Hi friends,

 

I wrote this note while in a Careem because driving in Amman is sometimes too much for my nerves, especially on Christmas week when I drive to the mall multiple times to get the list done without being late for the baby's feeding time.

 

A long winter break is about to start for the kids, and yes, exam time was not as bad as I thought. Would you please be so kind as to remind me next year?

 

The highlight of my week was yesterday when I spent half a day with my accountability partner, Rania, to set our goals for next year. It's a ritual that we have been doing for 6 years. We usually have 1 meeting at least every December to prepare for the new year at a cozy cafe we love. This year, however, she came over, and baby Basil joined us.

 

We spent time doing an elaborate goal-setting exercise that started with defining values. It was a lot of work and reflection, and we each landed on 7 values, but my most important 3 values were Time, Growth, and Creativity. One of the exercises we did was the Life Score Assessment. Let me know your score by replying to this email. I can help you improve it next year with my All-Year-Goals program, which will soon launch.

 

In the evening, I attended an event for goal-setting with 180 Degrees Training Company, which was very well-organized. I was happy to sit among an audience passionate about goal-setting. The trainers, Odai and Fadi, did a great job inspiring the audience to have a "different" beginning, not just a new one.

 

As we celebrate Basil's first Christmas this week and his 5-month milestone, I wish you a joyful holiday season and a wonderfully cozy winter.

 

Snapshot from my week: Goal-Setting at home, take 1.

Here is your weekly dose of The Sunday Spark ⚡️ a newsletter listing 3 sparks that I thought were worth starting your week with: 

 

1. ️  ✨ Nir Eyal's post made me understand how to define values better than anything else I've read about the topic. Check it out.

 

2. 🎹 My life's soundtrack these days: Christmas Peaceful Piano on Spotify. 

 

3. 💬 I hope you get to look back at this year with gratitude, if not, I hope you take action to do that in Dec 2025:

 

“When I look back at the past and think how much time was spent in vain, how much of it was lost in delusions, in errors, in idleness, in the inability to live; how I failed to value it, how many times I sinned against my heart and spirit — then my heart contracts in pain. Life is a gift, life is happiness, each moment could have been an eternity of happiness. Si jeunesse savait! [If youth knew!]”

― Fyodor Dostoyevsky

 

Happy Anniversary to the Sunday Spark! This is Sunday Spark issue #212. Some of you have been here since the very beginning 4 years ago! Thank you!

 

 

 

 

Calendar love: This is week 52, day 357 of the year! A fresh start is around the corner!

Still reading? I'm flattered! Here are some cool resources I personally use, love and recommend:

 

 

Note: some of the links above may be affiliate links, but always keep in mind that I don’t endorse anything I don’t use and love myself.

In case you missed this on Instagram…

 

See you next Sunday First name / my dear friend

 

* Note: To the best of my ability, I am trying to share content by authors who have not disappointed me, and they are hard to come by! Please let me know if any author I share about was disrespectful to Palestine.