Dear valued clients and friends,
January has a way of arriving loudly. Fresh calendars, fresh expectations, fresh pressure to decide who we’re going to be for the next twelve months. New goals. New habits. New energy. Or at least, that’s the idea.
Yet as this year began, I found myself thinking less about what I want to add and more about what I should leave behind.
Over the festive season, we spent some time in Knysna. Proper time away. No rushing. No diary to manage. Long walks, quiet moments, space to breathe. It struck me how different I felt once the noise faded. The pace softened. The version of myself that reappeared felt calmer, clearer, more patient. My Garmin even confirmed this with a resting HR of 44bpm!
Stress has a way of creeping in quietly. We don’t always notice what it’s doing to our thinking, our relationships, our demeanour. It’s only when we step away that the weight becomes obvious. There’s an old saying that one day when you die, your in-tray will still be full. That thought stayed with me.
Letting Go Is Also a Form of Progress
We often treat January as a month for accumulation. More ambition. More discipline. More targets. More pressure. But sometimes growth starts with subtraction.
What are you carrying into this year that no longer belongs there?
Old frustrations. Unhelpful habits. Expectations that once served a purpose but now slow you down. Even the need to prove something that no longer needs proving.
Letting go doesn’t mean disengaging. It means travelling lighter. With fewer distractions, clarity has more room to show up. This applies just as much to property decisions as it does to life. Buying or selling a home works best when it’s guided by clear thinking, not by noise or urgency. Focus brings confidence. Confidence brings better decisions.
You Go Where You Look
There’s a story I often tell my family from my time in the army. At paratrooper school in Pretoria, new recruits were told to aim for a wide open field during their first jump. One instruction stood out: miss the tree.
The field was massive. The tree stood alone. Everyone hit the tree! Somehow the tree was always in the way.
Eventually someone pointed out the obvious. You go where you look. When your focus is fixed on the obstacle, it becomes the destination.
It’s the same with goals. Aim for too many things at once and you scatter your attention. Try to manage everything and you often end up managing very little.
Compartmentalisation matters. Choose one direction. One or two priorities that deserve your energy. Let the rest wait.
It reminded me of a recent conversation I had with Richard Wright on the Living and Investing podcast. We spoke about focus, direction and the importance of choosing fewer goals - and then being intentional about how you pursue them.
The Cost of Constant Noise
I recently heard a discussion about what future generations might see as one of our biggest mistakes. The conclusion was simple and uncomfortable. We rarely (if ever) switch off - social media and TV and movie streaming and Spotify and YouTube and, and… There’s always sound. Always content. Always something filling the gaps. We’re addicted to noise!
We forget how to be still. To think. To sit with our own thoughts without reaching for distraction.
We’re human beings, not human doings.
Presence doesn’t require a retreat or a dramatic life overhaul. Sometimes it’s just a walk without headphones. A conversation without checking your phone. An evening where you allow quiet to exist and your mind a chance to think and process - uninterrupted.
That space has a way of resetting perspective.
A Lighter Way Forward
As this year unfolds, perhaps the question isn’t “What more should I be doing?” but “What can I release so I can focus better on what matters?”
Clarity has a way of simplifying things. It allows you to choose fewer priorities and give them the attention they deserve. One more thought that stayed with me, came from the same conversation I had with Richard Wright on the latest Living and Investing podcast. Richard spoke about the value of involving trusted family and friends in your goals - not to pressure you, but to keep you honest, supported and accountable as the year progresses.
It’s a reminder that focus doesn’t have to be a solo effort. Sometimes we move forward more steadily when others walk alongside us.
Whether you’re planning a move, considering homeownership or simply thinking about what the next season of life looks like, clarity will serve you far better than urgency. And the right conversations - at the right time - can make all the difference.
If you’d like to talk through property decisions for the year ahead or simply need a sounding board, I’m always happy to have a conversation.
Here’s to a year that feels lighter, clearer and more intentional.
Warm regards,
Jonathan BroekmanPrincipal, Homes of Distinction
🔗 Living & Investing Podcast with my guest, Richard Wright: https://tinyurl.com/ykcz2ytx
