Ali Jafarian
Ali Jafarian

2022 was a year of adventure!

The Jafarian family chose adventure as our word for the year and we certainly honored that. With the pandemic out of the way, we became intentional about exploring our state, our country, and ourselves.

It was a year of highs, lows, and extraordinary experiences.


Family

Let’s kick things off with a family update!

Everest

My son, Everest, is turning 7 and he’s full of life. His love for super heroes is still strong, supported by a new interest in sports. There is always a new Marvel movie being acted in our house – or – a game of living room soccer being played. I’m inspired by his creativity and passion ๐Ÿ™‚

Some of Everest’s 2022 highlights include:

  • Starting 1st grade (big boy school)
  • Learning to ride a bike
  • Playing Nintendo Switch
  • Collecting Pokemon cards
  • Attending his first Broncos, Rockies and Avalanch games
Sepia

My daughter, Sepia, is turning 5 this year and owning her personality. In many ways she practices conscious leadership more than her father! For example, she’ll tell you exactly how she feels and what she wants. She also lives a highly creative life inspired by curiosity. It’s so fun to watch and I’m inspired by her ability to show up as her true self.

Some of Sepia’s 2022 highlights include:

  • Creating massive amounts of art
  • Enjoying tea parties
  • Taking care of the garden daily
  • Singing Christmas carols all through the year
  • Experimenting with makeup (which dad is still uneasy about…)
Gabrielle

My wife and life partner is thriving in her own ways. She continues to prioritize family and keep our home in prime shape. She’s also more involved as a teacher at Sepia’s pre-school.

Some of Gabrielle’s 2022 highlights include:

  • Decluttering our house via donations and selling things we don’t need
  • Staying active with boxing workouts
  • Experimenting with amazing home cooked recipes and plant based meals
  • Finding awesome documentaries around things like grounding that inspire us to live more intentionally
  • Helping me with my podcast (chief editor)
  • Becoming a great aunt!! Welcome to the world, baby Ocean ๐Ÿ™‚

Gabrielle is the type of person who will always put others first. She lives that by creating a home for our family to flourish and thrive. She’s also in tune with new ways to help us live more naturally.

Dad

Big Rez is still slanging rugs and loving life in Deutschland (Germany). He made a couple visits to the states this year for some time with us and time on the slopes! He’s 69 years old and still hitting some Black runs with his son. He’s also still doing his taxes after all these years… amazing.

Mom

My mom is also firing on all cylinders as she enters the best phase of life. She gives life to others in her day job by managing activities and recreation for senior citizens. Every week she creates time to hang out and stay active with her grandchildren!

I also had the opportunity to travel with her this year on a mother-son trip to Washington (details below).

Brother
Amir’s response when asked if he was handling the hike alright.

Amir is still living in China with his wife, Viola, and 5 cats! Yes, I typed that correctly – 5 feline children. They recently moved into a bigger apartment to provide the cats with a bigger living space. There is word through the grapevine that they might move back to the states soon… so feel free to drop him a convincing message at your leisure ๐Ÿ˜‰

I was able to spend a few days with him and my dad in Ireland. That picture above reflects how he’s doing.

Raja
Raja getting her last brushing in one of her favorites places to rest.

This was our biggest loss of 2022. Back in May we lost our beloved Raja… ๐Ÿ˜ข

Raja’s passing was the heaviest grief I’ve felt in a long time. I now realize that underneath this grief was a lot of love. Raja touched my life in so many ways over the years… and her death changed my heart in new ways I can’t even describe.

I wrote a tribute blog post to her here:

A Tribute to Raja Jafarian

Our girl will be forever missed, but never forgotten ๐Ÿ™‚

Friends & Family

We had a lot of time with friends and family this year! Below are some various people that we were blessed to share experiences with.


Gardening

The Jafarian clan was busy in the garden this year, as usual, making it 4 years strong. We created two new raised beds this year, experienced some new failures, and learned more about plant life.

Here’s what we grew:

  • Tomatoes
  • Zucchini (green and gold)
  • Kale
  • Lettuce
  • Lemon Cucumbers
  • Peppers
  • Jalapenos
  • Onions
  • Eggplant
  • Strawberries
  • Rasberries

I continue to be a huge advocate for gardening. It keeps me grounded (literally) and provides healthy contrast to my daily work as a technologist. Itโ€™s also created tons of value for our family in terms of doing something together and realizing the fruits of our labor. It keeps us connected in a beautiful way.

I have some exciting plans for 2023 to expand our garden and honor the 5th year of amateur farming.


Travel

Travel was huge for the Jafarian’s in 2022 as it mapped back to our word for the year – adventure. Here’s a recap of our trips and experiences.

FRD Winter Hut Trip

This was my first adventure of 2022 right in our “backyard.” I joined 8 other Front Row Dads in January for a backcountry hut trip in Leadville, Colorado. This included some snow shoeing, offgrid cabin time to connect, and a bit of snowboarding together.

My time with these men was awesome. I recorded a podcast episode about the adventure here:

A Mountain Hut Trip Experience

Keep an eye out for the 2nd edition of this trip coming in summer of 2023!

Crested Butte, CO

In March we took the kids to Crested Butte for their first official ski experience! It was everything you’d expect and more. The kids had natural resistance to skiing, some “first time” moments, and dad was exhausted by the end of the weekend. Carrying the entire family’s ski gear is no joke!

All that said, we already have our season passes for 2023 ๐Ÿ‘

Carolina Beach, NC

We also made a trip to North Carolina for spring break. This included some time at Carolina Beach, some time in Charlotte, and quality time with the Kirwan and Alexander families.

We’ve paused our potential move to NC (for now), but it will always have a place in our lives.

Nashville, TN

In April I headed to Nashville, Tennessee, for a FRD retreat. We stayed downtown and I realize why Nashville is a place to party. I’ve never seen karaoke and beer bongs at 11am on a Tuesday before! That said, I was focused on being a family man during this event.

Some powerful things happened as a result of somadic breathwork and healing, which I recorded a podcast about here:

Somatic Breathwork with Front Row Dads

That trip kicked off some new awareness and movement (more on that later).

Bend, OR

In June we took a week long trip to Bend, Oregon with the Jones! This was a great trip with lots of time in nature. Oregon is a beautiful state that we intend to explore more of in 2023. It offers some similarities to Colorado with unique ocean side climate. Nathan and I got to explore the wilderness together like we used to do as little kids growing up.

We also enjoyed our short time in Portland – super funky in a fun way.

Ireland

In July I headed to Ireland for an event called BraveSoul. This was hosted by one of my mentors, Philip McKernan. The event was extraordinary. I found parts of my soul that were buried deep or simply forgotten. I made some new friends and connections. I also got to spend time with my dad and brother in Dublin afterwards.

Here’s a recap of my experience at the BraveSoul event:

A BraveSoul Experience

I’m planning to return to Ireland in April of 2023 for another event with Philip and my BraveCoach group (details further below). I’m becoming more and more fond of Ireland. As I told Philip, there’s something about that country that feels like home. It speaks to me.

Well… after the trip I took a DNA trip and found out I’m 51% British/Irish. So perhaps there’s some data to back this feeling.

Florida

We finished July with a hot and humid adventure to the Sunshine state. Gabrielle’s parents have a new house in Port Charlotte where we created some awesome memories. We also spent two days on the white sandy beaches.

There’s nothing like the warm Florida ocean water in the summer โ˜€๏ธ

Bozeman, MT

In September I took an amazing backcountry trip to Montana with 3 FRD buddies – Phillip, Jason and Dane. We hired some guides to support the camping effort and hiked 8+ miles into the Baretooth mountain range. We did everything – hiking, fishing, deep connection around the fire, plus deep fear around pooping in bear country! It was epic.

The event was so special that we recorded a group podcast episode about it:

Backcountry Adventure in Montana

Washington

In October my mom and I took a trip to Washington together. Our intention was to hike, explore the pacific northwest coastline, and spend some quality time as mom and son. We did all that and more. I also caught a few amazing ocean sunrises.

I’m falling in love with the PNW for it’s variety of climate and nature. Gabrielle and I are investigating some real estate opportunities there as a result. We’re craving more time with the ocean.

Austin, TX

Later in October I headed to Austin for my 2nd FRD retreat of the year. It was fantastic as usual. This community is becoming my true tribe. Not just a group of like-minded fathers, but a community of special men. My trip to Austin for this retreat felt like meeting up with old friends and making some new ones.

The 50 men who showed up for our Austin 2022 VIP retreat.
FRD Live

In December I took my last trip of the year back to Austin, TX, for Front Row Dads Live. This was a unique and powerful experience. Jon and team created an event that was open to non members (first of its kind). This included world class speakers, engaging activities, and the usual FRD connection.

It also included some “you had to be there” moments that left the room in awe. As one guy said, I don’t know what that was… but it felt like church.” Here’s a video with some words from me and other brothers:

I feel so blessed and honored to be a Front Row Dad. This community is changing lives and impacting our future world. I truly believe that. So I’m going to continue talking, blogging, podcasting about it until I believe otherwise.

As usual, if you’re a dad that want details just hit me up!


Hiking / Nature

The Jafarian’s maintained their hiking culture in 2022. It’s a part of our family DNA at this point. We always come back better after some time in nature. We hit some new trails, hiked some family favorites, and even made some animal friends! (see last picture)

Outside of Colorado, I was personally able to hike in the following places this year:

  • Baretooth Mountain Range (Montana)
  • Olympic National Park (Washington)
  • Wicklow Mountains National Park (Ireland)
Mountains

I’m also continuing my passion for mountain climbing. More specifically, I love hiking to the top of 14ers (14,000+ foot high Colorado peaks). I knocked out 2 of them with my buddy Chris in the fall. I also did some high altitude hikes with Hemad during one of his annual visits.

Hemad and I did a cold plunge on Mt Evans in late September at 10,000+ elevation! Check it out here:

 

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A post shared by Ali Jafarian (@ali.p.jafarian)


Business

Business took another interesting turn for me in 2022. I continued to simplify my business priorities, similar to 2021. However, I also found inspiration for a new path. Here’s the recap:

  • MemberDev is still going strong. I have a small team that’s committed to helping coaches, educators and thought leaders with their membership/community platforms. We’ve been able to work with some awesome clients and will continue helping people build community online.
  • I exited my role with Credo in December. It was a great run with John and the Credo team for almost 4 years. I learned so much about myself working on that business, and I’m grateful for everything it taught me. It was also bittersweet to say goodbye, but my heart was leading me to something else…
  • Which is why I launched SPACE. This is my new brand for coaching, consulting and helping people realize personal transformation. It’s a fancy spin on life coaching with a deeper intention. I want to help people show up as their true selves. This is a powerful mission that gives me new energy and purpose. I’m going all-in on this in 2023 with podcasts, retreats, blogging, and anything else I can create to support others on their own journey.

My relationship to business changed a lot this year. I’m learning to integrate “my work” as a creator and technologist into my personal life, instead of keeping them separate, while still maintaining healthy boundaries. I think SPACE will introduce new challenges in how I balance things.


Podcast

I still produce my podcast and continue to get a lot of energy from it. I love being able to hear and document peoples’ amazing stories. Gabrielle is my chief editor, which gives us a fun way to work/collaborate together.

New Name: The Power of SPACE

We transitioned the name from “The Pursuit of Something” to “The Power of SPACE” at the end of the year. This reflects the focus of why, how and where we create space in our lives.

The Power of SPACE Podcast

Some of the topics we’ll be exploring include:

  • Personal growth
  • Awareness & Humility
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Growth mindset
  • Philosophy
  • Coaching
  • And much more!

I’ve got some awesome guests lined up for 2023!


Community

Community was big for me in 2022. I created some new relationships and cultivated existing friendships.

Front Row Dads

The biggest relationship builder in my life continues to be Front Row Dads. This is my fatherhood community that I promote and speak about often. This group gives me so much human connection through in-person retreats, online events, and monthly interactions with other members. I’ve made some life long friends from FRD.

Front Row Dads - The Brotherhood

FRD is growing and expanding into new territory. If you’re an intentional father who’s looking for a tribe of extraordinary men to connect with, I encourage you to check it out.

BraveCoach

I joined a new community in 2022 called BraveCoach led by Philp McKernan. This is a small group of amazing individuals who are committed to coaching and creating impact in the world. We call our work “holding space,” which has the power to transform lives. I’m humbled and excited to grow with this group.

It also gives me a reason to visit Ireland every year! ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ช


Personal Development

Last but not least, good ole personal development. My investment in personal development yielded some profound insights in 2022. Some of it is hard to describe in words. If I had to summarize it, here’s what I can share:

  • I’ve learned to lead more with my heart. My mind can be so strong, which created a lot of suffering in different parts of my past. I’ve become more aware of balancing mind vs heart led actions, which has allowed me to feel more alive and live with courage.
  • As a result of that, I did a lot of healing in 2022. Like… A LOT of healing. I dug into past trauma and felt through emotions that were buried deep. I also experienced a spiritual funeral of putting a past identity to rest. I cried more in 2022 than I have in the last 20 years combined. I simply had a lot of suppressed emotion to process, which needed to be fully felt.
  • I also connected with real parts of my soul. Call it god, the universe, whatever you label that internal voice that speaks your truth. I tapped into that several times in 2022 and have become more aware of living in alignment with my soul. This is the good stuff that lights me up and inspires some of my SPACE coaching.

I’d also say my perspective on personal development has shifted to one of capacity, not ascension. As my buddy Jon Vroman would say, “I’m learning how to expand my range.”


Summary

2022 was a pivotal year for me. It was certainly a year of adventure as we planned! It was also a year of depth. I went deeper on many levels.

As I embrace 2023 here’s what feels most true for me:

  • I’m seeing the world in a new lens – a lens of energy. Instead of always seeing people, I see a lot of containers and vessels that transfer energy.
  • I’m fascinated by the journey of things. Not so much the destination, but the process and experience of the journey. There’s so much wisdom here.
  • I’m realizing the power of group experiences. Finding real community and intentional space with others has helped me unlock new levels of understanding.

And thatโ€™s a wrap! Catch you on the other side ๐Ÿ™‚


Ali Jafarian

Ali is a father, husband and serial entrepreneur with a deep drive to create. He writes, records, codes and builds things to inspire the artist in all of us.


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Discussion

2 thoughts on “2022 Retrospect”
  1. What a fantastic idea to do a recap like this each year. The time and energy you put into this have to be well worth the investment. I may have missed it but how long have you been doing this and what have been your biggest lessons as you look back over previous years?

  2. Thank you for the comments and question, Erik! I’ve been doing this since 2018. Biggest lessons that come to mind:

    1. 12 months is A LOT of time when you document it.
    2. The magic of life is found in the experiences.
    3. Travel keeps us curious ๐Ÿ™‚

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