Up until early last year(!), the last post on this blog was in 2009. That’s nearly 15 years ago. I’d completely forgotten about it until I accidentally logged into WordPress, one of those happy accidents. Since then, I’ve dusted things off a bit, adding a couple of posts I’d originally shared elsewhere.
A lot has changed in the last decade (and a half). Life looks very different now. So, I thought it’d be worth taking a moment to reflect on everything that’s happened and, more importantly, what I’m thankful for. What follows is a loose list of milestones (some big, some small) that have shaped the last 15 years of my life.
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about my digital presence, trying to figure out where I exist online. I’ve grown increasingly unhappy with the direction of social media. It’s just not what it used to be. I miss the days when I could follow my friends’ blogs in an RSS feed and catch up when they posted, not when an algorithm decided to show me something. Blogging always felt more personal, more intentional. So, maybe it’s time to bring some of that back.
This blog isn’t about chasing likes or algorithms. It’s about reflections, documenting life, and keeping friends and family in the loop because, honestly, Facebook’s just too cluttered with noise these days. It used to be about personal connection, but now it’s all about scrolling, consuming, and buying. That’s not what I want.
So, here I am. Writing again. Let’s see how this goes.
2010-2011
Spent a year volunteering with The City Church Canterbury as part of New Frontiers’ Impact service/training programme. It was tough. Demanding, stretching, and not always what I expected. But looking back, I’m thankful for it. The whole experience shaped me in ways I didn’t realise at the time, and it gave me a solid foundation to build on.
2012
Went back to uni to finish my Performing Arts degree at Canterbury Christ Church University. Talk about sunk cost fallacy. Looking back, there’s a lot I could have done differently, but that final year felt like a last sprint to the finish line. My grades weren’t that much better, but my approach had definitely improved. I didn’t walk away with honours, but I did pick up some solid transferrable skills, mainly figuring out how to work with and manage different people. And for that, I’m thankful.
2013
Got a job in London and commuted from Canterbury for about six months. Let me tell you commuting is not fun. It was exhausting, draining, and not at all glamorous. But the job itself? Worth it. I’m thankful for the opportunities it gave me the people I met, the experience I gained, and the doors it opened.
2014
Finally made the move to London. Swapped rent and travel costs and somehow still ended up spending the same amount of money. Transitions aren’t easy for me. I’m a comfort-seeking homebody, and suddenly I was in a new place with barely any connections. But I’m thankful for Emmanuel Church London. Walking into a church and immediately feeling at home made the move a whole lot easier. Leaving Canterbury was tough. I had amazing friends and an incredible church there. But I’m grateful I found the next best thing in Greenwich, and later New Cross, when the church planted a new site.
2015
Started working as an email marketing consultant for Holistic Email Marketing. At the same time, I was at a start-up where I somehow managed to hold three different job titles in 18 months: client support, customer success, and finally, account manager. Basically the same job, just with more financial responsibility (and no extra pay).
Also, started a long-distance relationship with Charlotte. We met in Canterbury, but both moved away around the same time in 2014 and kept in touch. I’m thankful we did.
2016
Charlotte started her LD nursing degree in London. No more long distance! I was thankful to finally ditch the train schedules and weekend meetups and actually do life together. It wasn’t all smooth sailing, though. Living in the same city meant adjusting to each other’s routines in a way we hadn’t before. But we figured it out, and looking back, I’m grateful for how that year shaped us.
2017
This was the year I properly got into tabletop role-playing games. I joined the London RPG Community, made new friends, and discovered just how much fun rolling dice and telling stories with strangers could be. D&D became more than just a game; it was a creative escape and a way to stay sane in the chaos of city life. I’m thankful for the people I met and the adventures we shared around the table.
2018
We got married! Honeymooned in Portugal, where we ate too much, relaxed a lot, and generally had a great time. Some of my family even made the trip from Australia, which was incredible. I’m thankful for everyone who celebrated with us and for the reminder that, no matter how far away they are, they’re always there when it matters.
2019
I got to speak at In Form Slovakia, a marketing conference. Public speaking has always been something I enjoy (weird, I know), and this was a fantastic opportunity to share what I know with an international audience. I’m thankful for the experience, the people I met, and the confidence boost it gave me.
2020
So, I had a stroke. That wasn’t fun. It could have been the end of everything, but it wasn’t, and I’m endlessly thankful for that. Just days after getting out of hospital, the UK went into Covid lockdown. Not ideal timing. Recovery was tough: physically, mentally, emotionally, and doing it in isolation just made it tougher. No visitors, no therapy sessions, just a lot of quiet. But in a weird way, lockdown gave me time to focus on healing. I’m thankful for Charlotte, my family, and friends who supported me from a distance. It wasn’t easy, but I made it through.
2021
Big year. We bought a house in North Somerset and had a baby. Talk about life changes. Suddenly, we were juggling nappies and mortgage payments, figuring out how to be parents while settling into a new place. It was overwhelming at times, but I’m thankful for the stability it brought and the joy (and exhaustion) that comes with it.
2022
I published Disaster Response Division, an admittedly incomplete, barebones RPG inspired by The Division and GilaRPG’s LUMEN system. It was a minimum viable product, but it was mine, and I put it out there. I may never finish it. I had more ideas of what to do with it but world events really put a damp now on my feelings towards making this game in any of its simulation or escapism.
2023
This year was tough. My dad was diagnosed with a brain tumour, and my sister was also diagnosed with a range of cancers one of which even led to a broken leg. In June, when Dad was more stable after his initial treatments, I flew out to spend some time with him. I’m thankful I had that opportunity to just be there, to talk, to laugh, and to remind him that, for now, things were okay. It was a hard year, but I’m grateful for the moments we did get together.
2024
Dad passed away in January. Even though we’d been bracing for it, it still hit hard. I flew out for the memorial and to be with his wife, my stepmother, to help in any way I could. Grief is strange; one moment you think you’re doing okay, and the next, it sneaks up on you out of nowhere.
Meanwhile, my sister’s battles have been persistent, but she’s been even more persistent. She carries on. Even when she’s feeling low, she pushes through treatment, recovery, and the surgeries she’s had, from cancer removal to knee replacement and leg repairs. I’m thankful for her strength and resilience, even when it feels like life won’t let up.
2025
Now, looking forward? Well, I’m looking to get back to speaking at conferences again. And working on a learning platform for email marketing, Holistic Email Academy as a side venture to the consulting work with Holistic Email Marketing.
Jonathan Pay - email marketing consultant 