December & 2024 Recap: Skiing, Adventures, and Looking Ahead

Skiing Adventures
Skiing felt like it came naturally to me. Within just three runs down the Bunny Hill, I was hitting blue trails, box jumps, and even rails. It was wild how fast I picked it up. Of course, there were some hilarious moments—like when I couldn’t slow down and plowed straight into a sign. The sign toppled over like something out of a cartoon, and my friends couldn’t stop laughing. Skiing has definitely become one of my favorite things, and I can’t wait to do it again.

Trip to Banff
My family and I went to Banff, and I have to say, it’s probably one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. Every photo I took looked like it was straight out of a postcard. We got up close to a herd of deer and elk—literally 10 feet away. They were just chilling like it was no big deal, but to me, it was incredible being that close to animals way bigger than me.

Leaving Canada for Puerto Rico
Leaving Canada felt strange. It really started to feel like home. I’ve made so many great friends there and built memories that I’ll never forget. I really hope to go back soon.

Puerto Rico Adventures
Here in Puerto Rico, we did a Paranda, which is basically like Christmas caroling on steroids. You go house to house singing, and the hosts let you in, give you snacks, and everyone hangs out. Then you all head to the next house together. It’s such a cool tradition, and I had a blast doing it.

We also visited an abandoned Airbnb project in the jungle that we helped with two years ago. Everything was overgrown, but it was so cool to see the glass domes still standing and even a Hummer just sitting there. It felt like a scene out of a movie, exploring the overgrown property and barely recognizing it.

Story Generator Website
I launched storycreator.replit.app, a website where you can fill out a few details, and it generates a custom bedtime story with an image. It’s for ages around 1-7. I used Replit to build it, which is like ChatGPT for coding but way better. The site’s still a work in progress, but it’s been fun experimenting with it!

TailorMadeTunes.com Update
We’ve had over 3,000 visitors to TailorMadeTunes.com! It’s wild to think that so many people are interested in custom music and come to us for it. We’ve been working hard on ads and videos, and I’m excited to see how far we can take it.

Fitness Progress
Even though I’ve been sick most of the time in Puerto Rico, I haven’t missed a single day of push-ups (day 61!). Starting my mornings with 50 push-ups has been a game-changer. I kinda dropped the cold showers as soon as I could, but I do still look forward to the push-ups.

2024 Recap
Looking back, this year has been insane. I started in Malaysia, hopping over to Thailand to bathe elephants, then Taiwan, Hong Kong for a day, and Vietnam. I spent time in Japan before flying to Argentina for a few months. In Argentina, I wrote a book, created a course, and learned Jiu-Jitsu. I had my first-ever interview, which was a huge step for me.

Then it was back to the States, starting in Utah for my birthday and night games with friends. Shoutout James! From there, I headed to Tennessee, where I went on a rafting trip and attended FSY camp, which was one of the most impactful experiences of my year. It has not only made me a ton of friends but also helped me spiritually! After that, we went to Mexico, and now I’m officially a Mexican resident!

Back in Tennessee, I helped finish building the basement of our house, painting walls, ceilings, and doing landscaping work. In Canada, I got into dirt biking, built TailorMadeTunes.com with my friend, and saw the northern lights. I also nailed my first backflip on the ground and spent a lot of time pushing myself at the gym, feeling stronger and healthier than ever.

This year has been full of challenges—like Zane leaving for his 2-year mission or dealing with a hurricane that took out our power for a week—but it’s also been one of the most rewarding years of my life.

Looking Ahead
2025 is right around the corner, and I already have plans booked for Europe. I can’t wait to see what new adventures and stories the year will bring.

If I could leave you with one piece of advice, it’s this:
“Dream big. Don’t limit yourself. Even if it’s not perfect, take the shot. You never know what you’re capable of until you try.”

Thanks for being part of this journey. Here’s to an amazing 2025!

Catch you soon,
Michael

michaeljamesshaw.com