Dear World,

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

To say 2020, was one hell of a year, would be an understatement for the ages. Due to the world wide pandemic among other things, I found myself (along with many other people across the globe) spending most of the year home and unemployed. It really wasn't the devastation I thought it might be. It was the break from life that I didn't know I desperately needed, and it afforded me and my fiancé (now wife) the opportunity to know one another better and spend real quality time with one another, which has strengthened our bond.

Being forced to slow down and truly be present in the moment, allowed me to have a ton of epiphanies. That an ordinary day is and can be extraordinary is one of them. One of the best days of 2020, was one of these extraordinary ordinary days. My wife, Sam, and I spent this particular day watching my car, to keep it from being ticketed. It was parked on the wrong side of the road and we were waiting for a tow. Long story short, I enjoyed watching time pass and being present in every moment leading up to the tow truck finally arriving. So much happens within the 24 hours of every day. I realized that day how much I've overlooked and/or completely dismissed various events and/or opportunities, because I was concerned about the future versus the hear and now.

2020, did not go how I thought it would. People who were near and dear to me transitioned who I will forever miss. There were events and trips planned, then canceled or rescheduled. And there were a great many of goals I completely missed. However, in many of the most important ways 2020, went so much better than I could have ever imagined.

I have faith that things are and will get better. I refuse to allow negativity to rule me. And most importantly I am thankful and grateful to have another opportunity to see another day and make a difference in the world.

Hello.....again.

Dear World,

A lot has been happening in my life in a short amount of time. And when I say "a lot" I mean life changing in SO many ways. I'm not that great at juggling, but I'm managing to keep a ton of balls in the air even though I sometimes trip......and fall flat on my face. But more than anything I've learned that it's not about how many times one gets knocked down, it's about getting up. I keep getting up. And I keep having more and more reasons to continue getting up.

Forty is not how or what I thought it would be. Thank God, because it's so, so, so much better! One of the most important things I've come to learn in my forty revolutions around the sun, is true growth occurs when you become aware in knowing yourself and deciding what you will and will not put up with. Everything, EVERY THING happens for a reason. And there is a reason for every thing. Another huge life lesson learned, is about time. Time is limited and it's the one commodity we can never get back or replace, so it must be used wisely.

At this point I'm doing a sever deep cleaning of my life, because when you know better, you should do better. And you know what, I definitely deserve better for myself and my growing family. I have never been so happy in my life. Something tells me this happiness is only going to exponentially expand as time continues forward.

So, here's to the good days, because they're always a sure indication that the bad ones have finally ended. The bad days, for the challenges and growth (BRING IT!). And those people who are not only here for all the success and triumphs, but stick around for the the glorious failures and loses (really, there are no loses, only lessons but that just seemed to fit better). Keep those you love close and be sure to let them know you love them, not just from your words but from your actions.

Until the next time I get bit by the writing (and/or typing) bug, read a good book!