2024 was filled with so much life and learning.
I’m approaching 40 in a few days… and as I feel into that, I’m realizing how grateful I am for many things. 2024 was a year of gifts, change and growth.
Here’s my annual retrospect –
Let’s begin with familia!
Family
Overall the Jafarian clan thrived in 2024. There were some natural highs and lows, but we found new levels of fun, adventure and connection.
Sepia
My daughter is more creative and expressed than ever. She teaches me things every single day, from her curious questions to her abundant artistic projects. We are running out of room to store all her creations!
I also realize bliss in the small moments of simply seeing her smile. Sepia models a contagious energy of joy. She sees the world as a canvas with endless opportunity to create. In fact, the only time she really bothers me is when she leaves her beautiful messes all over the house!
Sepia also models integrity better than most adults. She says what’s on her mind, she wears whatever she feels like wearing, and she pays attention to her keen 6-year old awareness.
She continues to evolve and express her natural artist.
Everest
My son is growing and flourishing into a little dude. Everest is fascinated, and consumed at times, with sports and video games. Funny… this is exactly what I was doing at his age!
He also teaches me things, daily, which help me grow as a father and man. I love jumping into soccer games with him and his buddies after school. He’s also fiercely committed to only wearing shorts (even in below freezing temps).
As Everest matures, he brings new challenges. We had a few intense moments this year where I needed to dig deep to show him my heart, not my thoughts.
He also thrives when he’s outside. Sports and screens can overwhelm his nervous system at times… and getting out into some nature is always the antidote.
He continues to evolve and unleash his natural explorer.
Gabrielle
My wife and life partner turned 40 this year! She continues to evolve in her role as a mother, educator, and compassionate advocate for all living things. We celebrated her 40th trip around the sun in St. Louis with family and friends.
Gabrielle also went through a big transition this year by returning to work in the classroom. She accepted a role teaching 4th grade at a great school. A school that needs exceptional teachers like her.
However, it was a heavy shift for all of us after her being [mostly] home for 7 years. I admire her courage to grieve her previous identity and push through the discomfort of her new role and responsibilities.
I’m also enjoying [most] of my new responsibilities as the “home manager.” However, I definitely don’t do the things as well as she used to. Gabrielle was so great at keeping our home life managed.
She continues to evolve and find her deeper purpose.
Amir
My younger bro was more active in our lives this year, which filled my heart. I’ve missed his presence and energy. He brought his family over from China in the Spring to visit (more on that below), and he has started the process of moving them back to the United States (woohoo!).
Amir brings a playful and intense aura when he’s around. One minute he’s playing nintendo and singing some old song from his childhood, and then the next he’s explaining a niche topic of international policy.
He often reminds me of how much joy and excitement we can find in the little things. Especially when he comes home with “manager special” discounted items from the grocery store!
Above all, he’s evolved in his new role as a father. His daughter, Azita, is creating some beautiful new growth for him and Viola.
Parents
My mom and dad are doing well. They are certainly slowing down as they enter their 70’s, but they still have enough pep in their step to hike, play with the kiddos and enjoy the holidays.
I’m realizing that I want deeper connection with my parents in this season of life. As I grow and evolve, it’s not always easy to connect with them the same way I do with my wife, kids and peers. It takes patience and understanding to realize that they have decades of conditioning, trauma, defense mechanisms and suppressed emotions.
I can get frustrated because I have tools to help them, yet they’re not always willing or curious for the deeper learning (more on that below).
That said, I love them and I’m grateful for the quality time we still have together. Azita is bringing new grandparent energy into their lives 🙂
Travel & Experiences
Travel is a core part of the Jafarian culture. We enjoy traveling, exploration and investing in experiences.
Here’s what 2024 offered for travel and experiences –
January
St. Louis (without me)
My family left me for a trip to St. Louis to start the new year. While that may sound terrible, it was perfect. They headed to St. Louis to be with Family for NYE and I decided to stay home with our dogs. Raya was still very young at the time and not “travel ready.”
I had some time to really rest and reflect on the new year, do my annual planning, and enjoy some silence and solitude. This might sound weird to most people… but I really enjoy alone time like this when it aligns.
I also had some quality time with Raya and Rudy.
March
Smoky Mountain Retreat
In March I headed to North Carolina for a retreat with my Front Row Dads band. These are 6 men I’ve grown very close with over the last 5 years. We had an awesome time in the Smoky mountains hiking, camping, farting, and building deeper friendships.
I love these guys. I choose to continue investing time with them because they just get me. We’re 7 men who align around the ultimate journey of fatherhood, family, business and life.
Virginia Exploration
Later in March the Jafarians headed to Virginia to explore new territory. We invested time Charlottesville and Virginia Beach.
Charlottesville offered a lot of culture and natural beauty. We visited the Monticello, University of Virginia, a winery, and some cool places downtown. We also did a couple of great early Spring hikes in Shenandoah National Park.
Virginia Beach for a day was also fun. We took a [cold] dip in the Atlantic ocean, walked the boardwalk, and enjoyed some fish and chips. We also found a nice beach hike in First Landing State Park.
I was pleasantly surprised by how nice people are in Virginia. Perhaps the rest of the U.S. could learn something from Virginians.
April
Las Vegas, Baby!
In April, Gabrielle and I headed to Vegas to see my buddy, Kyle Weiger, marry his new wife, Kelci Wilcox. It was my first time to Vegas… and let’s just say I have some reservations on whether or not this city helps humanity…
However, the intention of the trip was to see my close friend get married, and that was beautiful. It was a gorgeous wedding with great people, dancing and memories. Given Kyle’s unique athletic abilities, there was also a special hand-stand ceremony!
Gabrielle and I also snuck in a show to see the Jabbawockeez, a dance group we’ve followed for years. And while we were there, I was able to catch up with some good friends (Scott Groves and Hemad Fadaifar). Hesam and his partner, Amber, were days away from expecting their first child.
Fair warning – if you let Hesam choose where to eat lunch you will end up playing “Buffalo Bill’s Million Dollar” slot machine.
As they say, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.
May
Amir & Breckenridge
In May my brother visited from China with his wife, Viola, and 6-month old daughter, Azita. We loved having them around for a few weeks. Azita had many firsts, including her first hike, and her first nap on her uncle’s shoulder 🙂
I also surprised my brother with a trip to Breckenridge. He thought it was a quick weekend to the mountains, not a surprise gathering that but I invited a bunch of his friends to! We had an epic time hanging out, hiking in the snow, making meals, playing games and enjoying quality time with awesome people.
Props to Jimmy for helping me coordinate everything without Amir knowing.
And yes, my brother and his friends still play Smash Bros 64. If you ask them who they learned everything from, they will unanimously tell you I am the godfather. I have retired from such games… but I make an occasional appearance from time to time.
June
The summer officially kicked off in June with retreats and our 10th wedding anniversary!
Vail FRD Summer Summit
In June I led the FRD Summer Summit out here in Vail, Colorado. 17 men showed up to help co-create another impactful retreat. This year’s theme was “The Boy, The Man and The Soul.”
We hiked (in snow shoes), cooked meals together, climbed mountains, played like children, sat in hot springs, and did things that Front Row Dads do. We laughed, we cried, we talked about the important things in life, and shared vulnerable parts of ourselves.
I’m honored to have shared another adventure with these men. I’m also grateful for Tonia Adleta, our FRD Events Director, who helped make this experience even better.
Puerto Rico
After the Summer Summit I needed some time with my love. So Gabrielle and I escaped to Puerto Rico for our 10 year anniversary! No kids, no work, no demands. Just time in nature and intimate connection with my wife.
We had a blast exploring the El Yunque rainforest and beautiful beaches. Puerto Rico feels pretty “Americanized,” but it’s a great place to get away for a few days. We really enjoyed our time there.
July
July was packed with travel and more adventure…
St. Louis & Gabrielle’s 40th Birthday!
July would offer more travel. We would head back to St. Louis as a full family for our annual 4th of July trip. However, this time we would also celebrate Gabrielle’s 40th birthday!
It was a fun mix of pool parties, quality time with family and friends, hiking the Lewis & Clark trail, a trip to the winery and a visit to my favorite STL park – Queeny Park – which is now closed for renovation! I shared with my kiddos how much fun I used to have at that park when I was growing up. It was sad to see it closed, but we decided to do a little exploration anyway 😉
End of an Era…
This was also a meaningful trip as the end of an era.
Gabrielle’s parents have officially moved down to Florida for their full-time residence, which may change our annual tradition of going to STL for July 4th. We’ve created so many memories in STL over the years, which we’re grateful for. It will always hold a special place in our hearts.
Washington Backpacking
In the mid summer I embarked on a backpacking adventure with 5 of my good FRD buddies. We headed into Olympic National Park for 3 days and 2 nights. It was magical.
It was also HARD. We covered 40 miles and 10,000+ feet of elevation gain. My original plan was to add 10 miles to this, but we collectively agreed that this amount of backpacking was perfect.
I intend to do more of these trips solo and with small groups. Backpacking is an amazing opportunity to be with nature and invest in some soul work.
September
Vermont + Toronto
In September I headed to the Northeast for a combo trip. I was originally heading there for an event with BraveLeader, a mastermind community I’m a part of. But the opportunity to also visit my buddy, Ryan Levesque, in Vermont presented itself. So I did both!
My time in Vermont with Ryan was special. I got to meet his family in person, experience the amazing farm they’ve been building and enjoy some real home cooked meals. We also invested in some good ole fashioned friendship. Deep talks, long walks, and real human connection. I feel blessed to do life with this guy.
BraveLeader was also fantastic. This group is led by my friend, Philip McKernan, who has held a powerful presence in my life these last few years. The group is filled with courageous and curious people who are embodying real leadership. I’m grateful for the opportunity to walk with Philip and other BraveLeaders.
It was also my first time to Toronto and I stayed in a cozy AirBnB with my buddy, John. I really enjoyed running the city, exploring High park, and experiencing a new environment.
October
Austin FRD VIP
In October I headed to Austin for our bi-annual Front Row Dads VIP retreat. This is an event I normally attend twice per year, but other family priorities caused me to miss the last two, so I hadn’t attended since April of 2023.
Needless to say, I was excited to be there and catch up with lots of familiar friends. I got some quality time with my band, reconnected with other veteran members, and met some newer guys in the community.
I also had the privilege of helping design one of the days, which ended up being a really cool experience. We created around the theme of FIGHT & FLOW.
I wrote a separate post on the entire event here ->
November
St. Louis Thanksgiving
The Jafarians normally host Thanksgiving in Denver, but this year we would switch things up. We headed back to STL to break bread and invest time with Gabrielle’s family. We also made a trip to the wonderful STL zoo!
I also caught up with some old buddies which was overdue and fun. In fact, I had a little too much fun if you notice my posture in our group photo below.
It’s funny… the younger version of Ali could last deep into the early morning, often testing my range with how much I could drink or party. I was great at that. But today I rarely want to do such things. They don’t serve me like they used to.
However, I still test my range in new ways to see how much I can feel into awareness, adventure, internal discovery and spiritual connection. I’ve also become great at that 🙂
Same Ali operating system, just different focus.
December
Austin FRD Live
My last trip for the year was back to Austin for FRD LIVE. This is our annual event open to non members (and members). This was the 3rd instance of FRD LIVE and it delivered in extraordinary ways. I also got to share it with by best friend, Hemad, who is expecting his first child in April 2025!
This year I played more of a leadership role, which was rewarding and challenging. I found myself oscillating between participant and guide throughout the experience. That said, it was exactly what it needed to be, and I’m grateful for Jon’s trust to facilitate. Below are some shots of me getting the opportunity to help guide the experience.
If you haven’t realized by now, Front Row Dads is a major part of my life. It’s given me so much over the last 6 years and now I get to give back. I will continue to serve FRD in more leadership capacity going forward.
2025 will bring some new change and evolution that I’m excited to help co-create!
Hiking
If you follow me online or know anything about me, you know you I love to hike. It’s an important part of our family culture at this point. The Jafarian clan got out for some great hikes in 2024. Below are some of the highlights.
If you’re ever visiting Denver, please hit us up! We love sharing our awesome trails with friends and family. You also might just find yourself in a Jafarian hiking photo on Instagram 😉
Mountains
I climbed and summitted 4 Colorado 14ers this year, a new personal record. Two of them are also the highest peaks in the state (Elbert and Massive).
- Mt Bierstadt (14,065′)
- Mt Elbert (14,439′)
- Mt Blue Sky (14,265′)
- Mt Massive (14,429′)
Mt Bierstadt
I enjoyed climbing Bierstadt for the 2nd time, but this time with 8 other Front Row Dads, including my long time climbing buddy, Chris Emick. It was en epic adventure that started at 2am with snow shoes and headlamps.
All 9 of us reached the summit and enjoyed our Jafarian apple. It was so fun to see these men push themselves and then smile like little boys at the top 🙂
Mt Elbert
I climbed Elbert alone, which was hard and rewarding. It’s the tallest mountain in Colorado and one of the more aggressive altitude gains – basically straight up with very little rest the entire way. I camped at the base the night before to acclimate and really immerse in the experience.
It was a hard climb that tested my engine. It was lonely and blissful. It was time with my soul that I will always cherish.
Mt Blue Sky
I took Raya up Blue Sky for her first 14er! She charged up the mountain like she’d already done this many times before. It was a cloudy day with some high winds, so there were periods where we were climbing through moving clouds with no visibility. It was pretty epic.
We also ran into some of Raya’s friends – some mountain goats and marmots, who she curiously said hello to.
Mt Massive
Hemad joined me for the long climb up Mt Massive. Similar to my approach to Mt Elbert, we camped the night before to acclimate and be ready first thing the next morning. I put him in charge of the fire and chicken skewers.
This mountain really tested him… to the point where we almost didn’t summit. It’s a long trek – 13+ miles round trip and 4,500+ feet in elevation gain. This climb will test most people! But Hemad’s inner warrior pulled through and we completed the journey. He earned his Jafarian apple and nap at the top 😉
More importantly, I’m so grateful to have a best friend that I can share these mountain adventures with. It’s truly special to do a lotta life with this guy.
Why Mountains?
Mountains continue to play an important role in my life. They symbolize way more than a tough climb and some cool photos.
Mountains challenge and nurture me. They offer so much space for awareness, growth and humility. They feel like home.
Mountains are also baked into my DNA. My dad used to climb big mountains in Iran as a teenager growing up. It was one of the most fun things he did, which I now also receive a lot of joy from.
Mountains are so special to me, that I’ve decided to write a book about them! My first book is in motion – Mountains, Rivers and the Cosmos. I plan to publish it some time in 2025!
Projects
I’m no longer separating traditional business from other life work. It’s all work.
Work is simply where we invest our time, energy and focus.
Some of my work is in my home, some of it is creating experiences, some of it is building technology, and some of it is just working on different projects that receive my energy and focus.
I actually almost didn’t end up creating this retrospect. It’s a big project in itself. My ego started thinking about how much work it would be, how long it would take, and whether or not it even matters…
But then I paused and checked in. I took a moment to remind myself how important work like this is. The [real] work of creating moments and documenting what [really] matters.
Below are some of the projects that felt meaningful to me in 2024 –
Family Values
This was my favorite thing I created in 2024.
It’s a symbol of so many things:
- Our family’s way of being.
- My intentional work as a parent and husband.
- My artistic expression and vision.
These family values are several years in the making. They represent the essence of what it means to be a Jafarian.
Treehouse
I started building a treehouse in our backyard this year. I plan to write a longer post to articulate the WHY, HOW and WHAT, but for now I’ll just say that it was meaningful. Here’s a few photos of the progress before winter rolled in.
It started from a quick question by Sepia, “Dad, can we build a treehouse?” My ego was quick to reject the idea with all kinds of serious reasons…
“No, we don’t have time for that.”
“Winter is coming and it will be cold soon.”
“What if we sell our house in the near future?” (which we’ve contemplated)
Yet the little boy inside me has been craving a treehouse for years now. I also love the idea of having something fun to play in with my kids while they’re still young and adventurous.
So I checked my ego and asked, “What’s really stopping me from building a treehouse right now?”
The real answer = nothing.
And then the work began a couple days later. In fact, Sepia was ready to go to Home Depot that day!
In summary, this treehouse was such a gift.
It gave me creative license and freedom, quality time with my family, new learning as a structural builder, and powerful insight into how I create things.
Retreats
As mentioned above, I helped design and lead several experiences this year. Most of them were related to Front Row Dads in some way. I choose to invest so much time and energy into Front Row Dads because it’s where I originally started my practice of “retreating” 6 years ago.
I believe retreats are one of the most powerful vehicles for human growth and transformation. You can read books and listen to podcasts all day long. Those are great, and they may spark a lot of growth. But retreats are different.
One retreat can change your life.
It will get you out of your normal comfort zone. It will offer you new awareness. It will expose you to extraordinary people, places and perspective.
I retreat to rest, reset, and then reimagine what’s possible for my life.
Adventures
As it relates to retreats, I also prioritize adventure! From mountains, to backpacking, to epic day hikes with my family, I seek to embody the spirit of adventure.
Creating adventures has become my greatest work in this phase of life. I shared this at FRD LIVE as part of my “Adventure” presentation. This includes adventures for myself, my family, my friends and my communities. This type of work is part of my fullest expression. My wildly authentic self.
I love combining nature, physical challenges, self discovery and human connection. Aside from my own joy and fulfillment, I think the world needs [real] adventure more than ever. So I will continue to create and share adventures.
Digital Platforms
I led a few member(dev) client projects in 2024, but I’ve become hyper selective in who I work with. I’m no longer attached to growing that business for the sake of growth. In fact, I’m clear that the only projects I can lead from a place of integrity are projects that inspire me and offer deeper learning.
A few clients I supported in 2024 include:
- BraveClan Portal – braveclan.com
- Genius Of You – geniusofyou.com
- The Dreams Vault – thedreamsvault.com
I’m still grateful for my team at member(dev), our awesome clients, and the ability to create meaningful software. I’m also committed to only building technology that elevates humanity. More on that in the final section below.
Learning
2024 made me even more aware of what drives me. I’m a natural seeker with a continuous desire to learn. It’s just part of who I am. I’m not motivated by the money or status that most people chase. Instead, I’m fueled by the opportunity to learn.
Here are some big things I learned in 2024:
Time Investments
Many people often say how fast time flies. I feel grateful to share the opposite effect. Time has slowed down for me in beautiful ways through my mid to late 30’s. I attribute that to a mindset shift of investing time.
Most people think they’re spending, using and wasting time. That’s fine, but I don’t think that way. I see my time as an investment in something. Or a deployment of energy that yields something.
Think about where you invest your time. What is it yielding for you?
- Are you growing as a human or staying the same?
- Are you living a life of play, wonder and creativity?
- Are your days filled with aliveness and nourishment?
These are the kinds of questions I ask when reflecting on where I invest my time.
Deeper Learning
As I mentioned above, I love to learn. And I’m usually viewing my time investments an opportunity to learn something. I share this quote my kids often:
“We learn nothing when we’re right.”
As I embark on deeper learning, I’ve noticed a few patterns:
Most humans would rather be right than learn something new.
This applies to virtually everyone I know. My family, friends, peers and the general population. There is such a strong desire in our society to be right. To have the answers. To stick to what you know.
While it doesn’t always feel nice to be wrong, I believe this is where we learn the most. When we don’t have the answers. When we’re able to forget what we think we know. When we’re willing to stay curious.
Which leads to the next pattern.
It’s hard to stay curious.
The deepest learning occurs when we’re able to stay curious in moments when we get tested, triggered, reactive or feel highly resistant to things. It’s hard to stay curious when we think we’re right and there’s nothing else to learn. But that’s where the deepest learning occurs.
For example:
- Can you stay curious when something is said that you strongly reject?
- Can you stay curious when things don’t work out the way you wanted or planned?
- Can you stay curious when you lose something or someone you really love?
Staying curious is a superpower that many people lack.
It’s just easier to not be curious and accept things without question or deeper insight. It’s easier to just fall in line and agree with what’s already known, comfortable and proven.
Staying curious is the practice of rediscovering what you think you know. It’s immersing yourself in the present moment and feeling into everything it offers. It’s going inward, not outward.
Which leads to the 3rd pattern.
Most humans focus on external learning, not internal learning.
External learning is great. It helps us make sense of our reality and all the things that happen around us. However, this will only take you so far if you’re a seeker like me. In other words, you’ll likely hit a point where external information is no longer interesting.
Internal learning is where things have really shifted for me.
It’s where I’ve experienced deeper learning in profound ways. This involves focusing on our inner world – awareness, emotional intelligence, conscious presence, spirituality and other realms that are challenging to describe.
It also relates to the exploration of different levels of consciousness. Experimenting with breath work, plant medicine and other modalities. Increasing our capacity to feel things, heal and accept them, and then evolve into new ways of being.
This is where we learn more about ourselves as humans, our spirit and our soul. This is where real change and transformation occurs.
To that extent, real change is here.
The Path Back to Being HUMAN
The last thing I’m learning is how important this time in human history is. I don’t say the following lightly…
I believe the human soul is dying…
I’m not referring to physical warfare, political control or any subjective theory. I’m also not referring to anything new or shocking.
I’m referring to the every day dependency on progressive technology.
Look around you…
- Every adult in major cities has a small device that can control there attention in any given moment. And it usually does.
- Kids are given iPads and pills, instead of playgrounds and time in nature.
- Adults are given cubicles, dual monitors and Zoom links, instead of encouragement to walk, breathe fresh air and meet in person.
- Restaurants are filled with huge TV screens to keep us constantly stimulated and distracted from real nourishment.
- A.I. is evolving rapidly and starting to change the fundamentals of how we think, work and problem solve.
Not to mention we’re destroying our planet and heating the world up as we continue to become more technology dependent.
I think you get the point.
I intend to publish some future essays around this soon. There is something visceral inside me that knows it’s time to speak up. While people are generally aware of the harm technology can create, I see very few people taking action to combat it.
There is a fine line between using technology – vs – having it use you. Sadly, I see the majority of people being used by technology, which impacts their home, their family and future generations to come.
It’s sad and scary. It’s dark and depressing. It’s becoming unreal.
But I have hope. I don’t even like the concept of hope. It projects a future outcome based on desire. But in this case, I have hope that humans will wake up.
So I will leave you with this…
I’m committed to restoring human nature in 2025.
It will be a year of clarity and conviction for me. Clarity in what I create, why, how, where and when. Conviction in having the courage and perseverance to fight for human nature. We need it now more than ever.
Some final gratitude for 2024:
Thanks for reading.
Ali Jafarian
Ali is a family man, conscious leader and serial entrepreneur with a deep drive to create. He writes, designs and builds things to inspire the real human experience.
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