Off Track: The Gift of the Present

Welcome back to Off Track, the space where I step away from the guest chair, speak completely unscripted, and share the insights that genuinely matter. No notes. No filters. Just honest reflections shaped by real conversations and real life.

This week’s Christmas Special explores why this time of year feels different, softer, slower, and more meaningful. It’s the one moment in the calendar that invites us to pause, reflect, and appreciate what’s already here.

Here are the three insights that shaped this episode:

1️⃣ Embrace the Downtime

After nearly 360 days on the treadmill, Christmas gives us permission to rest. A chance to slow down properly, switch off without guilt, and recharge before the new year. If we don’t take the break now, we carry exhaustion into the months ahead.

2️⃣ Remember the Meaning Behind Christmas

Beyond the marketing and early decorations, there’s a deeper message: reflection, humility, and togetherness. Whether you’re religious or not, this season invites us to reconnect with the values beneath the noise.

3️⃣ Practise Gratitude for What You Already Have

While New Year’s pulls us toward the future, Christmas brings us back to the present. It’s a moment to appreciate family, safety, warmth, and connection, privileges many don’t have. The small, imperfect moments often become the ones that matter most.

As I share the chaos and joy of Christmas with my wife and two young boys, I’m reminded how precious these fleeting moments are.The older we get, the fewer Christmases we get all together, and the more important it becomes to notice the ones we still have.

Honest, reflective and straight from the heart. This is me, off my chest and off the cuff.

Welcome to Off Track.