daughter and toddler son (that one is a big one that I think people overlook) So much to do always!!
Anyways thanks for your inspiration amongst a world that has quite a bit of nonsense/materialistic bullshit in it at the moment.
Cheers and Merry Christmas
Emily D
I did a pretty big thing for me this year, just last week in fact. I got on a plane for the first time in my adult life and it was such a scary thing. Your emails always come at just the right time with such good advice. Hoping that you have a Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year and enjoy the expansion of your family. Thank you for being such an inspiration and look forward to hearing what great things are coming for next year.
In 2019, I overcame massive personnal and professionnal challenges that were not supposed to be on my way.
Also, I accepted more and more the person I was. It was a hard year but also a very rewarding one. On to the next !
Hi Turia,
Just wanted to wish you , Michael & Hakavai a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Grant and I.
Haven’t seen your Mum for a little while, but please wish her a Wonderful Christmas from me and hope we can catch up in the New Year.
Also looking forward to meeting the new bub,
Love & Best Wishes,
Debbie Knight
It was a busy year and I’m glad it’s wrapping up so I can catch my breath! I did something out of character just to challenge myself. I applied for a job in another government department and had an interview. Anyone who knows me, knows how much I had the interview process and I suck at them! Needless to say I didn’t get the job, but still feel happy I had the balls to do it! I love receiving your emails. You are truly inspirational. Have a wonderful Christmas and kick 2020 arse. Good luck with the new Bub ?
Hi Turia and team TPI
Thank you for your regular inspiration ! I feel so proud and privileged to have climbed The Castle in Morton NP just one month ago, shared with my daughter and son. Very special! Its hard knowing that beautiful wilderness has now been burnt out by these relentless bushfires. How lucky am I that I got there before this happened. I’m sure it will recover well once we have good rains again. But without your inspiration I may not have taken on that challenge in time.
Happy Christmas!
Xx
Dear Turia,
Thank you for your 2019 email inspiration and motivation.
This year has been huge for me, i have had a full 12 months off with Maternity Leave, but my little V is turning 1 next week and back to work in Jan, so all good things must come to an end (Or new good things begin!).
Wishing you all the best for the delivery of Mini #2, a Merry Christmas and a great 2020 for your fam.
Thank you for your positivity, wit, and inspiration. I look forward to opening my inbox in 2020.
Xo
Turia thank for sharing the chapters of your path through this beautiful life. My year was awesome. We visited London for the first time and I fell in love with that city, the diversity, history and beauty. . I love to travel since I was a little girl and learn from different cultures. Being bilingual is a great advantage. I live and love my two cultures The American and Puertorrican cultures. I also love to take care of children so that has been a blessing for me after retired from my corporate job. Randy and I enjoy being Active in our senior years. My husband is a musician and he works part time plus shares his music in senior centers as a volunteer. We have been so blessed in so many different ways also with children and grandchildren and her health. We love to give back to the people, family, community that we love and our neighbors. Above all my faith has been very strong and each day I am grateful for the grace of God in my life. I look forward to the new year 2020 and all the surprises it has for us. Have a Merry merry Christmas with your family and have a very good and healthy baby. Love always to you. You are my inspiration and I share your story so many times. My love and my gratitude for being my Facebook friend. There is always a way. There is always a reason to smile to love to give and to live.
Yours truly Carmen.
It’s been an awesome year and I have loved seeing your selfies and reading your so positive perspective on all things shared…thank you! You have inspired me to take steps in my own life to also be there for others in my workplace. And I hope to be a positive influence through 2020 for supporting my peers and every new friend I will make 🙂 We are all stronger together!
Just a few weeks ago I finished up radiation treatment for head and neck cancer. Prior to the radiation I had 2 surgeries that left me weak and scared…. One of the ways I got through this was remembering how you made it thru your surgeries and channeling some of the strength that you have and give off. It was tough and though you may not realize it, you helped me get through it. There were several times I felt like just stopping the radiation – the mask is a horrible thing to have to wear – but each time I thought, “What would Turia do?” And I kept on. Praying for a happier, healthier 2020!!!!
Hi Turia,
This year my husband and I went to India! It definitely was the highlight of my year! I love writing down my dreams on paper, putting them out there. Planting the seed. And then chipping away at them, slowly turning them into reality. Thanks so much for sharing all the things you share with us to make our lives more uplifting! Love your work!
Cheers, Lou xx
Hi Turia,
Firstly I want to wish you all the best in your safe arrival of you baby. Secondly to wish you, Michael and all your families a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
And as for myself, I have only read you first book (given by a friend) and it inspired me to join your team on the Larapidi Trek. There are so many facets to this decision that will have to wait for another conversation. Suffice to say thank you……Al
Hi Turia, it’s been something of a tumultuous year for me, great on the work front, got promoted to a job I genuinely love, alongside major family health issues and the death of my much loved Nana. Personally I have had high highs and low lows and am putting myself first in 2020 so my goals get the priority they deserve. I have been using your morning ritual for some time and the gratitude part really helped when I was down. I love getting your weekly email, they really make me laugh. You’re doing great work so thank you sincerely, very best of luck with your new bub and I look forward to hearing more of your adventures in the new year. Kylie
Thanks for asking how my year was and thanks for genuinely listening. 2019 has been an exhausting year for me. I overworked myself in my first job as a medical social worker and always gave it 200% of my efforts, day in and day out . I neglected to take care of myself and over the course of my work as a medical social worker for a year, i gained over 30lbs. In August of this year, I resigned and flew to Hawai’i to take a break from work and go back to school. Currently I am doing my masters here at UH Manoa. I am loving my time here in Hawai’i however would need some of your advice to help me not overwork myself again, since I am currently interning at a hospital.
Hi Turia, I am only a newbie to TPI. Very much enjoying what I am reading and I wish I had got onto you earlier. 2019 was one huge rollercoaster of a year for me and my amazing partner.
So here is the list of what was 2019.
– 3 operations between my partner and I
– Property settlement with ex-wife that has taken 5 years! yes 5 friggin years
– Magistrates/family court 4 times (thanks to ex-wife)
– Both my partner and I started new jobs
– 3 international trips between us for work
– We brought a house together
– We renovated the house for 4 months
– Got a second dog
– Eldest turned 21
– Family holiday to Thailand (My partner and I and our 4 girls, 4,7,17,21)
– Move into new house and host Christmas day with family
I am glad to see 2020 and feel it is a chance to re-group and start the year with a clean slate. I would put 2019 as the most mentality challenging year of our lives. What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger they say….. I have always thought of myself as someone who is mentality tough, and like most people we have a cupboard full of sad stories.
2020 I am comminuting to a happy life and that is taking care of my mental health and having honest conversations with my shrink. During 2019 I deliberately under reported how I was travelling mentality as I felt if I didn’t talk about it somehow it would actually might not be happening or some other twisted logic. I was in the darkest of places and I cut myself off from the rest of the world, the silver lining is I am social media free and loving it! Wish the older the kids would do the same….(zero chance).
My beautiful girls and loving partner deserve a happy me, I am going to make sure that happens. Talking about my situation is something I haven’t shared with anyone but my partner, I am going to be honest about my experience and be proud I got through it.
I feel better for writing this note and here is too a happy 2020! Thank you and all the best with the new bub.
In 2019 I started to grow my gut health business whilst still working full time as a specialist vision teacher.
I have just discovered your page and am working my way they your content.
All the best with the birth kg your new bub.
I hope to attend one of your talks one day.
Sorry for the typos, should have proofread before posting 🙂