One day later than expected and several dollars shorter (the Christmas season always seems to work a budget over), I’m back!

Here we are, teetering on the cusp of a new year. It’s the last day of 2019, a day for reflection. Today, I’m sharing my own reflections, comprising the good, the bad, and the ugly. I’ve broken my reflections into four categories in hopes that, after reading my reflections, you might do the same. After all, sometimes the well-examined life needs a little structural help.

Family: The Mostly Good

The Good Love: Amber turned 40 this year, and we threw a dance party for the ages. All these years later, and her dance face is still spot on. We celebrated our 20th anniversary, too. All these years later, and I still love her more than sunrise on the White River.
The Good Faith: For a variety of reasons (including those below), our family feels more grounded than ever, both in faith and place. We’re growing in our understanding of the numinous, and that is no small thing.
The Good Home: We’ve found the house we’d like to live in for the next ten years. If you know us, you understand that this is no small thing. We tend to have gypsy hearts, but we’re under contract on the cutest little house, and we intend to stay there well into our fifties.
The Ugly Journey: When you uproot your family for any reason, things get ugly. As you’ll see below, there was a major uprooting in our family of faith. But as with all things painful, time is a great healer. Even in the ugly, we’ve found ourselves in a season of healing. Even in the ugly, we’ve discovered the grounding of true friendship.

Faith: The Terrible Ugly Bad, The Ultimate Good, and The Personal Sober

The Terrible Bad and Ugly: We left our church after 5 years of being terribly involved. The leaving casts a long shadow (one that covers the valley of death), even still. I’ll likely not write about that for some time.
The Ultimate Good: We set out in a new direction, one which is more aligned with our faith sensibilities. The result? Our children are more alive in their faith. We feel more stable. I’ll most certainly write about this transition in the days to come, but for now, I’ll simply say my family and I are Trending Catholic.
The Personal Sober: This Christmas was a particularly sober season. I felt the joy of inner sobriety, sobriety rooted in the Divine Love. I did not lose myself in the bottle, the consumeristic urge, or even twee holiday sentiment. Instead, I welcomed in a season of new birth. And as the incense wafted over me at midnight mass, as we sang “Joy to the World,” I was filled with gratitude.

Occupation: The Unfortunate Good and The Surprising Good

The Unfortunate Good: I split the sheets with a short-term business partner. He’s a gent and damned-good writer and storyteller. That said, each of us needed something different from the business relationship, and so, we went our separate ways. We still chat from time to time. Perhaps one day we’ll collaborate again. I wouldn’t put it past us.
The Surprising Good: I began working with two groups of astounding individuals—the first at a local law firm where I hang my law license, RMP, the second at an agency where I offer communications (read: “story”) consulting. Good people can change the quality of a life.

Writing: The Blessed Good

The Good and Sober: I ramped up for the release of my next book, The Book of Waking Up. If you order now, the good folks from the USPS will deliver it to your mailbox NEXT TUESDAY. So GET ON IT!
The Religious Liberty Good: I’m consulting with a bona fide expert on a book dealing with religious liberty. The book examines the foundations of religious liberty and pluralism in America. The first chapter has been drafted. It’s going to be a gem.
The Good Patrons: I’ve been rather quiet in my Patreon group, though I hope to change that soon. My patrons have stuck with me through thick and thin, and for that I’m grateful. This year, I’m hoping to add 25-50 new $2.00 subscribers. Want to join?
The Invisible Bad: When the Graces of the earth allow you to write for a living, is there any bad?

Now it’s your turn. Examine your 2019 Good, Bad, and Ugly. Share it with a friend, family member, or even in the comments below. (Yes, comments are on today.) Then come back tomorrow, as I share a few 2020 goals.

***TODAY’S TASK: ORDER AND FORWARD***

THE BOOK OF WAKING UP —a book on addiction, attachment, and the Divine Love—launches in just a few short weeks and IT’S TIME TO ORDER YOUR COPY. Today:

1. Order a copy or ten at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or wherever good books are sold; and,

2. Forward this post to a friend and ask them to read along.